"Faked" or deliberately incorrect maps

[Grant Johnson]

From an article in a German paper.

"Since there are maps, they are faked. And even in times of satellites and Google, there are still hidden places. "

In the original German:
Gefälschte Landkarten - Es führt ein Weg nach nirgendwo - Wissen - sueddeutsche.de

And translated to English via Google Translate:

Translated version of http://www.sueddeutsche.de/wissen/293/451009/text/

[Honybadger]

Great, another excuse to blame my rubbish navigation on.

[mollydog]

Interesting topic.
i've had maps confiscated in S. America by military at borders and
by Police in random stop/searches. They claimed maps were illegal, and as such, considered "contraband". This was known to happen in Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia and Argentina.

In Mexico recently I was traveling with a group. Between us we had three or four different maps of Mexico:

Guia Roji (a private Mexican company makes it)
US AAA Mexico map
Local Mexican map, not sure who made it.
Euro map (Michelin?)

None of these maps matched one another and none were correct all the time. We did not check every inch of the maps but only the areas we were exploring. Quite different interpretations.

Turns out ... they were all off ... not totally wrong but off just enough to
mess up your day. Part of it is new road construction not noted as the map is older ... the rest is a mystery.

Patrick

[Frank Warner]

Some map makers add things in .. so they have a way of proving that their copywrite has been breached.

Between 2 (or more) maps I simple select the one closest to reality that I see and use that one .. untill another one is a better match to reality..

Maps are guides .. like guide books (or wilpedia) they are not allways truthfull

[DaveSmith]

Originally Posted by Frank Warner

Some map makers add things in .. so they have a way of proving that their copywrite has been breached.

That's what I thought this thread was going to mention, but this sounds different.

I'd be horrible as a navigator if I had to get somewhere in a hurry. I tend to wander around knowing eventually I'll make it to my destination. Unless I get distracted and go somewhere else instead.

[RogerM]

Originally Posted by Frank Warner

Some map makers add things in .. so they have a way of proving that their copywrite has been breached.

I met a bloke in a Youth Hostel in the UK (1970s) whose job it was to place random things on the OS maps. He had to check and make sure that it would not cause a major accident, a sort of Monty Python Travel Guide Book in concept.

"I'll just move this hill a little to left, thats better its lines up nicely with that airfield now."

[Threewheelbonnie]

If you did work for MI6/CIA/FSB, you think you'd have software that compares commercial maps, google earth etc. The places where there are differences are the ones where you'd send your satelittes to take a look. I suspect everyone knows this but the local uniformed bully boys like their old excuses.

What annoys me is that electronic maps are so useless compared to paper ones. Garmin instruction "turn left onto Great North Road". This hasn't been a sensible instruction since about 1952, but anyone who can buy an AA/RAC/Michelin map and read the signs know it should be "take the fifth exit off the roundabout onto the A-1 north" :confused1:

Andy

[Tony P]

Originally Posted by Threewheelbonnie

but anyone who can buy an AA/RAC/Michelin map and read the signs know it should be "take the fifth exit off the roundabout onto the A-1 north"

What I hate is the Sat Nav saying "take the xth exit". I would prefer a more directional instruction, something more like "straight on..." or "turn right..." - "...at roundabout". Then you dont have to take eyes off the road to look at the screen, or spend time on the roundabout assessing possible exits and counting them, and you can get in the most appropriate lane or position well in advance.

Getting off topic, I know. Apologies for a gripe.

[Threewheelbonnie]

All exits from roundabouts in the UK are to the left, you need to know which left. At least I hope you'd be turning left, I once met a Polish truck who preferred right turns off roundabouts

Andy

[Tony P]

Sorry - not making myself clear.

To me "Turn left at roundabout" means the overall change in direction desired at the whole junction - not the actual route round a roundabout.

Thus the actual roundabout is to be navigated in the correct direction for the country, be it clockwise or anticlockwise, but ultimately I am turning left from my original previous direction.

[DAVSATO]

what if theres two lefts, and the most obvious one isnt the road your following?

[Tony P]

Originally Posted by DAVSATO

what if theres two lefts, and the most obvious one isnt the road your following?

Or 3 even! LOL
Then you must go round, looking at every side exit assessing and counting, while still riding/driving an unknown roundabout and unknown priorities and unknown traffic patterns. But you know the general target direction, which 90% of the times will be sufficient, so as not to distract your attention.

Enough. I've had my moan - pub time!
No more O/T from me.
Well, not here anyway.

[blacktiger]

Originally Posted by Tony P

Then you dont have to take eyes off the road to look at the screen,

What's wrong with looking at the screen? That's what it's there for.

As I navigate without the voice promts I'm glancing at the screen every 20 seconds or so anyway. So when I see a roundabout in the distance I check which way my route goes and then I'm ready for it. And, with the Zumo automatically zooming in, I get a nice close up of the roundabout on the screen.

[Sjoerd Bakker]

Ah, yes phantom roads on maps- And now google adds phantom place names e.g. at Belize and Honduras border crossings to confound the traveller not alert enough to read the actual town name plaques as they ride in.
On Roji and Quimera maps for years you could see a road connecting east from Acapulco to link back up with Mex 200- never mind that there was a bridge missing rendering that route a no-go until last year.
Even in the USA there are maps which show roads doing things you can not follow on the ground or they miss mentioning a big loop around a military or nuclear power installation- for strategic and security reasons? - never mind that everybody can see those features any day.
All the more reason to use several maps and "average" their information.
As for electronic navigation guides- for the muddle minded who had best stay home.
Too lazy to learn to distinguish north,east south and west they appear to send folks on a left-right cruise.