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Open US GPS Data?

Posted by samzenpus on from the directions-want-to-be-free dept.

tobiasly writes "I read an article today about a map error on the popular Garmin GPS devices which often leads to truckers in a particular town becoming trapped. From my own experience, every electronic map I've ever seen (Google, Mapquest, my Mio GPS) has the layout of my neighborhood completely and frustratingly wrong. A quick search turned up only one open-source mapping project, but it's for New Zealand only. Why are there no comparable projects in the U.S. or elsewhere? Obviously such a project would need a good peer-review/moderation/trust system but I'd gladly put in the time necessary to drive around town with my GPS in "tracking" mode, then upload, tag, and verify my local data. Has anyone with more technical knowledge in maps and auto-routing looked more into this? Are there technical limitations to such a project? Should the government subsidize a project to create open, free, up-to-date electronic maps? Surely there is a public benefit available from such a project."

6 of 327 comments (clear)

  1. Didn't look very hard by enjahova · · Score: 0, Redundant

    OpenStreetMap is pretty good, and getting better.

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    "how can they call it a MINE if everything here is THEIRS?!?!" -Straight Jacket
  2. OpenStreetMap by Sacro · · Score: 0, Redundant

    What about OpenStreetMap? Some areas are done quite well, especially in the UK, by the looks of things, US mapping is going well too.

  3. OpenStreetMap by mmurphy000 · · Score: 0, Redundant

    OpenStreetMap is building a, well, open street map. My town in eastern Pennsylvania seems pretty up-to-date as far as I can tell. And they're working on aerials too.

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    The Busy Coder's Guide to Android Development
  4. How 'bout by hekk · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Openstreetmap is good.

  5. Re:Frustrating by captbob2002 · · Score: 0, Redundant

    This may or may not be a mistake.

    Once upon a time map makers would include errors in their maps on purpose. Then when they looked at other maps that included the same errors they knew who was copying and re-selling their maps. Low tech watermark.

  6. Re:open street map? by cHiphead · · Score: 0, Redundant

    But they represent these 'errors' as facts, ie street angle and location, dead ends, etc, all facts. Verbatim copying is not ethical (or legal in some cases), but if you end up manually reproducing these 'easter eggs' b/c the existing map had them as existing places, you are not at fault.

    Cheers.

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