Community Generated Map Data - Passive Vs. Active / Teleatlas Vs. Openstreetmaps

**soundman98** · 06-30-2009, 10:53 AM

I can't program(or understand code for that matter), but would deffinatly be willing to help out where i can.

**Tidder** · 07-01-2009, 07:50 PM

Why are all of fiberoptic's posts text so huge? I know he's the owner... but gawsh.

Subscribed.

**malcom2073** · 07-01-2009, 07:52 PM

Originally Posted by Tidder

Why are all of fiberoptic's posts text so huge? I know he's the owner... but gawsh.

Subscribed.

That's how he rolls. Large and in charge.

I'll definitely be keeping an eye on this

**Fiberoptic** · 07-02-2009, 11:58 AM

Thanks for all your support guys. We setup a new server for the project today (see other thread) and I have started to help clarify some of the problems that I think exist and the community can solve.

The goal here is high quality free maps and navigation routing that are updated in real time through passive user input.

**kirk78h** · 07-04-2009, 05:15 PM

I've been watching these threads with great interest.

Professionally, I build routing and scheduling algorithms for a very large package delivery service (lets leave it at that...). We have been approached by almost all the software mapping companies to use our vehicles as probes. To date, we have not partnered with any of them. As stated earlier in this thread, they want all the data; but do not want to share any of the results.

Map data can get very, very complicated. It seems like there are a lot of bright people contributing to this thread that have read a lot and have insight on how to approach this. I don't mean to be a downer here, but let me throw out a few things to think about. Maybe people here have already solved these issues; maybe not.

1. The geocoder is going to be a big issue (it always is). Given a street address, intersection, etc.; how do you convert that into a Lat, Long?

2. Collecting GPS data is fine; but that is only a very small part of the map layers needed for routing. Intersection information is just as important. Is there a light? a stop sign? Is there a road barrier preventing left hand turns? What is the speed limit? Usually, map data classifies roads as five different types. Is the road one-way? What about connectivity? Looking at a map, an overpass over a road looks like it intersects it.

And this is the tip of the iceburg.

As I said, I think this is a great project; and I'm looking forward to how it progresses.

By the way, my initial interest in putting a computer in my car was a proof-of-concept kind of mission to have the computing power in the vehicle; not as the devices our drivers carry (very expensive and not very powerful).

Kirk

**malcom2073** · 07-04-2009, 05:25 PM

Originally Posted by kirk78h

We have been approached by almost all the software mapping companies to use our vehicles as probes. To date, we have not partnered with any of them. As stated earlier in this thread, they want all the data; but do not want to share any of the results.

Does this mean that you could be potentially interested in using your vehicles as probes for a creative commons license/GPL project like this?

**kirk78h** · 07-05-2009, 12:44 AM

Originally Posted by malcom2073

Does this mean that you could be potentially interested in using your vehicles as probes for a creative commons license/GPL project like this?

No.

**malcom2073** · 07-05-2009, 09:12 AM

Originally Posted by kirk78h

We have been approached by almost all the software mapping companies to use our vehicles as probes. To date, we have not partnered with any of them. As stated earlier in this thread, they want all the data; but do not want to share any of the results.

Apparently I misunderstood what you meant here, could you please elaborate on your reasoning for mentioning this? I would assume that if the reasoning for not partnering with any of them as you said was due to them not wanting to share results, that there would be interest in a project that was not only willing, but the entire purpose was to share results.

**DarquePervert** · 07-05-2009, 09:13 AM

Originally Posted by malcom2073

Does this mean that you could be potentially interested in using your vehicles as probes for a creative commons license/GPL project like this?

Originally Posted by kirk78h

No.

But would you (or are you) interested in contributing your experience and expertise in working with routing algorithms to any projects that are starting or already underway using OS map data?

Considering your role at "a major package delivery company", it's pretty obvious that you could be helpful to anyone working on such a project. Just wondering if you want to sit on the sidelines and watch or if you want to pitch in and help create something useful for the masses....
Without divulging any trade secrets, of course.

**kirk78h** · 07-05-2009, 03:32 PM

Originally Posted by DarquePervert

But would you (or are you) interested in contributing your experience and expertise in working with routing algorithms to any projects that are starting or already underway using OS map data?

Considering your role at "a major package delivery company", it's pretty obvious that you could be helpful to anyone working on such a project. Just wondering if you want to sit on the sidelines and watch or if you want to pitch in and help create something useful for the masses....
Without divulging any trade secrets, of course.

Yes, I am willing to help. That was the reasoning behind my first post, and listing some of the stumbling blocks I've seen in the past. As I said, we've looked at taking on something like this on several occasions, and always backed off when we evaluated some of these barriers. A good map engine / geocoder is definitely expensive; but our analysis always showed it was cheaper to buy than build. These things, of course, change over time; and the time may be right.

Kirk