Hikers recently rescued from an extremely challenging trail in B.C. had planned their trip using Google Maps, prompting a warning about the perils of relying on that platform in the backcountry.
Yeah their maps are pretty shit, often missing paths. I use comaps which is offline open street maps, generally better but can still be lacking. Ordnance survey maps are the best and it isn’t even close.
OSM’s reliability is very locational. I seem to be the only one that updates my area, which works out well as I have access to where future roads will be, (and I need them on the map for my job) but man. Construction here is crazy and a little assistance would be nice! At least OSM actually accepts my edits and additions, though. Google denies every single one, thus continuing the legacy of shit mapping by them.
I love OSM because there was an island in the middle of the river in my town and depending on the water height this island gets smaller and bigger, whenever there is a large amount of rain and the river is extremely high the island vanishes. Usually the island disappears from OSM within about 10 minutes and then is re-added when the river drops down to its normal level. Truly Wikipedia levels of pedantic pettiness, and I’m here for it.
Most people so rarely need to navigate legislation that Ordinance Survey maps aren’t common. Ordnance Survey maps on the other hand are great for navigating the British countryside.
Yeah their maps are pretty shit, often missing paths. I use comaps which is offline open street maps, generally better but can still be lacking. Ordnance survey maps are the best and it isn’t even close.
OSM’s reliability is very locational. I seem to be the only one that updates my area, which works out well as I have access to where future roads will be, (and I need them on the map for my job) but man. Construction here is crazy and a little assistance would be nice! At least OSM actually accepts my edits and additions, though. Google denies every single one, thus continuing the legacy of shit mapping by them.
I love OSM because there was an island in the middle of the river in my town and depending on the water height this island gets smaller and bigger, whenever there is a large amount of rain and the river is extremely high the island vanishes. Usually the island disappears from OSM within about 10 minutes and then is re-added when the river drops down to its normal level. Truly Wikipedia levels of pedantic pettiness, and I’m here for it.
Should show high/low tides… Here we have a few islands at high tides and you can walk to them at low tide.
Nothing is ever perfect and the quality also depends how active the OSM community is. In general Komoot is the common person’s way to access OSM data.
Using ordnance survey maps is often like navigating a minefield. The ordinance survey maps are pretty helpful though.
Most people so rarely need to navigate legislation that Ordinance Survey maps aren’t common. Ordnance Survey maps on the other hand are great for navigating the British countryside.
https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/