Friday, August 29. 2008

British Cartographic Society President: Internet Maps Threaten Old Landmarks

British Cartographic Society president Mary Spence speaking at a Royal Geographic Society conference voiced concern that online maps are failing to include key points of interest such as churches and stately homes thus effectively wiping them off the map. She's also concerned that adult use [word added; was missing] of online maps and sat navs mean children are not learning to read maps. Not to worry says Ed Parsons of Google, online maps are customizable; the data is there, you just need to find or create it.

This feels like a ploy to draw attention to the BCS. If so, it's working; there's lots of coverage. Perhaps we should simply encourage the society to devote these energies to promoting more/better geographic literacy worldwide?

Full story with quotes at The Telegraph, via The Press Association

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I am unclear about the meaning of "...concerned that adult of online maps ..." in this posting.

However the point is well taken. Public facilities such as hospitals, police stations, fire stations, etc., are
missing from most of the on-line maps. One database that I have does show our local police station, but at a location that they have not occupied for a decade. The lack of such information could be a major problem when one is traveling and faced with an emergency.

As for the notion that the notion that all the data elements are there and all you have to do is find them, is a pretty shallow response.

#1 Duane Marble on 2008-08-29 10:39 (Reply)

Duane,

Sorry about the missing word in "...concerned that adult of online maps ..." Should read: ""...concerned that adult **use** of online maps ..." I've corrected the post.

The quote from Ms. Spence in full: "
"I think there is a danger children are losing skills because adults are being exposed to [online] mapping that is a second rate product," she said."

#1.1 Adena Schutzberg (Link) on 2008-08-29 12:54 (Reply)

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In reply to	[ Top level ]#1: Duane Marble on 2008-08-29 10:39   #1.1: Adena Schutzberg on 2008-08-29 12:54
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