Geographic map browser

["Hakon Gunsen" <hakon_ everyday com>]

Hello,
I'm wondering whether there are plans to establish a geographic-map-browser application for the GNOME desktop?
Geographic maps are such common information sources with a constant demand for it in many different contexts. It could also be used by other applications (like Evolution Contacts, XTraceroute, weather report, GPS program, educational programs).
Of course, the biggest problem would be how to get qaulity map data. It's probably quite expensive merchandise, but at least wouldn't it be possible to gather data for a basic world-continent model (possibly with country borders too) to start with?
As alternative to local storage, data could be fetch over network by a server of choice. I don't know though if there's an open file format that can do that.
Storing city locations wouldn't be a problem, since those are only coordinates that are known.
I think a map browser would be a nice complement to other accessories like gDict and the calculator.

Hakon