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Map material from china not allowed to leave the country

.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__bot-mid-leaderboard:empty{ margin-bottom:0;
}

7

1

I just read an article about a company in germany which tests autonomous driving cars in different countries.

They state that they analyze all of the generated data in germany - with one exception: China.

"Because of legal regulations, no map material is allowed to leave the country."
Googling a few seconds for maps of china shows several results.

Can anyone explain this discrepancy?

legal china

share|improve this question

asked 6 hours ago

TimSchTimSch

1383

New contributor

TimSch is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  youtube.com/watch?v=L9Di-UVC-_4
  
  – Michael Hampton
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

7

1

I just read an article about a company in germany which tests autonomous driving cars in different countries.

They state that they analyze all of the generated data in germany - with one exception: China.

"Because of legal regulations, no map material is allowed to leave the country."
Googling a few seconds for maps of china shows several results.

Can anyone explain this discrepancy?

legal china

share|improve this question

asked 6 hours ago

TimSchTimSch

1383

New contributor

TimSch is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  youtube.com/watch?v=L9Di-UVC-_4
  
  – Michael Hampton
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

I just read an article about a company in germany which tests autonomous driving cars in different countries.

They state that they analyze all of the generated data in germany - with one exception: China.

"Because of legal regulations, no map material is allowed to leave the country."
Googling a few seconds for maps of china shows several results.

Can anyone explain this discrepancy?

legal china

share|improve this question

asked 6 hours ago

TimSchTimSch

1383

New contributor

TimSch is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

share|improve this question

asked 6 hours ago

TimSchTimSch

1383

New contributor

TimSch is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

share|improve this question

asked 6 hours ago

TimSchTimSch

1383

New contributor

TimSch is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

asked 6 hours ago

TimSchTimSch

1383

New contributor

TimSch is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

asked 6 hours ago

TimSchTimSch

1383

2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

9

I am not sure if the context of your question is really on-topic here, but since the answer and its implications is very much relevant for travellers as well, I'll give it a try.

The explanation you have read is not entirely accurate. The problem is that accurate map material is neither allowed to be published, nor to leave the country. The Chinese National Bureau of Surveying and Mapping require all companies to obtain permits for map surveying and published map data must be obfuscated, resulting in a deviation of up to 700m between the map and the real world. To quote a well-known German children tv show: Sounds strange, but that is how it is.

You can easily see the result of this obfuscation if you e.g. in Google Maps look at the satellite imagery with a map overlay. It is especially obvious in border proximity, where you will see that the map data for China is skewed, while the map outside China is correct. If you look at this area, the Shenzhen Bay with the border between China and Hong Kong, you can see that the map over Hong Kong in the lower right area is correct, while in the middle of the bay, the map seem to indicate that the bridge makes a sharp bend to the right, while you on the satellite image can see that the bridge in reality is straight. In the upper left area (mainland China), you can then see that there is a significant discrepancy between the imagery and the map. Roads seem to float on the water, pass through buildings and what else not.

share|improve this answer

edited 5 hours ago

answered 5 hours ago

Tor-Einar JarnbjoTor-Einar Jarnbjo

34.4k486125

• 
  
  
  

  
  5
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @TimSch The Chinese Surveying and Mapping Law does not explain why the restriction is in place. It is commonly quoted that it is for national security purposes, but I am not really sure if there is any official statement on that subject at all. Similar regulations and restrictions are actually quite common in many other countries as well, but usually do not apply to the entire country, just to 'places of interest'.
  
  – Tor-Einar Jarnbjo
  5 hours ago
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Does china mandate how exactly the skewing will be done? Do they do it themselves or is it the companies' responsibility? Can I get a bunch of maps of china and take an average?
  
  – OganM
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @OganM The obfuscation algorithm is prespecified, not publicly known, but obviously deterministic. Since a lot of example data is available, there have been attempts to reverse-engineer the algorithm and there are relatively reliable software libraries available allowing a backwards mapping from obfuscated to real coordinates. You can find more information and links to further resources on Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restrictions_on_geographic_data_in_China
  
  – Tor-Einar Jarnbjo
  2 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I work for a GIS software company and we looked at some of the online libraries. They were okay for a local area--usually Beijing, not usable for the entire country.
  
  – mkennedy
  2 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I opened up a question about the reasoning for this policy on Politics.SE: politics.stackexchange.com/questions/40991/…
  
  – indigochild
  1 hour ago
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 1 more comment

4

China has some pretty strict laws (for national security purposes, it seems) related to mapping and geographical surveying, effectively outlawing it for non-nationals.

See OpenStreetMap's view of the topic.

share|improve this answer

answered 5 hours ago

RichardRichard

1,733517

add a comment | 

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9

I am not sure if the context of your question is really on-topic here, but since the answer and its implications is very much relevant for travellers as well, I'll give it a try.

The explanation you have read is not entirely accurate. The problem is that accurate map material is neither allowed to be published, nor to leave the country. The Chinese National Bureau of Surveying and Mapping require all companies to obtain permits for map surveying and published map data must be obfuscated, resulting in a deviation of up to 700m between the map and the real world. To quote a well-known German children tv show: Sounds strange, but that is how it is.

You can easily see the result of this obfuscation if you e.g. in Google Maps look at the satellite imagery with a map overlay. It is especially obvious in border proximity, where you will see that the map data for China is skewed, while the map outside China is correct. If you look at this area, the Shenzhen Bay with the border between China and Hong Kong, you can see that the map over Hong Kong in the lower right area is correct, while in the middle of the bay, the map seem to indicate that the bridge makes a sharp bend to the right, while you on the satellite image can see that the bridge in reality is straight. In the upper left area (mainland China), you can then see that there is a significant discrepancy between the imagery and the map. Roads seem to float on the water, pass through buildings and what else not.

share|improve this answer

edited 5 hours ago

answered 5 hours ago

Tor-Einar JarnbjoTor-Einar Jarnbjo

34.4k486125

• 
  
  
  

  
  5
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @TimSch The Chinese Surveying and Mapping Law does not explain why the restriction is in place. It is commonly quoted that it is for national security purposes, but I am not really sure if there is any official statement on that subject at all. Similar regulations and restrictions are actually quite common in many other countries as well, but usually do not apply to the entire country, just to 'places of interest'.
  
  – Tor-Einar Jarnbjo
  5 hours ago
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Does china mandate how exactly the skewing will be done? Do they do it themselves or is it the companies' responsibility? Can I get a bunch of maps of china and take an average?
  
  – OganM
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @OganM The obfuscation algorithm is prespecified, not publicly known, but obviously deterministic. Since a lot of example data is available, there have been attempts to reverse-engineer the algorithm and there are relatively reliable software libraries available allowing a backwards mapping from obfuscated to real coordinates. You can find more information and links to further resources on Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restrictions_on_geographic_data_in_China
  
  – Tor-Einar Jarnbjo
  2 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I work for a GIS software company and we looked at some of the online libraries. They were okay for a local area--usually Beijing, not usable for the entire country.
  
  – mkennedy
  2 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I opened up a question about the reasoning for this policy on Politics.SE: politics.stackexchange.com/questions/40991/…
  
  – indigochild
  1 hour ago
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 1 more comment

9

I am not sure if the context of your question is really on-topic here, but since the answer and its implications is very much relevant for travellers as well, I'll give it a try.

The explanation you have read is not entirely accurate. The problem is that accurate map material is neither allowed to be published, nor to leave the country. The Chinese National Bureau of Surveying and Mapping require all companies to obtain permits for map surveying and published map data must be obfuscated, resulting in a deviation of up to 700m between the map and the real world. To quote a well-known German children tv show: Sounds strange, but that is how it is.

You can easily see the result of this obfuscation if you e.g. in Google Maps look at the satellite imagery with a map overlay. It is especially obvious in border proximity, where you will see that the map data for China is skewed, while the map outside China is correct. If you look at this area, the Shenzhen Bay with the border between China and Hong Kong, you can see that the map over Hong Kong in the lower right area is correct, while in the middle of the bay, the map seem to indicate that the bridge makes a sharp bend to the right, while you on the satellite image can see that the bridge in reality is straight. In the upper left area (mainland China), you can then see that there is a significant discrepancy between the imagery and the map. Roads seem to float on the water, pass through buildings and what else not.

share|improve this answer

edited 5 hours ago

answered 5 hours ago

Tor-Einar JarnbjoTor-Einar Jarnbjo

34.4k486125

• 
  
  
  

  
  5
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @TimSch The Chinese Surveying and Mapping Law does not explain why the restriction is in place. It is commonly quoted that it is for national security purposes, but I am not really sure if there is any official statement on that subject at all. Similar regulations and restrictions are actually quite common in many other countries as well, but usually do not apply to the entire country, just to 'places of interest'.
  
  – Tor-Einar Jarnbjo
  5 hours ago
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Does china mandate how exactly the skewing will be done? Do they do it themselves or is it the companies' responsibility? Can I get a bunch of maps of china and take an average?
  
  – OganM
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @OganM The obfuscation algorithm is prespecified, not publicly known, but obviously deterministic. Since a lot of example data is available, there have been attempts to reverse-engineer the algorithm and there are relatively reliable software libraries available allowing a backwards mapping from obfuscated to real coordinates. You can find more information and links to further resources on Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restrictions_on_geographic_data_in_China
  
  – Tor-Einar Jarnbjo
  2 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I work for a GIS software company and we looked at some of the online libraries. They were okay for a local area--usually Beijing, not usable for the entire country.
  
  – mkennedy
  2 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I opened up a question about the reasoning for this policy on Politics.SE: politics.stackexchange.com/questions/40991/…
  
  – indigochild
  1 hour ago
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 1 more comment

I am not sure if the context of your question is really on-topic here, but since the answer and its implications is very much relevant for travellers as well, I'll give it a try.

The explanation you have read is not entirely accurate. The problem is that accurate map material is neither allowed to be published, nor to leave the country. The Chinese National Bureau of Surveying and Mapping require all companies to obtain permits for map surveying and published map data must be obfuscated, resulting in a deviation of up to 700m between the map and the real world. To quote a well-known German children tv show: Sounds strange, but that is how it is.

You can easily see the result of this obfuscation if you e.g. in Google Maps look at the satellite imagery with a map overlay. It is especially obvious in border proximity, where you will see that the map data for China is skewed, while the map outside China is correct. If you look at this area, the Shenzhen Bay with the border between China and Hong Kong, you can see that the map over Hong Kong in the lower right area is correct, while in the middle of the bay, the map seem to indicate that the bridge makes a sharp bend to the right, while you on the satellite image can see that the bridge in reality is straight. In the upper left area (mainland China), you can then see that there is a significant discrepancy between the imagery and the map. Roads seem to float on the water, pass through buildings and what else not.

share|improve this answer

edited 5 hours ago

answered 5 hours ago

Tor-Einar JarnbjoTor-Einar Jarnbjo

34.4k486125

share|improve this answer

edited 5 hours ago

answered 5 hours ago

Tor-Einar JarnbjoTor-Einar Jarnbjo

34.4k486125

answered 5 hours ago

Tor-Einar JarnbjoTor-Einar Jarnbjo

34.4k486125

answered 5 hours ago

Tor-Einar JarnbjoTor-Einar Jarnbjo

34.4k486125

4

China has some pretty strict laws (for national security purposes, it seems) related to mapping and geographical surveying, effectively outlawing it for non-nationals.

See OpenStreetMap's view of the topic.

share|improve this answer

answered 5 hours ago

RichardRichard

1,733517

add a comment | 

4

China has some pretty strict laws (for national security purposes, it seems) related to mapping and geographical surveying, effectively outlawing it for non-nationals.

See OpenStreetMap's view of the topic.

share|improve this answer

answered 5 hours ago

RichardRichard

1,733517

add a comment | 

China has some pretty strict laws (for national security purposes, it seems) related to mapping and geographical surveying, effectively outlawing it for non-nationals.

See OpenStreetMap's view of the topic.

share|improve this answer

answered 5 hours ago

RichardRichard

1,733517

share|improve this answer

answered 5 hours ago

RichardRichard

1,733517

answered 5 hours ago

RichardRichard

1,733517

answered 5 hours ago

RichardRichard

1,733517