-------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: MAPS-L: Avoid 'geographical embarassment' Date: Wed, 17 May 2006 17:29:19 -0400 From: Sue Hawkins <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Hi all- I'd like to toss in my two cents' worth as well - the small map company I work for now regularly does field checking. We also use some aerial photography to compare against the municipal data that is out there. Since we are primarily a regional company, field checking is still something we can afford to do with some regularity. Accuracy is critical, but personally I find beauty important too. ---sue h Cartographer JIMAPCO, Inc http://www.jimapco.com >-------- Original Message -------- >Subject: Re: MAPS-L: Avoid 'geographical embarassment' >Date: Wed, 17 May 2006 14:23:44 -0500 >From: Nat Case <[log in to unmask]> >To: Maps, Air Photo & Geospatial Systems Forum<[log in to unmask]> > > > > > >Hear hear. Sorry, Jim, but while satellite images are often quite out >of date, I too have found that street data is pretty good. Especially in >major urban areas. > >The problem is, there's no update date info on online maps, so we don't >know the last time they were checked. Metadata isn't just for geeks... > >Also, in fast-changing areas, the flow of information from planner to >local mapmaker to data provider to end user may take longer than one >would like. this is why we historically source out* local* mapping, even >if next-level-up data (county or state or national) is more consistent, >legible, or otherwise easier to wrangle. > >Actually Hedberg Maps* does* field-check all our maps (or at least those >at a street map scale or larger), for exactly the reasons Dennis >suggest. We do work for one of the same phone companies Dennis mentions. >So that makes two of us... > >Generalizing about street map publishers is problematic; there are "hack >shops" and there are also people out there who really do care about >spatial accuracy. Even within a company, you will find a considerable >range of accuracy, due to three major factors: > >1. Economics. If a map is not a big seller, a publisher may say, well we >can justify doing a hasty update, or we can can it. Seems a shame just >to let the title die on the vine... > >2. Geography. If the place is just down the road, it's not a big deal to >send someone out to drive questionable areas. For us in Minneapolis, >sending someone to the Bay Area to do field work, is, by comparison, a >considerable investment > >3. Quality of source material: >Surly/uncooperative government employees. >Zero-budget cities which haven't updated their official maps in 30 years. >As Dennis says, cities who do not distinguish right-of-way and driveable >streets. >"Sure, you can have the data file for $5000, or you can have this >out-of-date printout for $10..." > >Nat Case >Hedberg Maps, Inc >Minneapolis > > >> -------- Original Message -------- >> Subject: Re: MAPS-L: Avoid 'geographical embarassment' >> Date: Wed, 17 May 2006 >> From: Dennis McClendon <[log in to unmask]> >> To: Maps, Air Photo & Geospatial Systems Forum >> <[log in to unmask]> >> >> >> >> / >> >> Online maps, particularly in urban areas, are based on Navteq or >> TeleAtlas data, which is field-checked regularly and obsessively enough >> to be used for vehicle navigation devices. Paper maps seldom receive any >> field-checking at all, so using a four-year-old satellite image is the >> least of their problems. >> >> My little map company does maps for phone books (for three publishers) >> in small cities out west. We are the only vendor these companies use >> that does ANY fieldchecking at all. Commercial companies publishing >> gas-station maps may do a little fieldchecking or (most likely) none at >> all. They rely almost entirely on information from local governments, >> which typically keep track of where rights of way have been dedicated, >> not where streets actually exist. It's not unusual for me to discover >> that 5-8 percent of the local government map for an area is complete >> fiction, showing non-existent "paper" streets, not showing cut-throughs >> that people have carved across public land, showing different names than >> on the street sign, or failing to note where through streets have been >> barricaded to frustrate through traffic. >> >> >> Dennis McClendon, Chicago CartoGraphics >> http://www.chicagocarto.com/ >> >> >> >> / >> http://www.stltoday.com/blogs/business-talking-tech/2006/05/avoid-geographical-embarassment/ >>> Article from the St. Louis Dispatch interviewing, of all things, a map >>> librarian about maps!! Way to go Jim! >> >> >> >> // > > >-- > > >-- >