U.S. Government Commits to Open Mapping

The U.S. federal government just made a huge commitment to Open Mapping, taking the lead in creative government partnerships with the OpenStreetMap community.

Collaborate with Citizen and Global Cartographers in Open Mapping

Engaging communities to use open mapping platforms ensures the widest possible benefit of geographic data and improved public services for individuals and communities using that data. The Administration will expand interagency collaboration and coordination with the open mapping community to promote the use of open mapping data in both domestic and international applications.

Specifically, the State Department will continue and expand its public diplomacy program for open mapping, MapGive. Additionally, the Peace Corps will train volunteers to collaborate with their host communities on using and contributing to open mapping platforms. The U.S. Agency for International Development will promote the use of open mapping platforms in its programs and through data creation and youth engagement initiatives like Mapping for Resilience. The Department of the Interior will continue to promote the use of open mapping technologies to manage and share data in interactive map capabilities, including in production of the National Park Service’s digital map program’s web and mobile products. The U.S. Geological Survey will also continue crowdsourcing mapping efforts.

Member nations of the Open Government Partnership set a “National Action Plan” every two years. This third plan for the U.S. government launched at the OGP Summit today. OpenStreetMap has a lot to share for Open Government and the Global Goals, and this commitment can inspire more countries to practice solid openness and citizen engagement. Find me @mikel and let’s make plans at the Summit or online.

from Planet GS via John Jason Fallows on Inoreader http://ift.tt/1PPBHQN
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