Geographical Thinking: Episode 104 – Inside Overture Maps
Accurate, interoperable map data is the backbone of everything from navigation apps to emergency response systems. In this episode of Geographical Thinking, host Michelle Brake explores how the Overture Maps Foundation is tackling the biggest challenges in digital mapping—data fragmentation, inconsistent formats and lack of standardization.
Overture Maps Foundation executive director Marc Prioleau joins the show alongside Esri Canada’s Paul Heersink and Arif Rafiq to share how Overture is building a global, open map dataset that’s clean, current and community driven. From persistent feature IDs to monthly quality updates and standardized schemas, Overture is helping GIS professionals and organizations unlock the full potential of spatial data.
We’ll also hear how Esri Canada’s contributions of roads and address data are aligning with international best practices, and how transportation agencies can benefit from this shared approach. Whether you’re a map lover, data manager or transportation planner, this episode offers valuable insights into the future of open, authoritative geospatial data.
Looking for resources on what we discussed in today’s podcast? Check them out below!
Overture Maps Foundation: A collaborative open data initiative led by major tech companies to create reliable, up-to-date and openly licensed mapping data for global use.
Overture Maps Explorer: This web-based viewer allows users to easily browse and download small segments of global geospatial data in a user-friendly format. It offers free, open-source data access to support small, independent users and lower barriers to entry in mapping.
Community Map of Canada: A nationwide basemap built from authoritative data contributed by Canadian governments and organizations. It provides detailed, up-to-date geographic information that reflects local knowledge and supports a wide range of mapping applications.
