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Why do maps that use OSM as a backend have more detail that OSM? (lemmy.world)

submitted 8 months ago by gedaliyah@lemmy.world to c/openstreetmap@lemmy.ml

11 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Where is it coming from? Are there other open sources of map data?

I've seen multiple mapping websites that provide business solutions that seemed to be sourcing their data from OSM. However, when I zoom in to known problem areas, I find a lot more detail. They're not getting it from Google, Bing, or Apple, and I find it implausible that these small specialized companies are sinking tens of thousands of hours into adding fine map detail. So where are they getting it? If it is open source is there a way to merge it back into OSM?

For example this website, maptiler, cites open street map as their source. Compare it with the official site. I have found multiple examples of the same thing. Can anyone explain to me what's going on here?

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[–] pootriarch@poptalk.scrubbles.tech 28 points 8 months ago (2 children)

OSM has a lot more data inside than the website shows - in dense shopping areas you can't zoom in far enough to see all the POIs, much less business names.

I've read before that using cached previews was done to stay accessible to less-powerful mobile devices, which would have smaller CPUs that would be taxed by rendering the native vector data. I view it as a branding disadvantage that OSM appears, from desktops, to have less info than alternatives. But that's a battle that's been had many times before, one might as well argue over paper vs plastic.

[–] llii@feddit.de 11 points 8 months ago (1 children)

They’re currently working on vector based maps for openstreetmap.org

[–] Vincent@feddit.nl 3 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Source: https://blog.openstreetmap.org/2024/02/11/2024-announcing-the-year-of-the-openstreetmap-vector-maps/

[–] llii@feddit.de 2 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

Thanks! I didn't remember where I've read that.

[–] lemmy_user_838586@lemmy.ml 6 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

I definitely realize it increases the complexity of the codebase, but I would think a solution would be to add a toggle for underpowered devices to use the cached approach, and if unchecked display all info available.