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submitted 4 days ago by potate@lemmy.ca to c/canada@lemmy.ca
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[-] wirebeads@lemmy.ca 75 points 4 days ago

Canada really needs to develop its technology to get off of oppressive American tech. We need to work with other countries and develop our own tech to combat this. Absolutely insulting. Just a little “oopsie” after over a decade of not having mislabelled parks? The stink is showing.

[-] Kichae@lemmy.ca 34 points 4 days ago

Open source options exist. We just need more people using OpenStreetMaps and shit.

[-] 9488fcea02a9@sh.itjust.works 8 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

As much as i try to update OSM with local knowledge, there's no way to keep OSM reasonably up to date without automation tools.

I'm not sure how OSM can replicate whatever tools google uses to constantly update open/close hours, new/dead businesses, bus stops with schedules, etc.

[-] BedSharkPal@lemmy.ca 13 points 4 days ago

This is all just crowd sourced no? Like after I visit a place google will ask me a bunch of questions about it (eg. "Did they sell X here?").

[-] And009@lemmynsfw.com 3 points 4 days ago

Atleast in India, Gmaps isn't updated on local info either. OSM is barren in comparison.

There's maps.cz, somehow has more local data (like hiking trails).

[-] Flatfire@lemmy.ca 15 points 4 days ago

A government funded utility that utilizes regional GIS and aerial mapping would go a long way. Google's got the upper hand on directions and traffic reporting though, so that would take more time to make effective. A lot of that is genuinely due to the number of users that exist on the platform though. I think if you tried to implement similar location data analysis for government infrastructure, people would be up in arms at the idea, despite being perfectly happy to provide the same data to Google.

It's unfortunate that Google is as prevalent a default service as they are, but it's hard to ignore how good a service they offer, and how long the development period has been to get them there.

[-] BCsven@lemmy.ca 20 points 4 days ago

Yeah people have to start using OpenMaps more, and OSMAnd app alternative for navigation

[-] paequ2@lemmy.today 13 points 4 days ago

Yep! I recently created an account with https://www.openstreetmap.org/ and started mapping my local area. Fuck Google.

[-] BCsven@lemmy.ca 9 points 4 days ago

I have been using the StreetComplete app that ties to that. It is actually helpful because I noticed some bad information on the local maps that was very easy to correct in the app.

[-] paequ2@lemmy.today 6 points 4 days ago

Yeah! StreetComplete is great! They really make it easy to improve the maps. It's even motivated me to get out and walk more so I can complete the little quests.

Relevant communities:

[-] ___@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 3 days ago

I also recommend Magic Earth, I find the navigation to be more reliable than OSMAnd+

[-] metaStatic@kbin.earth 6 points 4 days ago

just scrape the traffic data, it's what they would do.

[-] perviouslyiner@lemmy.world 7 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

The geodata and related open source technology to edit, review, and host it is already available from openstreetmap community

[-] MadMadBunny@lemmy.ca 3 points 4 days ago

We have. Only it’s not well known, because of Google’s monopoly.

[-] wirebeads@lemmy.ca 8 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

Then let’s start naming them and putting them out there. If they’re just maps but we need guis for apps on these, then it’s a great time to start that process and get developers in on it, preferably open sourced if possible.

My guess is there would be lots of developers willing to work on a project like this to help distance us from America.

this post was submitted on 24 Feb 2025
303 points (98.4% liked)

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