Latest news with #mapping
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Ajna Capital Backs Hivemapper, the World's First Decentralized Mapping Network
DUBAI, UAE, June 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ajna Capital, a leading early-stage Web3 venture fund, today announced that it has taken a strategic stake in HONEY, the native token of Hivemapper, the world's first decentralized mapping network. Ajna Capital will work closely with Hivemapper, accelerating its mission to democratize map-building, rewarding global contributors, and unlocking new geospatial use cases. Hivemapper's platform radically transforms how maps are created and maintained, moving from centralized mapping monopolies to a community-first model. Contributors capture 4K street-level imagery using dashcams, earning HONEY tokens for building an ever-expanding, real-time global map. The result is fresher coverage, cost efficiency, and open data utility for industries ranging from logistics to urban planning. Hivemapper has raised over $21 million in funding to date, with backing from top-tier investors such as Van Eck, Multicoin Capital, GV (Google Ventures), Spark Capital, and Solana Ventures. The project has consistently attracted institutional investors and thought leaders in the DePIN and Web3 ecosystems. Ajna Capital has acquired approximately 1.5% of the total circulating supply of HONEY and will work closely in an advisory role, helping the project expand its reach and impact in South Asia, especially India. "Hivemapper is building a decentralized, contributor-owned map of the world. Ajna's strategic stake gives us the ability to tap deeper into regional insights, talent, and partnerships across South Asia as we scale our contributor base and coverage" said Ariel Seidman, CEO of Hivemapper. "Decentralized mapping is a powerful example of token incentives unlocking real-world impact," said Gourish Singla, Founding Managing Partner of Ajna Capital. "We're thrilled to back Ariel and his team as they lead the next wave of geospatial innovation." For more information, users can visit About Hivemapper Hivemapper is the world's first decentralized mapping network that rewards community contributors with HONEY tokens for collecting and uploading 4K street-level imagery. Built on Solana, the platform empowers a global network to create dynamic, ever-updating maps for logistical, commercial, and civic applications. About Ajna Capital Ajna Capital is a Web3-native early-stage venture fund backing bold founders and real-world blockchain applications, offering capital, strategic guidance, and access to a deep network of partners and institutional investors. ContactAjna Capitalpr@ Photo: View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Ajna Capital Sign in to access your portfolio
New York Times
20-06-2025
- Business
- New York Times
There Might Not Be a Map for That: Budget Cuts Threaten Geological Surveys
Every spring for the last 31 years, Reed Lewis has traversed Idaho to do what technology still cannot: examine rocks, collect samples and make a map that is critical for mining, oil and gas and other industries. He knows getting an early start is essential, as summer smoke and winter snows limit the days that are useful for gathering data. Dr. Lewis, a geologist for the state of Idaho, is normally in the field by June at the latest. But halfway through the month, he's stuck at his desk. That's because amid uncertainty over the federal budget, funds from Washington that pay for geological mapping have not arrived. 'It's starting to be worrisome,' Dr. Lewis said. The concern is widespread; no states have received their 2025 mapping money. What's more, one line in the Trump administration's proposed budget could hamstring the ability of states to create basic geologic maps for years to come. Geologists in every state use federal funds to study wildfires, water resources, hazards and to map the locations of mineral deposits and energy sources. In addition to mining and fossil fuel industries, the free and publicly available maps are used by geothermal energy and real estate companies. Private companies might map a small area of particular interest but they generally do not share the information. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
The Guardian
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Experience: I've walked across three countries in a straight line
Growing up, I loved the outdoors. I gallivanted through the Staffordshire countryside with my stepbrother, Greg. We used to pick a point in the distance and create 'missions' to walk towards it. It was a mischievous challenge that saw us hopping fences, wading through rivers and sneaking around farmers. I was also obsessed with maps, and even read the Birmingham A-Z for fun. When Google Earth came out in 2005, I spent hours studying satellite images. As I got older, countryside adventures became rarer. In 2018, I was working as a van driver but made videos about geography and map-based games in my spare time. I found myself craving a challenge. I thought back to my hedge-hopping days. What if, instead of walking across a few fields, I could cross the width of a whole country – and in a perfectly straight line? I had no idea if it was possible, but using mapping software, I plotted a line across Wales from the English border to the west coast. Following a straight line might sound – literally – straightforward; the reality is anything but. Plot the wrong course, and you'll end up reaching rows of houses that are impossible to pass. You're forced to shimmy or climb over every obstacle. Trips would take multiple days, so I would carry food and toilet roll in my backpack and a tent to camp in at night. I would have to eat, sleep and 'use the toilet' without leaving the line. And even if I managed to navigate all these, there was still a risk being thrown off private farmland. My parents and my girlfriend, Verity, were sceptical and also concerned for my safety. They may have had a point. I didn't train for my first attempt, in early 2019. I got stuck on a mountain with no signal, darkness falling and hypothermia setting in. I had to abort the mission. Nonetheless, when I posted the footage online, I was blown away by the response. Viewers loved the silliness and originality of the concept, and recognised my joy as I scrambled over barbed wire, across rivers and through fields of startled sheep. I'd failed but knew I had to keep trying. After another failed Wales attempt in 2020, I decided to try Norway. The north of the country is less than 30km wide, with few farms and a right to roam – so no risk of angry farmers. But the landscape was alien to me. On one occasion, I barely escaped from a peat bog after being trapped up to my waist. Still, after two days, I finished it – crossing an entire country in a straight line for the first time. Verity was there at the finish line. It felt amazing to share the moment with her. But I couldn't stop there. After my first video, others began to try their own missions. In 2023, two straight-liners told me they planned to cross Wales. By that point, a GPS malfunction had caused my third attempt to fail; the idea of someone else doing it first was devastating. I devised a new route, prioritising mountains over farmland. It was longer, but I felt that avoiding farmers gave me the best chance of completion. I was right, and finished it in February that year, after four days. The satisfaction was incredible. Next came England, something I'd long thought was impossible. The route was more than 100km, twice the length of most of my previous walks. I travelled lighter and a crew followed me in a support van. We met whenever my line crossed a road, and I'd restock my supplies and sleep. It was my toughest challenge yet. Much of the route was forest, and on the last day I hit a sea of fallen trees. The height of the pile, and sharpness of the branches, meant a single slip could be fatal. I faced a gut-wrenching decision: abandon the mission after six days of pain or risk my life to continue. Miraculously, I found a route avoiding the worst of it and got to the end. Still, I'm glad I won't have to do it again. Since then, I've become a father, and my appetite for danger has changed. I'm incredibly thankful to my viewers, whose support has enabled me to do these challenges full-time. I'm certainly not your typical adventurer. But if I were to have any label, that's the one I'd choose – after all, isn't it every kid's dream? As told to Ed Harding Do you have an experience to share? Email experience@
Wall Street Journal
18-06-2025
- Automotive
- Wall Street Journal
Waymo Wants to Bring Its Robotaxis to New York City
Waymo is pushing to deploy driverless vehicles in prized but challenging New York City. The white, camera-laden cars will return to the city next month for the first time since 2021, when Waymo conducted preliminary mapping in part of Manhattan, to do more mapping as well as testing, the company said Wednesday.
Reuters
14-06-2025
- Science
- Reuters
Could this giant telescope help protect the Earth from asteroid threats?
A new telescope could transform our understanding of the universe, and help protect the Earth from asteroid threats by creating the largest map of the night sky, multiple times a night every night, for the next 10 years, according to astronomers. Alice Rizzo reports.
