AWS, Meta, and Microsoft-founded Overture Maps Foundation Launch the Groundbreaking First Open Map Dataset

AWS, Meta, and Microsoft-founded Overture Maps Foundation Launch the Groundbreaking First Open Map Dataset

Introduction:

The Overture Maps Foundation, founded by Amazon Web Services, Meta, Microsoft, and TomTom, has released its first open map dataset. The foundation aims to create a shared map resource by incorporating map data from multiple sources, including Overture Members, civic organizations, and open data sources. The release includes four unique data layers: Places of Interest, Buildings, Transportation Network, and Administrative Boundaries. These layers provide comprehensive map data worldwide, offering valuable information for navigation, local search, and location-based apps. The Overture Maps Foundation is supported by various mapping, geospatial, and technology companies, and it aims to establish a comprehensive open map dataset to meet the constantly changing needs of users.

Full Article: AWS, Meta, and Microsoft-founded Overture Maps Foundation Launch the Groundbreaking First Open Map Dataset

The Overture Maps Foundation, a collaborative effort between Amazon Web Services, Meta, Microsoft, and TomTom, has announced the release of its first open map dataset. The foundation aims to create a shared map resource by incorporating map data from multiple sources including Overture Members, civic organizations, and open data sources.

The Four Unique Data Layers Included in the Release

The Overture 2023-07-26-alpha.0 release includes four unique data layers: Places of Interest (POIs), Buildings, Transportation Network, and Administrative Boundaries. These layers provide detailed information about various aspects of the global map.

– Places of Interest: This layer includes over 59 million POI records that were not previously available as open data. The dataset was derived from data contributed by founding members Meta and Microsoft. The Places dataset is licensed under CDLA Permissive v.2.0 and can be freely used by any map builders or location service providers.

– Buildings: The Buildings layer features more than 780 million building footprints worldwide. The layer was developed by combining open data projects like OpenStreetMap, Microsoft AI-generated building footprints, and Esri.

– Transportation: This layer shows a worldwide network of roads derived from the OpenStreetMap project. The data has been reformatted in the Overture data format, which provides consistent segmentation of the data and a linear reference system to support additions of data such as speed limits or real-time traffic.

– Administrative Boundaries: This layer is a global open dataset of national and regional administrative boundaries. It includes regional names translated into over 40 different languages to support international use.

The Importance of the Open Map Dataset

The Overture Maps Foundation emphasizes the difficulty and expense of sourcing and curating high-quality, up-to-date, and comprehensive map data from disparate sources. By providing an open map dataset, the foundation aims to create a shared asset that can support future applications in navigation, local search, and location-based apps.

The foundation acknowledges that the initial data is just the beginning and plans to build a broad collaboration to maintain an up-to-date, comprehensive database of POIs. This collaboration includes over a dozen mapping, geospatial, and technology companies such as Esri, Cyient, InfraMappa, Nomoko, Precisely, PTV Group, SafeGraph, Sanborn, and Sparkgeo.

Conclusion

The release of the Overture Maps Foundation’s open map dataset marks a significant step towards establishing a comprehensive and constantly updated map resource. The dataset includes detailed information about places of interest, buildings, transportation networks, and administrative boundaries. With the potential to support various applications, the dataset is a shared asset that can benefit mapping and location-based services worldwide.

Summary: AWS, Meta, and Microsoft-founded Overture Maps Foundation Launch the Groundbreaking First Open Map Dataset

The Overture Maps Foundation, a collaboration between Amazon Web Services, Meta, Microsoft, and TomTom, has released its first open map dataset. The foundation aims to create a shared map resource by incorporating map data from multiple sources, including its members, civic organizations, and open data sources. The release includes four unique data layers: Places of Interest, Buildings, Transportation Network, and Administrative Boundaries. These layers provide worldwide map data for various purposes such as navigation and location-based apps. The dataset is available for download on the Overture Maps website. The foundation plans to establish a comprehensive open map dataset to meet the evolving needs of users worldwide.

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