Maps with Borders: An International Perspective on Maps and the Internet

Michael P. Peterson

The Internet is simultaneously an ever-expanding map library and a testing ground for new forms of map delivery.  The technology crosses international boundaries so easily that there is naturally a great deal of interaction and development among cartographers in different parts of the world.  New techniques are quickly embraced and the spread of innovation is nearly instantaneous.

   While the Internet fosters the spread of technology, the application of Internet mapping between countries is becoming increasingly divergent. Differences in the use of the Internet for the distribution of maps is related to laws or long-standing practices that prohibit either the distribution of larger scale maps or the display of certain types of information.  This combined with differing agency and governmental support for Internet maps, and varying levels of access to the Internet, has led to a wide disparity between countries in the availability of online maps.  When it comes to maps and the Internet, the borders between countries in the development and acceptance of online maps is clearly defined.

    The availability of spatial data has a controlling influence on the availability of online maps. Laws and practices that limit the free access to data extend across economic boundaries and can be found in both developed and less-developed countries. Online mapping suffers without free and open access to spatial data.  In some countries, restrictions are also placed on the display of large scale maps through the Internet. This is in contrast to other countries that not only freely provide large-scale maps to major mapping sites like Google but also 3-D information for buildings within cities. There is an obvious disparity between countries in the information that is made available, and the Internet makes these differences very apparent.

   The Wiki collaborative method is beginning to influence the availability of online maps.  The Wikimapia site, for example, allows users to upload their GPS acquired data.  Groups of volunteers work together to map out entire cities with GPS devices, thereby circumventing whatever governmental restrictions are in place regarding the distribution of spatial data.

   Another major difference between countries is the online cadastre.  In some countries, Internet maps provide land ownership along with information about the taxable property.  Many cities in the US, for example, provide detailed information on every house, including its size, the number of rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, whether it has a garage or fireplace, etc.  All of these items influence the amount of taxes paid by the owner—a number that is also provided with the maps.  Making this information available allows citizens to compare their housing valuation to others so that everyone can determine whether there is fairness and equity in property taxation.  Such sites are seen as an important component of e-government and a cornerstone of the democratic system.  In most countries, it is forbidden to produce online maps with property information.

   How we represent the world and convey it to others is a critical aspect of human existence.  Maps help provide a view of the world, and the greater access to these maps by larger numbers of people provides a broader understanding of the place we inhabit.  In short, better ways of delivering maps makes for a better world. The Internet may represent a better way, but it is not viewed as such in many parts of the world. While we may blame other countries for not seeing the advantages for free and open maps, we may not always provide the best example to follow.