Open-Source Mapping Platform Developed by Amazon and Microsoft Unveiled
A consortium consisting of Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, and TomTom called the Overture Maps Foundation has unveiled an initial open dataset. This dataset, known as the “alpha” set, aims to assist developers in creating mapping applications and other location-based tools. It encompasses comprehensive global information on more than 59 million places, 780 million distinct buildings, road data sourced from OpenStreetMap, and borders.
The map levels are packaged in the recently released Overture map format, which is intended to be standardized and interoperable between platforms. The team is sharing information at this point mostly to get public feedback, rather than to support entire products.
The foundation was founded in December of last year by a group of companies, which includes, in addition to technology giants, geospatial and mapping companies. While open map data is not a new concept, Overture believes that a concerted effort is necessary to deliver accurate and up-to-date data that is no longer practical for any single organization to provide. Ideally, a newcomer doesn’t have to worry about submitting outdated or incomplete directions.
The overture quickly warns that there is still a lot of work to be done before its material is truly complete. Future releases will include more open data, better interoperability, and the use of a stable detection system to help mapmakers keep adding content. You might not see apps that rely much (if at all) on the alpha dataset, but it serves as a starting point to give app creators an idea of what’s possible.
Google has historically dominated the mobile navigation app market, with Google Maps and Waze together claiming a clear majority in recent years. Apple Maps, on the other hand, tends to get almost all of the remaining share. There isn’t much room for challengers and they usually need huge resources to be competitive. Overture’s open data may make it easier to produce viable alternatives, though they’re unlikely to lose to Apple or Google anytime soon.
