Free Speed Camera Database

Engram · 09-05-2006, 09:10 AM

Do you think there's room in the "market" to start a totally free speed camera database? (The database being licensed under the GPL or something similiar).

It seems sad there's no longer a free option. (After PocketGPSWorld decided to start charging for user submitted data).

The database I envisige would be directly accessible from a URL (instead of having to download a ZIP file). Applications could then do automatic updates without user interaction.

It would convert the data, on the fly, into as many formats as possible. (New formats being added as soon as the schema is understood).

Submitted camera positions would be moderated until the user had earned sufficient karma, after which their data would go straight in. (Or perhaps with limited moderation).

The user could also submit edits or request deletion of a camera.

Do you think people would go for this? An open database?!

The only downside I can see is that you'd have to start from the beginning with the camera data because under UK copyright law databases are copywritten. Therefore you couldn't just import another database.

DigitalDub · 09-05-2006, 10:17 AM

I think it's a good idea, but surprised if there isn't already one out there. Problem is that people see the $$$ and start charging for it. The main problem I see, as you've suggested is moderation and the maintenance of current data. I've no doubt people will contribute data, but whether old data will be maintained well I'm not sure. As soon as the amount of garbage data increases, the less likely people are to use it.

I suppose as well as having "trusted" contributors, you also have some form of ranking on a camera. e.g. if more than one person has identified a camera at a particular location, then it is a more reliable item of data. You'd need some form of fuzzy location logic in there because locations will never be identical, but if they're within say a couple hunder metres then regard them as the same camera, perhaps. Reliability could also be based on some form of "last spotted" date. i.e. the last date data for a camera was submitted.

In terms of presenting the data, I'd probably offer it in XML format. Maybe provide it via a web service.

SnyperBob · 09-05-2006, 10:43 AM

I like this idea a lot. Maybe you could write a simple, easy to use program - something along the lines or similar to Gatso Hunter

http://www.ignatu.plus.com/gatsohunter.htm

User's would be able to plot their cameras using the program. Once all the cameras are entered in, the program would work just like Gatso Hunter and alert you when you come close to a camera.

Have an upload camera file feature in the program. Merge the file with the larger database or something. Primitive, but the idea's there.....

I guess you could just use gatso hunter and have everyone share their camera files. We don't have speed cameras here, so I've never used Gatso Hunter. I am unsure what format the files are saved as with that program (site says CSV).

Looks like you could subscribe to that gpsworld site, download their database and then add your own cameras to it. Not sure if it would be illegal to share your database then, if you change it a little. hmm....

Engram · 09-05-2006, 11:43 AM

It would be illegal to copy the PocketGPSWorld database as it's clearly copywritten.

As I wrote GatsoHunter it wouldn't be tricky to make a program that did data gathering only! ;-)

DigitalDub, part of the moderation would be checking that other people had submitted the camera. (Preventing the database from being filled with false positives by the inevitable lamers).