An Algorithm Based Methodology for the Creation of a Regularly Updated Global Online Map Derived From Volunteered Geographic Information

Abstract

Global online maps are an important tool and data sets such for such maps are normally provided by commercial providers or public authorities. Nevertheless, the ever expanding trend of collaboratively collected geodata by hobbyists, namely Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI), increases regarding both data quantity and quality. Therefore, VGI can be considered as a real alternative data source for the provision of a global online map service, similar to those provided by Google Maps or Bing Maps. Therefore, an online map service needs to be created, whereby relevant data comes from a regularly updated database containing VGI. Due to the dynamic and fast changing nature of VGI sources, the workflow for processing VGI data needs to be automated on a regular base. The particular innovation of the here presented approach is that after an initial data import all required processing steps for transforming VGI data into a map- optimized data structure, is done internally with SQL database functions. That is, the processing is purely based on database technology and no additional software is required. The developed system uses standards and open-source software and is publicly available at www.osm-wms.de. The data can be consumed by either using a user adaptable standardized WMS, or via a high-performance web map application with partly pre-rendered map tiles. With the here presented approach, an regularly updated map based on open data can be provided.

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