Google Map Maker is a service launched by Google in June 2008,[1] designed to expand the breadth of the service currently offered by Google Maps. In some countries mapping data is unavailable, and so to combat this problem Google has decided to open up Google Maps to a collaborative community effort in certain territories. The project is similar to OpenStreetMap (OSM), but unlike OSM which provides its map data under a Creative Commons license, Google obtains "... a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free, and non-exclusive license to reproduce, adapt, modify, translate, publish, publicly perform, publicly display, distribute, and create derivative works of the User Submission".[2]
The ultimate goal of the project is to acquire sufficient high-quality mapping data to be published and used on the existing Google Maps service. -wikipedia-
FLASHBACK. My first Google Mapping Party was a year and five days ago - April 25, 2011 (days before the historical Philippine National Elections). It was a Google Precinct Mapping Party organized by Sir Avel Manansala held at Grab A Crab Restaurant Oval Room, Robinsons Place- GenSan. The party served as Google Philippines' and the Sox Bloggers' share for the National Elections - to help voters locate their Voting Precincts in a breeze and in effect increase the voter turn-outs and achieve a better Philippines. Pnoy won as President and he rest as we always say is history.
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| 24 Busy Mappers in Blue* |
NOW. April 30, 2011. Still through Sir Avel Manansala's determination, the very first Google Mapping Party in General Santos City for the year 2011 took place at the City Mayor's Office New Conference Room. With the objective of mapping and tagging the places which will be highly necessary in time of disaster or calamity, Twenty Four Map Volunteers spent more than four hours, pointing, lining, shaping, zooming in and out or adding name in their neighborhood and the rest of Socsksargen. To make the mapping more systematic, each volunteer are assigned either a municipality or a Barangay or two to map or tag.
My assignment's my own barangay - Apopong and supposedly the neighbor Barangay Sinawal as well but since the images are not that clear, I was not able to tag or map a single establishment for Barangay Sinawal. For Barangay Apopong, I successfully located and tagged the Barangay Hall, Barangay Gymnasium, a School and some chapels and hopefully before the year ends I can able to identify all the important landmarks of Barangay Apopong.
Busy-B Mapping*
Special thank yous goes out to all the sponsors of this activity. Google Philippines, Jollibee Gaisano - Cruchy Chicken Burger, Mamma Maria's Pizzeria, Zagu Pearl Shake, Smart Bro, City Mayor's Office and gensanboy.com.
Lets spread the virus and continue on Mapping our World!
*Photos by Sir Avel Manansala
