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Real-Time Collaborative Mapmaking

Posted by timothy on from the every-city-could-use-this dept.

savetz writes "Throughout October and November, citizens of Amsterdam were invited to wear a GPS tracker as they went about their lives. Their whereabouts were forwarded to a server which created a map of the city in real-time, based on "the sheer movements of real people." The site includes aggregate maps, and those created by individuals, including a subway driver, cyclist, and marathon trainer."

3 of 179 comments (clear)

  1. GPSr fun by faeryman · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I was sitting around yesterday thinking about what else can be done with GPS besides geocaching, etc. This is pretty cool.

    If you like this, you might like GPS drawing too.

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    ,
    faeryman
  2. Excellent! by Marxist+Commentary · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I've been using a Garmin GPS II+ that I originally bought for mapping backcountry nonmotorized trails, using a mountain bike. It was great for that, including its ability to upload its waypoints and track log to my PC, where I could integrate the data into mapmaking (GIS) software.

    On the water, I found its articulated antenna and lack of waterproofing a liability. I used it in a housing (heavy-duty ziploc type), but found
    it awkward. I just got a new Garmin eTrex, a 12-channel waterproof (1m for 30 min) unit that has the features I want. No internal maps, but I've never seen a handheld GPS that can compete with
    the big-screen units in that department-- they're as good as an actual NOS chart.

    If it were possible to do so, I would love to donate my map data to such a project - perhaps an open source map project? It could make for some exciting orienteering!

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    Stop corporate

  3. Reminds me of Cryptonomicon by devphil · · Score: 5, Interesting


    There's a great scene in Cryptonomicon where he writes about attaching lights to people's heads, then tracking the lights from a side view as they walk on and off street curbs. Graphing over time would produce a square wave, with sidewalks showing up as high lines, and streets as low lines.

    The point is that Waterhouse is one of the kinds of people who could stare at boatloads of those graphs, and then emerge with an extremely detailed street map of London.

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    You cannot apply a technological solution to a sociological problem. (Edwards' Law)