Viewed through this lens, it becomes evident that standardizing how location data and digital maps are transported and exchanged between systems (or “ships”) is imperative. Furthermore, like McLean, this standardization should be open and accessible for anyone to adopt or collaborate on.
The Business Case for Standardization
Modern digital maps are intricate constructs, comprising layers of data tailored to specific needs. At the foundational level lies the base map, with additional layers providing information about traffic, visualizations, routing, and points of interest (POIs). Geospatial engineers must source data from numerous providers, each maintaining data in different formats and structures. Even when sources convey identical information, there is no guarantee of standardized conventions. Thus, engineers face the daunting task of aggregating, harmonizing, and integrating diverse data sources.
Standardization emerges as the unequivocal solution, yet implementing it in the realm of mapmaking and location technology, already intricate and costly, presents challenges. The solution lies in a universally accessible base map for the world—a collaborative effort to create a reliable, user-friendly, and interoperable location database, shared under an open data license.
