Collaborative mapping: Difference between revisions
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==Map types== |
==Map types== |
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Collaborative Mapping applications vary depending on which feature the collaborative edition takes place: on the map itself ( |
Collaborative Mapping applications vary depending on which feature the collaborative edition takes place: on the map itself (Shared Surface), or on[[overlays]] to the map. A very simple Collaborative Mapping application would just plot users' locations (Social mapping or [[Geosocial networking]]) or Wikipedia articles' locations ([[Placeopedia]]). Collaborative implies the possibility of edition by several distinct individuals so the term would tend to exclude applications such as [[Wayfaring]] where the maps are not meant for the general user to modify. |
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===Shared Surface Editing=== |
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In this kind of application, the map itself is created collaboratively |
In this kind of application, the map itself is created collaboratively by sharing a common surface. For example [[WikiMapia]] adds user-generated place names and descriptions to locations. Collaborative mapping and specifically surface sharing faces the same problems as [[revision control]], namely concurrent access issues and versioning. In addition to these problems, collaborative maps must deal with the difficult issue of cluttering, due to the geometric constraints inherent in the media. One approach to this problem is using overlays. |
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===Overlays=== |
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Overlays group to together items on a map, allowing the user of the map to toggle the overlay's visibility and thus all items contained in the overly. The application uses map tiles from a third-party (for example one of the mapping [[API]]s) and adds its own collaboratively-edited overlays to them, sometimes in a [[Wiki]] fashion. If each user's revisions are contained in an overlay, the issue of revision control and cluttering can be mitigated. As of March 2008, only a few online mapping systems, such as [[MapWith.Us]], use overlays to deal with clutter and revision control. |
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A very simple Collaborative Mapping application would just plot users' locations (Social mapping or [[Geosocial networking]]) or Wikipedia articles' locations ([[Placeopedia]]). |
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Collaborative implies the possibility of edition by several distinct individuals so the term would tend to exclude applications such as [[Wayfaring]] where the maps are not meant for the general user to modify. |
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==Commercial context== |
==Commercial context== |
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Revision as of 08:06, 13 March 2008
Collaborative Mapping is the aggregation of Web maps and User-generated content, from a group of individuals or entities, and can take several distinct forms.
Map types
Collaborative Mapping applications vary depending on which feature the collaborative edition takes place: on the map itself (Shared Surface), or onoverlays to the map. A very simple Collaborative Mapping application would just plot users' locations (Social mapping or Geosocial networking) or Wikipedia articles' locations (Placeopedia). Collaborative implies the possibility of edition by several distinct individuals so the term would tend to exclude applications such as Wayfaring where the maps are not meant for the general user to modify.
In this kind of application, the map itself is created collaboratively by sharing a common surface. For example WikiMapia adds user-generated place names and descriptions to locations. Collaborative mapping and specifically surface sharing faces the same problems as revision control, namely concurrent access issues and versioning. In addition to these problems, collaborative maps must deal with the difficult issue of cluttering, due to the geometric constraints inherent in the media. One approach to this problem is using overlays.
Overlays
Overlays group to together items on a map, allowing the user of the map to toggle the overlay's visibility and thus all items contained in the overly. The application uses map tiles from a third-party (for example one of the mapping APIs) and adds its own collaboratively-edited overlays to them, sometimes in a Wiki fashion. If each user's revisions are contained in an overlay, the issue of revision control and cluttering can be mitigated. As of March 2008, only a few online mapping systems, such as MapWith.Us, use overlays to deal with clutter and revision control.
Commercial context
The dichotomy between corporate projects and user-driven projects is important in Collaborative Mapping. [1]
Corporate Initiatives
Several big internet companies launched mapping applications with collaborative features, most importantly Google Maps with the My Maps feature. The only online mapping tool with both overlay and shared surface collaboration is MapWith.Us
Thematic Contexts
Such applications have a lot of possible contexts they can be used in: daily life (transportation, shopping), travel, culture, business, social, etc.