Posted on December 11, 2024
By Abraham Poorazizi
Enhancing Accessibility Metrics with Better Data
Data quality is crucial when evaluating a property's access to opportunities and amenities. Recently, we've significantly improved our underlying data to address crucial user feedback about Points of Interest (POI) completeness.
The Feedback
One of our users pointed out a discrepancy in our data:
It only shows 1 restaurant within a 15 minute walk of our place yet there are another 9 that are closer.
This feedback highlighted a critical gap in our POI coverage. While our previous system captured many POIs, we realized the need for a more structured and comprehensive categorization system.
What Changed?
Looking at the before and after snapshots of our metrics for "604 Memorial Drive NW", you can see the change in how we present POI data.
The table below summarizes the key changes.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Schools | 1 location |
| Recreation Facilities | 11 locations |
| Shopping | 24 locations |
| Entertainment | 1 location |
| Restaurants & Cafes | 27 locations |
| Public Transit | 28 locations |
| Category | Subcategory | Count |
|---|---|---|
| Essential Daily Needs | Health & Personal Care | 12 locations |
| Food & Groceries | 8 locations | |
| Banking & Financial | 2 locations | |
| Shopping | Retail Shops | 7 locations |
| Pet Care & Services | 2 locations | |
| Lifestyle | Restaurants & Cafes | 36 locations |
| Entertainment | 1 location | |
| Recreation & Outdoors | Recreation Facilities | 26 locations |
| Walking & Cycling Trails | 45 km | |
| Mobility | Public Transit | 28 locations |
| Vehicle Services | 67 locations | |
| Community & Learning | Schools | 1 location |
| Community Resources | 3 locations |
The reorganization provides better context and more detailed breakdowns of available amenities. For example, while we previously showed "Shopping" as a single category, we now break this down into specific subcategories like "Health & Personal Care", "Food & Groceries", "Retail Shops", and "Pet Care & Services", giving you more meaningful information about what's available nearby.
Data Sources
We use OpenStreetMap (OSM) as our primary data source and conflate it with official sources including federal, provincial, and municipal datasets. This combination ensures comprehensive and accurate coverage. OSM's community-driven approach offers several unique advantages:
- Real-time Updates: Community members continuously update and add new data.
- Local Knowledge: Contributors provide detailed, ground-truth information about their areas
- Quality Control: The community feedback loop helps maintain data accuracy
Alternative Data Sources
We explored newer datasets like the Overture Map Foundation's and Foursquare's open places datasets but found OSM better suited for our current needs. While both initiatives show promise, they're still developing:
- Foursquare data shows coverage gaps in many areas
- Overture Maps Foundation's places data remains in the early stages
Looking Forward
This update significantly improves how we present location-based amenities and opportunities. The new hierarchical system provides more detailed insights about what's available near a property, helping you make better-informed decisions. Key improvements include:
- Detailed categorization showing the variety of nearby services
- Logical grouping of related amenities
- New metrics like banking services, pet care and services, vehicle services, and walking and cycling trails
- Expanded coverage of restaurants, shops, and recreation facilities
We'll continue evaluating new data sources as they mature, ensuring you have access to the most comprehensive information possible. The combination of OpenStreetMap, official data sources, and our improved categorization system delivers the reliable insights you need.
Your feedback helps us identify opportunities for improvement - keep it coming!