MAPSHARED

MAPSHARED is a framework for collaborative geospatial data sharing that emphasizes distributed authorship, provenance, and permissioned access. It enables multiple users to publish, edit, and synchronize map features across devices and services while maintaining a traceable history of contributions.

Core concepts include distributed repositories, versioned contributions, and interoperable data formats such as GeoJSON, GML, and Shapefile. The platform supports offline edits, conflict-aware synchronization, and streaming updates to keep participants aligned.

Architecturally, MAPSHARED can operate as a client-server hub or in a peer-to-peer network. Data is stored in repositories with manifests and provenance records; security relies on role-based access control and cryptographic signing of contributions. Optional components may provide tamper-evident provenance using blockchain-like techniques.

MAPSHARED emphasizes interoperability with existing GIS standards and licenses. Metadata includes licensing, attribution, and feature quality indicators to help users assess data suitability.

Potential use cases include collaborative city mapping, disaster response coordination, scientific fieldwork, and community mapping projects. The governance model is typically open, driven by a consortium of researchers, NGOs, and industry partners, with ongoing working groups for extensions and compliance.

Limitations to consider include the need for reliable network access, potential licensing complexities, and the requirement for robust data quality controls to prevent contamination of shared datasets. Related concepts include OpenStreetMap, GeoJSON, WMS, WFS, and data provenance.