Work with open street maps so that map data is more accurate
Work with OpenStreetMap.org so that map data is more accurate globally. Given that Microsoft is embracing open standards why not utilize and contribute data to OpenStreetMaps.org and build off and improve a platform which has great global coverage? It also utilizes the community to update maps and correct errors. This could allow Bing Maps to compete with and out-do Google in many respects.
Daniel Davies
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3 comments
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rbrundritt - MSFT
commented
Unfortunately the Open Street Maps data uses a Open Database License (ODbL) which makes it difficult. This license says that if you mix data from multiple data sources (like the premium data Bing Maps licenses from other data providers) with OSM data in a database all of the data must be made open source. The Bing Maps team is working with the OSM community to make the licensing more commercially friendly.
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Daniel Davies
commented
@rbrundritt Thanks for letting me know that MS provides data to OpenStreetMaps. Do you also pull data from OpenStreetMaps? I ask because open street maps seem to be more accurate (and up to date) than Bing maps in my area?
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rbrundritt - MSFT
commented
Bing Maps has been working with Open street maps for over 7 years now. Bing Maps has been making its aerial imagery available to the Open street maps community so that users can trace and create data from these images. If you search the open street maps wiki you will find nearly 1,500 results for "bing maps". Most recently the Bing Maps team just provided 9.8 million building footprints to the community: https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Microsoft_Building_Footprint_Data
The Bing Maps and Open Street Maps community has been working together and has a good relationship.