Nestoria UK Blog

This month we were lucky enough to get some time with Steve Coast, founder and head of OpenStreetMap. Started in 2004, OpenStreetMap is revolutionizing online cartography with its volunteer driven, open source approach. In a nutshell, it’s wikipedia for geographic data. Diligent Nestoria fans will of course recall our experiment last October in which we used OpenStreetMap data for our Isle of Wight maps. The best way to stay up to date on OSM matters is the OpenGeoData blog.

Steve, thanks for taking time to chat with us.

1. What was the inspiration behind OpenStreetMap, and how is it going?

OpenStreetMap (OSM) started very simply – I just wanted a map. I had a USB GPS and a laptop but all the solutions for placing yourself on a map were either expensive or infringed copyright. It seemed a fairly simple idea to wander around with a GPS and build my own map – little did I know how far it would go!

OSM continues to grow at a fantastic rate, we’ve had two ‘mapping parties’ (where we invite present and new OSMers along to map an area exhaustively) this year already – one in London and one in Bristol. Many more are planned both here and abroad.

2. Given the explosion of innovation we’ve seen in online cartography the last few years, what are your predictions for online geography in 2007?

Oh dear, predictions! Things are moving so fast it’s pretty hard to say. I think mobile geo will continue to be on the back burner due to shear cost of data and lock-in. At some point the bubble has to burst with map advertising which will cause a bit of a shake out – though Google is going to give 90 days warning for their API users. Whether that happens this year is another question!

3. Tell us a little about the challenges of managing a user driven project like OSM? What are some lessons that might be applicable to other web2.0 “start ups”?

The key I think is to find the base that people from different backgrounds with different opinions can work from. In OSMs case this base could be considered the data format and API. The way we tag data is totally open which gives real freedom to people who want to tag some very obscure things. At the same time there is a community process for narrowing down a set of key tags (’map features’).

Organising community events such as mapping parties has had a big boost. If you can get the community agreement then the rest will, mostly, follow so long as you listen. The caveat is that some things never get that agreement.

4. What are your thoughts on the developments in the property search sector in the last year?

Well it has to be mapping and maps have led Nestoria. I’m by no means an expert on property search but it does seem that the ‘older’ providers are moving over to more a more map-centric ideal as we go on.

5. What are the challenges you think a vertical search engine for property like Nestoria faces?

It’s going to be Google, Yahoo! and Microsoft eventually adding property to their maps. They’re going to try and aggregate everything they can get their hands on – just like I would. The challenge is to differentiate and brand the experience of trying to find a new home – and it’s not like there aren’t many ways to do that!

Thanks Steve, a lot of food for thought. Best of luck in the quest to create free maps.

past Nestoria interviews: Joel Burslem, Ed Parsons, Ben Brandt