Parallel Computer Mapping

MapAnt is a huge interactive orienteering map of Finland. The map includes all of the features that you would expect from a good orienteering map, such as contour lines and topographic features.

Perhaps the most distinctive thing about MapAnt is the way it was constructed. MapAnt is an auto-generated map compiled by parallel computing. To make MapAnt 100 computers analyzed and extracted data from lidar maps and topographic maps of Finland. The computers used the lidar maps to extract the necessary data to map the contour lines, cliffs, open land, and dense vegetation. The topographic maps were used to extract the data to map features such as roads, paths, railways, lakes etc.

You can turn map labels on or off on MapAnt by using the 'Feature names' button. The map also includes an 'export' feature which allows you to copy any part of the map and then print it out.