Some brief background… Google Map Maker is a map crowd-sourcing project which was originally targeted at countries with poor commercial map coverage. It produc

Some brief background… Google Map Maker is a map crowd-sourcing project which was originally targeted at countries with poor commercial map coverage. It produces a closed end product [0]. OpenStreetMap (OSM) is a map crowd-sourcing project which produces an end product with an open data license. Advantages of Map Maker include that Google can create maps derived from commercial satellite imagery products, Google has better mapping infrastructure, and maps are eventually integrated into Google Maps. Disadvantages of Map Maker include a closed data license, restrictions on use (for example, no competing with Google), and a more opaque editing process. Meanwhile, OSM has an open license (albeit a controversial one) and a broad contributor ecosystem. For example, Yahoo! has been generous in hosting satellite imagery for use by OSM for crowd-sourced mapping. The OSM community has also been particularly involved in creating maps in disaster and humanitarian situations, such as after the 2010 Haiti earthquake. After the Haiti earthquake, there was some controversy over whether to use Map Maker and OSM among aid groups, NGOs, etc. [1] The restrictions on use of Map Maker data was a key concern. [0] http://www.edparsons.com/2008/06/what-map-maker-is-is-not/ http://www.edparsons.com/2008/06/what-map-maker-is-is-not/ [1] Background: http://geosquan.blogspot.com/2010/01/haitian-earthquake-emphasizes-danger-of.html http://geosquan.blogspot.com/2010/01/haitian-earthquake-emph...