OpenWLANMap

OpenWLANMap is a collaborative project to create a free editable database of WLAN accesspoints all over the world.
OpenWLANMap was inspired by sites such as or OpenStreetMap; it gives the possibility to enter the data of own WLAN-networks. These data can be used to provide WLAN-based location services that also work within closed buildings or in other cases where the sky is covered and where common positioning systems like GPS would not work.
This project competes with commercial providers like Skyhook Wireless or Google that collect such data without the permission of the owners of the networks.
The project bases on a database that contains information about WLAN networks and their geographic location. These data can be used for free according to the GNU Free Documentation License. That offers the possibility to use these data and the location service out of other software applications.
Data evaluation
The OpenWLANMap mainly depends on the help of the owners of WLAN-networks. They can add their network to the database by entering BSSID, Latitude and Longitude of it.
The disadvantage of this method is the amount of data and the speed they are collected with, both highly depend on how well-known the project is to the public.
The big advantage of this solution is the high accuracy of the data that is much better as for networks that are scanned from outside only. As a second point this method is totally legal, here people explicitely agree that heir data can be used within the database. Additionally everybody is able to delete his WLAN-network out of the database.

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