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Thread: GPS How do you use it? How useful do you find it?
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Old Mar 12, 2012 | 9:22 am
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Global_Hi_Flyer
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Originally Posted by Middle_Seat
I assume the accuracy of GPS maps is almost entirely a function of the data provided by the local governing authority.
As nmenaker noted, a lot of data is obtained by driving the streets. This is particularly true for the commercial providers - from Google to Telenav to Navteq. Some is gathered by Google and Apple via your android/iPhone, which require that you allow transmission of your position data back to their servers if you wish to use G or Apple's location services. (Google and Apple use that data to determine traffic speeds and direction, as well as map collection - it replaced Google's cars that used to drive the streets).

There are some open-source map projects, like Openstreetmap. Plus the government authority data.

Accuracy varies for each source.
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