Meta, Microsoft, and Amazon have launched their open-source mapping project

With this data, third-party developers can create global mapping or navigation products of their own, allowing them to go head-to-head with Google Maps and Apple Maps. According to Overture, the release includes over 59 million places of interest, along with data on buildings, transportation networks, and administrative boundaries.

Overture claims that the provided data layers have been structured in a format that allows developers to easily “ingest and use map data in a standard, documented way and will be interoperable.” This means developers can utilize the information to create mapping applications or any services that rely on navigation. The dataset is accessible on Overture’s website.

“The Places dataset, in particular, represents a major, previously unavailable open dataset, with the potential to map everything from new businesses big and small to pop-up street markets located anywhere in the world,” states Marc Prioleau, Overture’s executive director. “Overture plans to build a broad collaboration that can build and maintain an up-to-date, comprehensive database of POIs [places of interest].”