Location-based services donned a front-row seat in the convergence of digital and real-life experiences, and following LivingSocial and the MapQuest Android app are the services aiming to capitalize on your location, multiplied by as many users to as many datasets as possible.

Geospatial big data, online mapping and data visualization service provider Urban Mapping announced the availability of public transportation data via its cloud-based mapping platform Mapfluence. The company has integrated mass transit data from 150 public transportation systems in North America to provide on-demand access to information about just about every related detail. According to an official release, these include bus, rail and ferry systems as well as ridership data; station attributes, entrance locations, schedules, unplanned events and over 100 other elements.

“We stand apart from the pack with unparalleled emphasis on data normalization, detail and ease of use. Through our extensive field research operation, we have detailed over 10,000 subway and train station entrances and exits, collecting information about handicap accessibility, ridership levels, and station amenities,” said Ian White, CEO Urban Mapping.”

Yep – and now all that big data will be used, among others, to find ideal locations for retail stores relative to public transportation as well. Urban Mapping however hasen’t noted any data related to airports and planes, but the luckily, the iPad is here to help and takes on paper.  The FAA approved a new iPad map aviation app called Mobile TC, which enable charter flights and aircraft management company Executive Jet Management to use Apple’s table for electronic mapping within a commercial flight cockpit, thus eliminating paper.

In addition to Urban Mapping and the iPad, IBM also took a leap into digital mapping recently. The company launched the City Forward, a free online city mapping tool providing key statistics and trends including education, public safety, health, transportation, land use, utilities, energy, environment and personal income as well as others.