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谷歌要北韓地圖不再一片空白

Google has published mapping information on North Korea, a country that has so far been mostly blank on the popular website Google Maps.

谷歌近期內發佈了北韓的地理資訊地圖，讓北韓在其著名地圖程式上不再是空白一片。

The data was compiled on Google's Map Maker tool which allows ordinary people to contribute information mainly using satellite images or local knowledge.

這份地理資訊是谷歌透過其「製作地圖 (Map Maker)」軟體蒐集而來。這套軟體允許一般民眾上傳所擁有的衛星影像或提供對於所在地的地理概念。

Map data is not widely available for the reclusive nation.

由於北韓為一封閉的國家，外界不太容易取得其地理資訊。

Launched in 2008, Map Maker data has been migrated to Google Maps for many countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan.

但自從「製作地圖」軟體於2008年問世後，包括伊拉克、阿富汗等國家的地理資訊一一被網友上傳，並得以運用在谷歌地圖上。

"This effort has been active in Map Maker for a few years and today the new map of North Korea is ready and now available on Google Maps," said Jayanth Mysore, senior product manager at Google Map Maker.

谷歌「製作地圖」的資深產品經理Jayanth Mysore指出，「數年來，透過各方主動透過這套軟體提供訊息，全新的北韓地圖終於在不久前於谷歌地圖上露面。」

"As a result, the world can access maps of North Korea that offer much more information and detail than before."

他並認為，「接下來，全世界的人都可以幫忙檢視北韓地圖，預計我們可收到比過往更多的資訊及細節。」

The move comes after a private humanitarian visit to North Korea by Google's Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt.

而在發表北韓地圖之前，谷歌執行長施密特才剛結束其北韓的私人人道訪問行程。

Scant information

不足的資訊

In the case of North Korea, satellite images, not local knowledge, were the main source of data. North Koreans cannot access Google.

以北韓來說，這份地理資訊的主要來源是來自於衛星影像，而非當地人的地理知識，因為北韓民眾根本無法連上谷歌。

Goole said a large number of South Koreans contributed information to create usable maps for the North.

谷歌表示，靠著不少南韓人所提供的資訊，谷歌才得以打造這份精確有用的北韓地圖。

"While many people around the globe are fascinated with North Korea, these maps are especially important for the citizens of South Korea who have ancestral connections or still have family living there," said Mr Mysore.

Mysore表示，「世界上有許多人對北韓抱有異常的興趣，尤其是與北韓有著密切歷史淵源或親戚都還留在北方的南韓民眾。這份地圖對他們而言相當重要。」

However, at least one contributor is from Australia, and doesn't speak Korean.

"I wanted to go to North Korea and because it was not yet mapped I decided to start mapping so I could at least see how easy it would be to travel within the country," Sebastiaan van Oyen who works as a risk manager for a financial trading firm in Sydney told the BBC.

Mr van Oyen explained that he used satellite images to get his data saying they "are good enough to cover the whole country, although the quality and date of the data varies".

"For a basic map you will be fine, but it will take time to get reliable street level navigation."

However, he said that the the biggest obstacle towards creating a more detailed map was to get enough local knowledge to name all the features.

"Keep in the back of your mind that there are restricted areas and not much (readily available) local knowledge outside of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)."