About

FOAM aims to create an open, consensus-driven map of the world and location sharing protocol to link geospatial data to blockchains.

History

FOAM is building a location sharing protocol and open map of the world to encode location information into the Ethereum blockchain. Using three core elements- the Crypto-Spatial Coordinate (CSC) standard, Spatial Index Visualizer (SIV), and Proof of Location protocol, FOAM aims to provide a more secure and verifiable version of GPS that puts users in control of their location data.

Crypto-Spatial Coordinates (CSCs) are a standard for connecting physical locations on Earth with account addresses on Ethereum. The Spatial Index Visualizer (SIV) is an open map and user interface for applications requiring location data in the form of a map. Proof of Location consists of Static and Dynamic Proof of Location. Static Proof of Location utilizes a token curated registry (TCR) to accurately map stationary geospatial points of interest (POIs). Dynamic Proof of Location consists of a network of operators triangulating the location of moving POIs using time-synced radio beacons. Users would be able to purchase ‘Presence Claims’ directly from operators to cryptographically prove their location while maintaining control over their location data. FOAM intends to be an alternative to the current GPS system, which the team claims is vulnerable to hacking, jamming and spoofing, and is inaccurate indoors and in dense urban areas. Use cases vary from Real Estate, Supply Chain, and Transportation to location-based gaming and Augmented Reality.

The project was announced on September 22, 2017 by co-founders Ryan John King, Ekaterina Zavyalova, and Kristoffer Josefsson. The team is based out of the New Lab in the Brooklyn Navy Yard in Brooklyn, New York. The CSC, SIV, and Static Proof of Location have launched, while Dynamic Proof of Location is still under development.