There is currently significant discussion, if less action, on a proposal to set up on open aerial map of the world, in a similar vein to the highly successful OpenStreetMap.
The idea for OpenAerialMap seems to have started with Christopher Schmidt in 2007, but then to have foundered on a host of technical difficulties, not least, how to catalogue archive and serve the huge amount of data expected.
The web site currently contains links to data in several US states, France and Italy. There are no data sources listed for Asian countries.
On 12 November, a meeting was held in California to discuss proposals to 're-boot' the process.
The website defines OAM as a non-profit, open access, meeting place for the aerial imaging community.
'It exists to provide an image map of the world that would be created solely by community contribution, and be freely available. It would facilitate the free exchange of imagery, technology, and ideas.
'In order to provide an unrestricted, free, unbiased view of the world, OpenAerialMap encourages the free exchange of imagery, without restriction on its use.
The California meeting confirmed that the most important initial task is to establish a catalogue server, which would be the front end for submitting and retrieving OAM data. It would have GIS-like capabilities so, over time, could provide a graphic front end for the searcher.
Interestingly, a data model for the new service does not seem to be such a big issue. The proponents are, in fact, spoilt for choice, with OGC, ISO, and Inspire all having commonly available standards.
OAM 1 will consist of a background data set, probably a tile service in WMS or KML format. On top of this base map, users will be able to upload data iin one of the referenced geospatial formats (such as GeoTiF). There will also be an online image referencing application.
But licencing - inevitably-- is still problematic. Apart from issue to do with use and re-use, the committee pondered issued like preventing malicious misuse or re-purposing of data.
The group also say that public discussion is really important. To that end, they have invited people to make contributions, as they do with the Open Street Map Foundation, or OSGeo.
If you want to be part of the community that is building OAM, go to the wiki for more information.
Source: www.asmmag.com
