By: Bobby Parikh (Director, Content Products & Services)
Created: 10/8/09

Hello Developers!

 

We added new locations to the OpenStreetMap demo site today. The full list of locations on the demo site is now: Aizuwakamatsu, Japan; Berlin, Germany; Chennai, India; London, UK; Ouagadougou, Burkina-Faso; Paris, France; Pompeii, Italy; San Jose, USA; and Vienna, Austria.

 

Looking at this list you might wonder how we selected these locations from all over the world. Fortunately, the OpenStreetMap community is there to guide us. We just picked a few locations from http://bestofosm.org/#. Thanks Geofabrik for making this great website available!

 

This update also include much better looking maps. Based on the feedback we received as part of our beta program, we made modifications to the map image configuration. Zoom into downtown areas like Piccadilly Circus in London and Vienna to see the OSM data in all its beauty. [A special shout-out to thousands of enthusiastic mappers like "toaster" and "angst" for mapping areas like Fernsehturm in Berlin in amazing detail!]

 

Here is a high-level list of image changes made:

 

- Added a whole bunch of POI icons: pubs (yeah!), train and bus stations, amenities like phones and toilets, schools, colleges and universities, coffee shops, barriers etc. 
- Better labels for geopolitical entities such as cities, suburbs, hamlets, etc.
- New localized map style for UK and Germany with route shields
- New line styles for walkways and pedestrian/bicycle roads
- New line styles for linear barriers

 

deCarta's core business is providing a mapping platform. As a developer you have complete freedom in making the maps look and behave exactly the way you want. What you see in the demo are just a few things that show what the platform is capable of doing. If you have a specific requirement, please ask--chances are that either our platform already does what you need or we'll be able to support it.

There's so much more work remaining, but it feels like we have a good foundation to start from. As always, we're eager to hear your feedback.