MapQuest, a subsidiary of US media giant AOL, has announced the launch of a new mapping site for Australia built on open technology and OpenStreetMap data.
The crowd-sourced maps are improved by consumers who can easily add content and details MapQuest says makes the map more timely, relevant and useful.
Christian Dwyer, senior vice president and general manager, MapQuest said the firm has been committed to building country-specific sites based on OpenStreetMap data.
“We will be focusing on how and where consumers are both using the maps and contributing to them,” he said.
“It’s not just about building quality products, it’s about making them intuitive for different user experiences, cultures and needs.”
OpenStreetMap is a worldwide project to build a global map using crowd sourcing feedback.
The MapQuest site features a language selection option, map tiles updated every fifteen minutes, driving directions updated daily, map toolbar, and options to send to Facebook, email or embedding on web pages.
A simplified error-reporting tool allows anyone to submit a change-request regarding topical map augmentations such as a missing new development, a public bathroom or expanded parking options.
Previously, error-reporting on the MapQuest open sites was a multi-step process that created a disconnect between those reporting errors and those enhancing a map.
Now, contributors are curators of their communities on the map with easy-to-use tools seamlessly integrated and displayed immediately, making the process more simple and accurate.
