Proprietary maps vs #OpenStreetMap… so this entry points out that #OSM is still missing the details in a certain place (compared to HereWeGO).
In a nutshell: it's because HereWeGO has sourced the map data from several other partners.
Now HereWeGO (it's a pun!) has went into crowdsourcing their map data for updates as well. It's true that for some places, their data appears to be richer than OSM.
The #OSM database is not merely what is shown on the openstreetmap.org site: try poking the “raw” data if you get what I mean.
Yes, satellite layers can be expensive. But at least there are satellite data that's more open, and of course, FOC (but probably you'll somehow need to sort out how to display them properly).
Meet Sentinel from the European Space Agency, and Landsat from the United States Geological Survey.
@AkuAnakTimur google and yandex maps also have their own crowdsourcing maps. But it's useless for community. They can be closed in any moments and it's impossible to use their data outside of their infrastructure. It is not opensource and API is not free
Google used to have a more robust crowdsourcing map editor before Google Local Guides, known as Google Map Maker.
It's known that their model is proprietary. Worse is that their system promotes crowdserfing: “volunteers” poured so much data into their database; but it's all Google's.
As a “nice gesture”, the volunteers might get some discounts offered for certain services. I mean, Google itself is a gigantic corporate; if they can pay their map providers…
… why these poor little volunteers are rewarded with discount codes? Surely their effort is worth more than that (I know there are opportunists — but that's another story).
Speaking about API restrictions, Google has now introduced a pay-as-you-go model recently. Fair enough, their map services went really popular. But it might hurt small businesses that way. Sudden surge towards their website and the businesses might receive a bill from Google: the limit has exceeded.
@shura @AkuAnakTimur i think the volunteers work not for rewards. Logic may be: -Hey, I use google maps, but they do not display my house. I'll draw it!
Obliviously, google maps have millions of users, so there's a lot of volunteers in whole world.
Also google has big command of moderators who can restrict some edits and pay attention on oblivious mistakes. #OSM does not. That's why osm needs more advanced users, who will read some rules before a first edit.
@shura That's possible too. Could relate with ride sharing apps and Android Auto.
Moderation and #OSM… is a long story. That can be considered as both an advantage and a disadvantage for #OSM.
IMHO OSM is quite anarchic; but there are certain parts of it, that needs to be agreed by a sizeable group of contributors. It depends on how active is that certain part of the world, and its contributors.
They happened to purchase updated proprietary satellite layer (imageries) as well for some places. Which can be viewed through their apps IIRC.
In the OSM case, imageries are provided as contributions by so many partners — which are used to produce the map data.
So, OSM doesn't offer any of these like, say, the satellite layer in Google Maps.