The Open Source GeoWeb – Post OSM Rehash and the Near Space Future of Ballons

OSM “State of the Map” – Manchester UK

Just got back from a great, if jet lagged, two days at the State of the Map in Manchester. Those not familiar OpenStreetMaps (OSM) is a project to collect collaborative street data around the globe that is open for anyone to use. In the US we take this for granted, but in many countries basic geographic data like streets maps can be prohibitively expensive. OSM started as a small London based project but has quickly spread to several countries and has a growing dedicated community of which about hundred were in Manchester. It was really impressive to see how far the project has come and the impressive road map for the future. Not a single bad talk or even bad question in the two days, including interesting insights from Ed Parsons of Google and Sean Phelan of Multimap.

The Open Source GeoWeb

of DIY Drones, which are basically remote control airplanes with a camera and a GPS strapped to them – magic presto you have open source aerial imagery. Sean Phelan talked about slightly more commercial versions running about $60,000. Could we have open source / user generated satellite imagery in the not so distant future? If anything it should break the strangle hold current imagery providers have on terms of service by providing low cost alternatives. Although I think that will be pushed more by balloons than drones. Often called “near space” observations there is a lot of activity going on in the area, mostly driven by the US military.

The original economics of balloons were very expensive, but ones like Near Space System’s get close to the million dollar mark and can cover a 600 mile radius.

The Balloon Boom

As the economics continue to scale down the feasibility of low cost balloons providing an economically viable source of imagery becomes a very real possibility. There is natural oligopoly of companies that can afford to launch satellites because of the economics involved, but balloons could turn that around very quickly providing much needed competition on price and terms of use. It also provides the intriguing possibility of open source imagery collection, although perhaps more interesting, persistent imagery (stationary balloon = real time feed). Aerial imagery replaced by drones and satellite replaced by balloons as low cost alternatives. They could be important pieces of infrastructure for an open source GeoWeb. If you are a Neal Stephenson fan you’ll appreciate the mass balloon image from Diamond Age.