Use OpenStreetMap as background map

[brunetton]

Hi everybody

First of all, thanks to everyone that made this wonderfull project possible, you're really amazing ! This is one of the most beautiful collaborative projects I know 

But, as a free software developer and defender, I really wonder: why google maps ? I'm surprised to see a commercial map on a collaborative a free project when there's a free and collaborative map available.
Why don't we use OpenStreetMap ? I see many advantages using OSM:

- no fees (google will update their pricing policies in a few months (here is a French article describing this huge fees increase)
- many maps customization (colors, map features, fonts, ...): some examples here and here 

Auxiliary remark: when I look to the dynamic lightnings map, I often wonder "what is the city hidden behind those lights drawings ?" An option to control the lightings overlay would be great to see cities names behind. Note that cities names are often more clear (more names at the same zoom level) in OpenStreetMap than in Google maps !

I'm a developer at [url=URL REMOVED BY ADMIN[/url] and I would be really happy to help to this project !

Thanks 
Bruno Duyé

[cutty]

Hi everybody

First of all, thanks to everyone that made this wonderfull project possible, you're really amazing ! This is one of the most beautiful collaborative projects I know 

But, as a free software developer and defender, I really wonder: why google maps ? I'm surprised to see a commercial map on a collaborative a free project when there's a free and collaborative map available.
Why don't we use OpenStreetMap ? I see many advantages using OSM:

- no fees (google will update their pricing policies in a few months (here is a French article describing this huge fees increase)
- many maps customization (colors, map features, fonts, ...): some examples here and here 

Auxiliary remark: when I look to the dynamic lightnings map, I often wonder "what is the city hidden behind those lights drawings ?" An option to control the lightings overlay would be great to see cities names behind. Note that cities names are often more clear (more names at the same zoom level) in OpenStreetMap than in Google maps !

I'm a developer at [url=URL REMOVED BY ADMIN[/url] and I would be really happy to help to this project !

Thanks 
Bruno Duyé

Hii Bruno Dave...
First, we removed your link to the phone hack application, since can could cause some international issues...

The developers have been considering other basemaps,

Cheers!
Mikr

[Tobi]

OSM layer can be already enabled here, but still with Google API: https://www.lightningmaps.org/?#m=osm

Of course we would use OSM now if we would start from beginning, but 10 years ago Google Maps API was better, free and still has satellite images. However, we will switch to OSM sooner or later. But have in mind, that we can not just get the map tiles from the OSM servers directly as our maps cause 100 million or more tile requests per hour in times with a lot of lightning activity.

[vk2him]

 .... as our maps cause 100 million or more tile requests per hour in times with a lot of lightning activity.

Wow !!!     

[Eric.Wouters]

OSM layer can be already enabled here, but still with Google API: https://www.lightningmaps.org/?#m=osm

Of course we would use OSM now if we would start from beginning, but 10 years ago Google Maps API was better, free and still has satellite images. However, we will switch to OSM sooner or later. But have in mind, that we can not just get the map tiles from the OSM servers directly as our maps cause 100 million or more tile requests per hour in times with a lot of lightning activity.

great work Tobi 

[Joel]

OSM layer can be already enabled here, but still with Google API: https://www.lightningmaps.org/?#m=osm

Of course we would use OSM now if we would start from beginning, but 10 years ago Google Maps API was better, free and still has satellite images. However, we will switch to OSM sooner or later. But have in mind, that we can not just get the map tiles from the OSM servers directly as our maps cause 100 million or more tile requests per hour in times with a lot of lightning activity.

great work Tobi 

the thunderstorms generate the visits, not Tobias

By the way, great work

[brunetton]

Hi everybody

First of all, thanks to everyone that made this wonderfull project possible, you're really amazing ! This is one of the most beautiful collaborative projects I know 

But, as a free software developer and defender, I really wonder: why google maps ? I'm surprised to see a commercial map on a collaborative a free project when there's a free and collaborative map available.
Why don't we use OpenStreetMap ? I see many advantages using OSM:

- no fees (google will update their pricing policies in a few months (here is a French article describing this huge fees increase)
- many maps customization (colors, map features, fonts, ...): some examples here and here 

Auxiliary remark: when I look to the dynamic lightnings map, I often wonder "what is the city hidden behind those lights drawings ?" An option to control the lightings overlay would be great to see cities names behind. Note that cities names are often more clear (more names at the same zoom level) in OpenStreetMap than in Google maps !

I'm a developer at [url=URL REMOVED BY ADMIN[/url] and I would be really happy to help to this project !

Thanks 
Bruno Duyé

Hii Bruno Dave...
First, we removed your link to the phone hack application, since can could cause some international issues...

The developers have been considering other basemaps,

Cheers!
Mikr

Hi Cutty

LOL, this wasn't a link to a "phone hack application" ! It was the link to the society where I work   But anyway, this confirms that we've to work on our society's online image !

[brunetton]

Tonight I came to Blitzortung to check if there are storms around my place and .. what a good surprise ! Here's OSM by default

http://fr.blitzortung.org/live_dynamic_maps2.php

Now this is a free project

Thanks again to all