Wednesday 14 October 2009

Digital Atlanta en Masse

I have been sent this link by two people today so I've got the hint - I'll blog it! Check out Atlanta's giant mapathon. A most interesting concept but some very worrying comments such as "this will create the most accurate map" (depends on your QA and QC surely? - how can they prove that?) and the assumption that mapping is black and white - "it's either there or it's not". So when does the pavement stop and the grass verge start, esp if it's all muddy and the verge has spread? What if someone decides the edge of the road is the kerb edge whereas someone else, perhaps on the other side of the road, marks it as the back of the pavement? How can you know everything has been picked up; or can you only hope it has?

I hate to be a pessimist here but, although this will give very up-to-date information, I doubt if it will be the most accurate, however I don't know what the comparator is. Nudge me someone (US side is good) for the next installment please.

2 comments:

Don V said...

Ruth

The US has overcome your concerns regarding accuracy with some brilliant urban planning...they have omitted pavements from their designs for the past 40 years, thus ensuring that the mud is efficiently clipped into place by the constant traffic. See? No inaccuracies. Even the trees grow only when instructed to.

Ken said...

Clearly not "accurate" in the precision sense. Complete is a better word,particularly as this seems to be aimed at tourist type mapping. Bit like saying you've got the "most accurate" London underground map because you've shown which stations have escalators, for instance.