MapQuest Takes a Walk on the Open Side
AOL's MapQuest could redefine mapping technology by harnessing open source, user generated content and crowdsourcing
By Alan Shimel on Mon, 07/12/10 - 2:05pm.Last week AOLs MapQuest (yes AOL bought them a while back) announced an open sourced powered version of MapQuest. The new version for now is separate and apart from the traditional MapQuest. It is powered by OpenStreetmap.org, the free wiki world map. It uses no commercial mapping data. You can see the open MapQuest site here.
Calling this version of MapQuest open source though does not capture the true potential that this brings to mapping applications. If you go to the new site you will notice that the maps (depending on where you look) are a bit sparse. This is because there is no Google driving around taking pictures or using satellites or the like. The information contained in OpenStreetmap is user generated. So besides being open, it is relying on user generated information to literally fill in the blanks on the map.
Another way to think about this is that by relying on user generated content versus for instance the Google method, it is a use of crowd sourcing. Anyone can help out with OpenStreetmap by getting involved here.
Once people start fleshing out the map with not only street details but other content details, it could easily bypass what closed systems are able to do by themselves. Of course that would depend on getting enough people involved.
Look at some of the location check in apps out there now like Foursquare. If instead of using Google Map data, they could use an open source database (and not pay any fees) it could really help them. On the other hand if the data entered by Foursquare users was used to update the OpenStreemap, think about how much more information and detail would be added to the map data.
I think this is a brilliant move by AOL. Harnessing user generated, crowdsourced content is a great way for AOL to empower MapQuest to retake the lead in a category they actually invented, back from Google. It is out flanking Google!
Of course the key is getting people involved. They should build an app for that and go make deals with all of the check in apps. Lets take back the streets with open source!
- About Open Source Fact and Fiction
As co-founder and Managing Partner at The CISO Group, Alan Shimel is responsible for driving the vision and mission of the company. The CISO Group offers security consulting and PCI compliance management for the payment card industry. Prior to The CISO Group, Alan was the Chief Strategy Officer at StillSecure. Shimel was the public persona of StillSecure as it grew from start up to helping defend some of the largest and most sensitive networks in the world.
Shimel is an often-cited personality in the technology community and is a sought-after speaker at industry and government conferences and events. His commentary about the state of security, open source and life is followed closely by many industry insiders via his blog and podcast, "Ashimmy, After All These Years" (www.ashimmy.com). Alan is now also a regular contributor to The CISO Group’s security.exe blog and podcast.
Alan has helped build several successful technology companies by combining a strong business background with a deep knowledge of technology. His legal background, long experience in the field, and New York street smarts combine to form a unique personality.
Disclosure: The CISO Group sells a software-as-a-service PCI compliance application called SAQPro. The company is independent and does not represent any other vendor's products as a reseller.
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