OpenStreetMap takes it to the streets

OpenStreetMap is a project that aims to do no less than map the planet.

Volunteers armed with Global Positioning System (GPS) kits contribute geographic information to the site in an open GPS-specific XML format called “GPS exchange format” (GPX). The collected data may then be used by anyone to produce great looking maps. Perusing the site, it looks like there’s a healthy collection of GPS weilding mappers (and would-be orienteering ringers) who are out there mapping the countryside; upcoming events include Surrey Hills and Munich/München mapping weekends. Despite it’s name, it’s not limited to just streets, the extensible language includes waterways and numerous other mappy things.

OpenBusiness took a moment to ask OpenStreetMap about their business model:

OB: OpenStreetmap was started entirely with volunteers, what convinced people to join?

OSM: OSM’s contributors have very diverse interests in map data. For most, it’s a practical need or the sheer fun of going out and making their own map. We have some people who are strongly political (against the Ordinance Survey or for the concept of free data) but – like any other F/OSS project – it has a broad appeal.

OB: OpenStreetmap does not have a business model and some funding could help speed the process of creating an OpenStreetmap of the UK. However, it seems like a business that might fall between the traditional funding streams – I would assume a VC won’t give you money because there is no business model, and social investment is hard to come by because your are not helping the poor, or recycling paper. Yet Open Streetmap certainly has a social value?

OSM: Yes, it’s hard. We’re challenging an entire industry that for the most part is looking the other way. The won’t help us. It’s turned in to a very grass roots thing which has helped in a way as wer’re doing it for fun rather than profit.

OB: Could you see people starting businesses on top of OpenStreetmap? People now even start businesses on top of Wikipedia – like pediapress.org, which prints selected articles in bookform….

OSM: Yes, and that is exactly one example we could use. I think for the most part though, the map data will slot in where traditionally collected data was. This will free money to be used for more innovative things and traditional mapping companies will be able to move up the chain, developing value add services.

OB: How will Open Streetmap look in five years?

OSM: With a bit of luck, we’ll have mapped most if not all of the UK. Europe is a harder nut to crack, but twinned with this will be the flowers blooming in many other places. OSM released the idea of community-built maps and you can now see early signs of it being incorporated in many other projects. I forsee differently licensed projects which may use different software to achieve some of the same goals, perhaps in more specific areas like waterway mapping, mapping newly built cities in China and beyond.