Comparing OpenStreetmap vs. google maps
… an interesting tool that allows a visual comparison of the coverage of various maps, e.g. google maps vs. open streetmap (OSM). Based on people’s enthusiasm, in many (local) places the OSM coverage is much deeper/exacter. However, with respect to quality necessary for routing and navigation applications, OSM in its current status will not be sufficient.
Comparing google maps (left) and open streetmap (right)
The tool for comparison is available at
http://tools.geofabrik.de/mc/?mt0=googlemap&mt1=mapnik&lon=0.00012&lat=0.00043&zoom=17
it points at Techno-Z, home of Salzburg Research. One can see that buildings, local paths, etc. are covered much better in OSM than in google maps. Still, this is what we as human users interpret; software/machine readability can be – and is! – quite different.
Add comment January 19th, 2009
