Key Takeaway
Innovators using geospatial data face challenges in selecting mapping solutions that meet their needs. The Overture Foundation, with founding member TomTom and partners like Meta, Microsoft, and AWS, aims to create an interoperable open base map. This initiative integrates data from various sources, fostering collaboration in the geospatial industry. Open standards are crucial, as they streamline data integration, saving time and resources while enhancing innovation. AI technologies are transforming mapmaking by providing dynamic, real-time updates, moving beyond static maps to improve workflows and productivity across industries. This shared vision promotes collaboration and drives advancements in mapping solutions.
Today, those innovating with geospatial data must select from various mapping providers to find the solution that best meets their specific needs.
What has been lacking is a solution that enables all companies and devices to collaborate and communicate through a unified digital representation of the physical world.
As a founding member of the Overture Foundation, TomTom is collaborating with companies like Meta, Microsoft, and AWS to create a reliable, user-friendly, and interoperable open base map.
Overture is integrating mapping data from various sources, including member organizations like TomTom, civic organizations, and open data sources.
Although these companies may compete in the cloud space, their collaboration to develop a standardized base map highlights the fundamental challenges facing the geospatial industry.
The shared vision for creating this industry base map aims to foster collaboration and innovation across essential industries and communities.
Why are open standards so important?
Many companies are keen to utilize open data, but without a common base map, they often find themselves spending significant resources trying to merge data from different platforms.
This alone is a compelling reason to partner with a map provider that operates on an open base map and open standard. It saves time, effort, and considerable frustration when businesses seek to integrate their data, combine it with other sources, or add new features and map details.
Organizations that adopt open standards can enjoy a seamlessly integrated digital stack, ensuring that time and resources are not wasted on resolving or conflating data from multiple platforms.
Importantly, this will allow developers to dedicate more time and resources to creating new services and products tailored to customers’ needs and preferences.
Embracing a common open standard makes data sharing and collaboration much simpler, acting as a catalyst for innovation.
How can AI-based mapping technologies enhance innovation?
AI is significantly improving processes, workflows, and productivity across various industries—and mapmaking is no exception.
Traditional maps, including early digital versions, were static snapshots—dependent on manual updates, outdated, and unable to reflect real-time changes.
The advent of GPS and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) helped close this gap by offering interactive, updatable maps, but they still struggled to keep up with a rapidly changing world.
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