Hi,

I think the price is still good for the Laos map as described. Is the source data for the map post-processed and rerectified? I the past I tested some other Laos map (I dont like to name one) and the accuracy was very poor.

Greets from HCM,
Paul

PS: If all people want to have all for free, the developers will stop their work.

And the same can be said for HU.
This guy pops in to the HUBB and the first (and only) thing he does is try to get free advertising, violating the rules we all agreed to. He didn't pay for the advertising to sell his product and was promptly banned.
The thread is still here as some may find it of use.
But be warned that the original poster came here for the single purpose of spamming this product!

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Japan touring information

That's why I try to encourage people to not only use OSM maps, but to also contribute back to the project. It exists because people contribute without an immediate reward.

So, if you use OSM and find POIs or roads that are not on the map, put them in. It's easy and fun.

__________________
Cheers,
Peter.

Europe to NZ 2006-10

Hi again,

OSM maps are one thing, professional GPS maps are another thing.

The data for OSM maps is usually collected with consumer-GPS devices which have a lack in accuracy. Addidional receiving errors make the data for the OSM very inaccurate.

In professional maps other GPS units are used for data collecting. The data then is postprocessed and rerectified. After this worksteps the huge process of map development is beginning. I guess you guys dont know the amount of work behind such digital map.

You can count about 20.000 to 40.000 manhours for a good digital map. And you want this for free???

Please dont forget that map development is the job of some peoples, like the job you have for you. Even map developer buy a motorbike, they dont claim to have the motorbike for free.

Think about that guys.

Kind regards,
Paul

PS: I know about that because I am a map developer too. And the salary for this is so small that my bike has only 135 cc

Depends. Some of the maps Garmin have sold are widely inaccurate, to put it mildly.

That is a sweeping statement that I can't let stand like this. Some consumer GPS are quite inaccurate, particularly older models. Beyond that it only matters in the concrete jungle, where buildings affect them. I don't now how well pro units handle that. Outside of that, the accuracy is better than the width of a normal road, so it doesn't matter any more. But, OSM maps are also made with Bing aerial images and that gives a level of detail that GPS can't match (where these images are available).

Can you elaborate a bit what that means?

That depends on the size of the area covered, does it not?

Aren't you confusing something here? The original poster was banned for advertising a commercial product. This doesn't mean anybody says that one shouldn't charge for a good product and the market will decide whether it is successful or not. The OP wanted something for free, namely advertising. And so far, he actually got it, as the post has not been deleted!

And good on you for trying to do a good job and trying to explain these things to us. Unfortunately, my mapping work doesn't pay me a bike. I wish it did, I would stop looking for a job. I spent almost a year working on a Thailand map, only to never see it released. Luckily, I kept all the data and have since put it into OSM.

Do you work on the Laos map in question, then?

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Cheers,
Peter.

Europe to NZ 2006-10

I should add one more thing here: Malsingmaps and Malfreemaps in Malaysia have outmapped Garmin. By that I mean that their data is more complete and accurate than Garmin's own and updated far more often.

Garmin implicitly acknowledged that by bundling the MSM map with their units sold in MAL & SIN. Both of these are community projects and free of charge.

Still, there is, in my humble opinion, no danger of either the Lao or Thais setting up such a project any time soon, so there may well be a market for a commercial map, especially if it's geared towards bikers and has POIs with value-added info.

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Cheers,
Peter.

Europe to NZ 2006-10

Hi Peter,

I dont want to make this story long as its a little bit off-topic.

Ok, first, I donot work on Laos map. My area is a different one.

I tested some OSM of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam (not Thailand) which was pretty bad. The accuracy of OSM depends how the author is working. But remember: OSM is a non-professional item.

As I understood, you also develop maps? Then the terms postprocessing and rectification should be common to you Postprocessing means to correct the measurements of the GPS system against its error-factors. Rerectification to correct the GPS data to the "real position". Of course, according to my budget, I cant to it like the governmental land survey institutes. The GPS unit I use for this is from Ashtech (you can google for this).

About the poster of the Laos map: Ok, I agree.

About Malsingmaps: They have special contract to Garmin USA. They have also a special status among the 3rd-party-developers as Garmin is now beginning to ban the 3rd-party-developers (but thats another story).

Ah, yeah, for Thailand exist already some different maps (original Garmin and some other developers), but I never tested them.

Ok, I think I dont forgot anything to say.

Have nice evening,
Paul

PS: Peter, if you sometimes in the south of Vietnam, contact me to go for a .

Hi Paul,

Thanks for the explanations. No, I wasn't aware of those terms, as I was involved in making hobby maps.

Also, thanks for the invite. However, this is unlikely to happen until Vietnam opens its borders to foreign vehicles.

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Cheers,
Peter.

Europe to NZ 2006-10