Digital maps of Pakistan are now all over the internet. There are some communities which are supported by volunteers. Individuals register themselves as volunteers and start mapping their local regions or even around the regions.

There are Google Maps, Open Street Maps, Naqsha maps which are already available in great detail of Pakistan. We also reported earlier about NAVTEQ Pakistan Maps which are most probably near to launch. NAVTEQ Maps won’t be open for public to contribute though. But for now I just want to let you people know that there is also a new way of mapping Pakistan which actually involves Twitter.

The title says it straight that the way will be through Twitter. Interesting! No? Well I say, it surely is. Before going on about this, I’ll like to thank Jabran from http://geography.pk/ who permitted me to write about it with some early aspect. Yes! He is the one behind this specific way of mapping. If you are here then you most probably knew Jabran for being one of the most distinguished mappers from Pakistan on Google Map Maker.

Long story short. The way involves You + Twitter + Google Map Maker. It will motivate the users with GPS enabled smartphones and who also have the twitter accounts.

	You (with a GPS enabled smartphone and having a Twitter account) will use Twitter App in your phone to report a physical location to @pkmaps. It’s as simple as you use twitter normally on your phone with sharing your location. You can participate in Testing Phase after subscribing with @pkmaps by filling out this form. Subscribing is temporary and will be avoided later on.
Once you have mentioned a location to @pkmaps. The information including the location will only be visible to the members who have been approved by @pkmaps. They are the members who will take it from here and map your input onto Google Map Maker. (You should not volunteer if you have some privacy concerns. Though you can always report a location when you think it’s feasible for you)
	Twitter Users (Approved-Only by @pkmaps) will take your entries and will map them onto the Google Map Maker. These are not any kind of different users but they surely have idea about how to map on Google Map Maker. Means you can also join them after requesting to follow @pkmaps. However these are limited.
That’s it. Google Map Maker This is where your entry will go. And later on Google Maps for public.

It looks like a 4 step process. But no! it’s only two. In simple,

1. You will inform @pkmaps
2. Then users approved by @pkmaps will map it on GMM

Now the question is how will it be useful?

Before answering that I must tell you that mapping Pakistan on Google Map Maker has already been on its speed with the help of local individuals based from various locations in Pakistan. Again thanks to Badar, Faraz, Omar, Jabran, Khurram Siddiqi for organizing Google Event in Lahore back in January 2010. They guided new mappers really well that in result we saw a lot of entries on Google Map Maker right after the event.

So the question is still there “How this additional way will be helpful or useful”?

Well till now the mappers were doing it all alone with the help of their own knowledge. They were contributing on GMM mostly around their local regions. But after with this idea the most contributing mappers will be able to map on GMM not only limited to their own knowledge but also will map with the help of your knowledge.

The important part in this idea is only You. You will increase the digital geo information about Pakistan. You are the one who can make this idea a successful way of mapping and make Pakistan a more prominent on digital globe.

Help geography.pk in mapping Pakistan.

If you want to start right now and help in testing phase. You must fill up a little form so that you will be identified as an interested individual before reporting locations to @pkmaps

Click here to start

Update: Testing phase will end on 30th April 2011. After that day you will not need to subscribe prior to start reporting.