The foundation aims to develop “reliable, easy-to-use, and interoperable open map data” that will fuel the current and next-gen map products. According to the Linux Foundation, which is hosting the project, map developers today face difficulties in sourcing and curating data. They need to source data from multiple vendors to ensure that the information is accurate and updated. This is not only expensive but also makes it difficult for developers to comprehend and combine the information. That’s because vendors use their own conventions and vocabulary to refer to the same real-world entity in their dataset. Moreover, open map data is vulnerable to errors and also lacks the “structure needed to easily build commercial map products and services on top.” The Overture Maps Foundation will address these issues. Each company will contribute its resources and data to jointly create rich map datasets. The project will also use data from city planning departments and other open data sources such as OpenStreetMap. A collaborative effort will ensure that the data remains accurate and up-to-date as the physical world changes. The foundation is also open to welcoming more companies with a common interest onboard. The larger the group is, the richer the datasets will be. More importantly, the project will use a global entity reference system that links the same real-world entities in different datasets. This will make combining multiple data sets easy. The idea is to simplify map production by enabling the interoperability of data. The Overture Maps Foundation will also help detect map errors, breakage, and vandalism. This will allow developers to create new map experiences or improve their existing solutions.
The Overture Maps Foundation will release its first datasets in 2023
The Overture Maps Foundation plans to release its first datasets in the first half of next year. It will begin with basic layers including buildings, roads, and administrative information. Its datasets will gradually get richer in coverage, accuracy, and information. The foundation plans to add new layers such as places, routing, and 3D building data in the coming years. “Map data today underlie thousands of applications for local search and discovery, routing and navigation, logistics, mobility, autonomous driving, and data visualization,” the official press release states. “In the future, map services will power augmented reality applications merging the digital and physical worlds to deliver rich social, gaming, education, and productivity experiences.” Of course, the press release doesn’t mention Google anywhere, not even as part of the foundation. Meanwhile, Google’s rival in the navigation space TomTom is here. This signals the collaboration is an attempt to counter the Android maker’s dominance in the mapping and navigation market. It will be interesting to see who else joins this effort.
