I think the Github page here already lists plenty of alternatives and explains well, why they were not used: https://github.com/google/open-location-code/blob/master/docs/comparison.adoc
Daniel On Thu, Oct 30, 2014 at 7:10 AM, Gavin Fleming <gavinjflem...@gmail.com> wrote: > Or MapCode: http://www.mapcode.com/ . It's already embedded in TomTom > systems; however, it is open. Only the master grid database is controlled > centrally by a foundation. > > There's definitely a place for a non-coordinate-based place identifier, > especially for the large proportion of the world's population without > formal addresses. It'll be interesting to see what emerges. I've been > thinking a mapcode plugin for QGIS would be a nice idea... > > On 29/10/2014 23:00, Barry Rowlingson wrote: > > > > On Wed, Oct 29, 2014 at 8:34 PM, Daniel Morissette < > dmorisse...@mapgears.com> wrote: > >> This sounds very much like the Natural Area Coding (NAC) system: >> >> http://www.nacgeo.com/ >> >> Interesting idea in theory, but in practice this has been around for >> over a decade and hasn't really taken off, quite likely because an >> alphanumerical code is not of much more use than pure geographic >> coordinates. >> >> Or maybe it's like the case of "rasters in a database" [1] and this >> concept just needs a strong champion to sell us the idea and convince >> the world that we need it? >> >> > Or possibly because of non-open licensing terms? > > http://www.nacgeo.com/nacsite/licensing/ > > I think I have seen some web services teaming up with What3Words which > does a similar thing except translates coords to a word triple via a > proprietary, secret, server-based algorithm. Its cutesy nature ("I live at > monkey sponge gearstick") seems to appeal to many since it makes memorable > locations. > > Anyhooo... > > > > >> Daniel >> >> [1] >> http://lists.osgeo.org/pipermail/postgis-users/2006-October/013569.html >> >> On 14-10-29 3:53 PM, Cameron Shorter wrote: >> > Hi Doug, >> > An interesting and potentially useful concept. >> > It sounds like you are proposing a spatial standard. Have you approached >> > the Open Geospatial Consortium about getting the standard endorsed? >> > >> > With regards to any code which you wish to produce and open source, I >> > suggest considering bringing it under the umbrella of the Open Source >> > Geospatial Foundation (OSGeo). >> > Details about OSGeo incubation here: >> > http://www.osgeo.org/incubator >> > >> > >> > On 30/10/2014 1:08 am, Doug Rinckes wrote: >> >> I'm an engineer at Google, and I have just open sourced a geo project >> >> we've been working on for a while. >> >> >> >> I used to work on our maps, detecting missing road networks and in my >> >> spare time mapping roads in Papua New Guinea, Central and West Africa >> >> from the satellite imagery. But without street names or addresses, a >> >> road network isn't all that useful. People can't use it for >> >> directions, because they can't express where they want directions to. >> >> After talking with colleagues from around the world, I discovered >> >> that's it actually very common for streets to be unnamed. >> >> >> >> We thought that we should provide short codes that could be used like >> >> addresses, to give the location of homes, businesses, anything. If we >> >> made them usable from smartphones, we can make addresses for anywhere >> >> available to anyone with a smartphone pretty much immediately. >> >> >> >> We had some specific requirements, including that these address codes >> >> should work offline, they shouldn't spell words or include easily >> >> confused characters. We wanted to be able to look at two codes and >> >> tell if they are near each other, and estimate the direction and even >> >> the distance. The codes should not be generated by a single provider, >> >> because what do you do when they disappear? Finally, it had to be open >> >> sourced. >> >> >> >> Open sourcing the project was important. We wanted to allow everyone >> >> to evaluate it so that we don't go implementing something that turns >> >> out to not be useful. If it does turn out to be useful, everyone >> >> (including other mapping providers) should be able to implement it and >> >> use the codes freely. >> >> >> >> I'm pre-announcing this to a couple of geo lists today, and I'll be >> >> sticking around for comments and questions. The following links >> >> provide more information: >> >> >> >> Github project: https://github.com/google/open-location-code >> >> Demonstration website: http://plus.codes <http://plus.codes/> >> >> Discussion list: >> >> https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/open-location-code >> >> <https://groups.google.com/forum/#%21forum/open-location-code> >> >> >> >> Enjoy! >> >> >> >> Doug >> >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> >> Discuss mailing list >> >> Discuss@lists.osgeo.org >> >> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss >> > >> > -- >> > Cameron Shorter, >> > Software and Data Solutions Manager >> > LISAsoft >> > Suite 112, Jones Bay Wharf, >> > 26 - 32 Pirrama Rd, Pyrmont NSW 2009 >> > >> > P +61 2 9009 5000 <%2B61%202%209009%205000>, Wwww.lisasoft.com, F +61 >> 2 9009 5099 <%2B61%202%209009%205099> >> > >> > >> > >> > _______________________________________________ >> > Discuss mailing list >> > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org >> > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss >> > >> >> >> -- >> Daniel Morissette >> T: +1 418-696-5056 #201 >> http://www.mapgears.com/ >> Provider of Professional MapServer Support since 2000 >> _______________________________________________ >> Discuss mailing list >> Discuss@lists.osgeo.org >> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss >> > > > > _______________________________________________ > Discuss mailing > listDiscuss@lists.osgeo.orghttp://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss > > > > -- > Gavin Fleming > t: 0218620670 > w: 0218630660 > c: 0845965680 > f: 0866164820 > Paarl > South Africa > 18°59'19.6"E 33°44'46.1"S > > > _______________________________________________ > Discuss mailing list > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss > -- Georepublic UG & Georepublic Japan eMail: daniel.ka...@georepublic.de Web: http://georepublic.info
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