Towards Open-Source Maps Metadata

This paper envisions having an open-source web portal for detailed worldwide road network maps with rich metadata. This would be major advancement from current portals that only have road networks without important metadata, including traffic-related ones. The envisioned portal will not only enable researchers to exploit more practical research, but would also enable practitioners and small/medium enterprises to avoid the high cost of commercial maps. The paper presents eight directions that can be exploited towards realizing the vision and acts as an invitation to the community to exploit these directions.