DWG received a message concerning the mapping of military sites in OSM. Does anyone know if Taiwan has any laws that you are familiar with that would preclude the mapping of military sites?
Hi Glassman
There are two laws and regulations related to military installations
- 軍事營區安全維護條例 (announced by not in effect)
- 要塞堡疊地帶法
It is not hard to map private roads or buildings in the military landuse areas by tracing satellite image. And there are also public available military list publish by the Ministy of Defence, also not hard to know the name of the barrack. Those mappers don’t do any spying to know these information to map on OpenStreetmap.
The one who runs into a dense area of the military installation might be scared, but that is the reality in Taiwan.
Supaplex
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P.S.
This is an email from a senior staff of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications having functions including TDX
有關目前OSM圖資會顯示軍方營區
name: [redacted]
_replyto: [redacted]@motc.gov.tw
message: 您好，不好意思，我們這邊是交通部，民間交通類的很多創新應用都會使用OSM圖資， 近期有民眾發現OSM底圖中含有軍方營區，說顯示國家軍方營區的位置跟Layout不太妥適
例如不知，這是否可以解決呢? 因為我們發現交通類很多應用都會使用到OSM的底圖， 再麻煩社群這邊可以幫我們解惑一下，萬分感謝，感恩感恩~~
subject: 有關目前OSM圖資會顯示軍方營區
Translations as follows:
The current OSM map data shows military installation
name: [redacted]
_replyto: [redacted]@motc.gov.tw
message: Hello, apologies, we are from the Ministry of Transportation and Communications. Many transportation-oriented innovative applications initiated by the private sector use OSM data. Recently, we have received reports from the public claiming that the OSM base map contains military installations, and believe that the geo-info of the military installations and layout is inappropriate.
For example
I wonder if this can be solved via this channel (i.e. OSMTW contact form) since we found that many transport-related applications use OSM as base tiles. We would like to ask the community to help us clear up some confusion. Thank you very very very much, and my grateful for your help.
Subject: The current OSM map data shows military installations
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P.P.S.
Also received an email from solution provider IISI under the state-owned Chunghwa Telecom, wonder if they are coordinating joint projects related to public transport with the MoTC.
請協助移除營區（軍事設施）圖層
name: [redacted]
_replyto: [redacted]@iisigroup.com
message: 您好，營區（軍事設施）圖層標示，涉及軍事敏感議題，建議OSM官方移除此圖層，避免遭有心人士運用。
subject: 請協助移除營區（軍事設施）圖層
Translation as follows:
Please help remove the barracks (military facilities) mappings
name: [redacted]
_replyto: [redacted]@iisigroup.com
message: Hello, the barracks (military facilities) mappings involve sensitive issues regarding the military. It is recommended that the OSM officials remove these mappings to prevent them from being used by unintended parties.
subject: Please help remove the barracks (military facilities) mappings
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Thanks for all the information. I recommend that OP contact this forum to see what could be done, although my guess is that anything that gets removed, someone will add it back.
2 Likes
Tell them to use
instead of OSM.
- No unsightly military installations. 無妨礙觀瞻之軍事基地。
- Fully licenced and funded for other government agencies to use. 開放政府各網站應用。
No need for costly Google, or unsightly OSM. Now there is the aforementioned pure *.gov.tw solution for all *.gov.tw agencies’ background map needs.
Take
for example. Sure they used OSM in the past. But now they are worry free, having switched to the official TW government basemap.