AOL's MapQuest could redefine mapping technology by harnessing open source, user generated content and crowdsourcing
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!
