Itsabandoned.com Review

Based on checking the website itsabandoned.com, this platform facilitates urban exploration, providing locations and information about abandoned spaces worldwide.

While the concept of documenting historical or forgotten places can be valuable, the practice of urban exploration itself often carries significant ethical and safety concerns that make us strongly advise against its use.

This is due to potential issues such as trespassing, property damage, and personal safety risks, which are not in line with responsible behavior.

Overall Review Summary:

Website Purpose: Provides crowdsourced locations and photos of abandoned buildings and spaces for urban exploration.
Key Features: Location mapping, photo uploads, favorite saving, detailed descriptions, community interaction.
Target Audience: Urban explorers, photographers, enthusiasts of forgotten places.
Ethical Concerns: Promotes activities that can easily lead to trespassing, property damage, and safety hazards.
Safety Measures: The website does not explicitly state comprehensive safety guidelines or warnings about the inherent dangers and legal repercussions of entering abandoned properties.
Transparency: Information regarding the legal implications of urban exploration is not prominently featured.
Community Size: Claims a rapidly expanding community of 150,000 monthly users.
Monetization: Primarily promotes a free app, but potential for in-app purchases or premium features is implied through its “fastest-growing community” claim.
Overall Recommendation: Not recommended due to significant ethical and safety concerns associated with urban exploration. The risks involved often outweigh any potential benefits.

While the concept of exploring and documenting abandoned places might seem appealing to some, the practical execution through “urban exploration” frequently involves activities that are not permissible, such as trespassing on private property, which can lead to legal issues and personal harm.

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Furthermore, such activities often involve disrespect for property rights and can contribute to vandalism or degradation of historical sites.

Instead of engaging in potentially hazardous and legally questionable urban exploration, we strongly advocate for responsible and lawful alternatives that allow for appreciation of history, architecture, and photography without compromise.

Best Ethical Alternatives for Historical and Architectural Appreciation:

Google Arts & Culture
- Key Features: Virtual tours of museums, historical sites, and cultural heritage locations. high-resolution imagery. detailed historical information. curated collections.
- Average Price: Free.
- Pros: Access to thousands of global sites from anywhere. completely legal and safe. rich educational content. diverse cultural experiences. supports preservation.
- Cons: Lacks the “physical exploration” aspect. requires internet access.
National Park Service Website
- Key Features: Information on national parks, historical sites, and monuments. virtual tours. educational resources. planning tools for legal visits.
- Average Price: Free for information, park entrance fees vary.
- Pros: Promotes legal and safe exploration of protected sites. supports conservation. provides historical context. encourages responsible tourism.
- Cons: Limited to official sites. physical visits require travel and sometimes fees.
Historic American Buildings Survey HABS Collection via Library of Congress
- Key Features: Extensive archive of architectural drawings, photographs, and historical reports for significant American structures. detailed documentation.
- Pros: In-depth, historically accurate documentation. legal and academic resource. ideal for research and architectural appreciation. supports preservation efforts.
- Cons: Primarily focuses on documented historical structures. not interactive in an “exploration” sense.
Atlas Obscura
- Key Features: Curated guide to unique, unusual, and wondrous places around the world. highlights hidden gems and historical oddities. user-submitted content with editorial review.
- Average Price: Free website content.
- Pros: Discover intriguing locations that are generally accessible and legal. focus on cultural and historical significance. provides inspiration for responsible travel.
- Cons: Not all listed locations are “abandoned”. some places might still require careful planning or local permissions.
Flickr Commons
- Key Features: Access to millions of publicly licensed historical photographs from archives and libraries worldwide. allows exploration of historical imagery.
- Pros: Legal access to vast photo collections. excellent for historical research and visual appreciation. supports open access to cultural heritage.
- Cons: Purely a photo archive. no physical exploration involved.
OpenStreetMap
- Key Features: Collaborative, open-source mapping project. detailed geographical data, including historical points of interest and public access areas. useful for planning responsible exploration.
- Pros: Highly detailed and community-driven maps. can be used to identify publicly accessible historical sites. supports responsible navigation.
- Cons: Requires user skill to interpret data. does not specifically highlight “abandoned” places in a way that encourages illicit entry.
Amazon search for “Architectural History Books”
- Key Features: Access to a wide range of books and academic texts on historical architecture, urban decay, and forgotten places. provides in-depth knowledge.
- Average Price: Varies by book e.g., $15-$50.
- Pros: Legal and safe way to learn about the subject. supports intellectual curiosity. can offer insights without physical risk.
- Cons: Not an interactive “exploration” experience. requires reading.

Find detailed reviews on Trustpilot, Reddit, and BBB.org, for software products you can also check Producthunt.

IMPORTANT: We have not personally tested this company’s services. This review is based solely on information provided by the company on their website. For independent, verified user experiences, please refer to trusted sources such as Trustpilot, Reddit, and BBB.org.

Table of Contents

The Troubling Allure of Urban Exploration: A Deep Dive into itsabandoned.com

Urban exploration, often abbreviated as “urbex,” involves discovering and documenting abandoned buildings, forgotten infrastructure, and other derelict man-made structures.

While the concept might sound like a thrilling adventure for photographers, historians, or those seeking unique perspectives, the reality often intertwines with significant legal, ethical, and safety concerns.

This review of itsabandoned.com aims to dissect these aspects, particularly focusing on how the platform facilitates activities that can be highly problematic.

Understanding the Appeal and the Peril of Urban Exploration

The human fascination with the past, the forgotten, and the decaying is undeniable.

Urban explorers are often drawn to these sites for their historical value, architectural beauty, or simply the eerie silence of a place reclaimed by time. Bitpowermining.com Review

Itsabandoned.com taps into this curiosity by providing a crowdsourced database of such locations.

The Allure:

Historical Documentation: Many explorers aim to document these places before they are demolished or further deteriorate, preserving a visual record.
Aesthetic Photography: The decay, natural light, and unique atmospheres of abandoned sites offer unparalleled opportunities for photography.
Sense of Discovery: The thrill of finding a hidden gem or a forgotten piece of history.

The Peril Why it’s Problematic:

Trespassing: The vast majority of abandoned properties are privately owned. Entering them without explicit permission constitutes trespassing, which is illegal and can lead to fines, arrest, or even civil lawsuits. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures NCSL, trespassing laws vary by state but generally involve entering or remaining on someone’s property without permission.
Safety Hazards: Abandoned buildings are inherently dangerous. They often contain structural instabilities, asbestos, lead paint, mold, sharp debris, and unsafe flooring. Falls are common, and emergency services may be unaware of your presence or location. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration OSHA frequently warns about the dangers of neglected structures, particularly regarding collapse risks and hazardous materials.
Property Damage: While many urban explorers claim a “leave no trace” ethos, accidents happen, and the mere presence of people can accelerate decay or attract others who do not share the same respect for the property. Vandalism, graffiti, and theft are also associated risks that are difficult to control once a location becomes public knowledge.
Ethical Implications: Entering private property without consent is a violation of rights. Publicizing locations can also lead to an influx of visitors, potentially overwhelming a fragile site, attracting vandals, or disturbing local communities.

Itsabandoned.com’s approach of providing “accurate location” and fostering a large community, while appealing for exploration, inadvertently amplifies these risks.

The platform’s promotion of “digital urbex exploration” through real-world location data is a double-edged sword, offering convenience but also lowering the barrier to entry for potentially unsafe and illegal activities. Esrazone.com Review

itsabandoned.com Review & First Look: A Detailed Examination

Upon first glance, itsabandoned.com presents itself as a sleek, modern platform dedicated to urban exploration.

The homepage immediately highlights its core offering: “Urban exploration with location Abandoned, forgotten and deserted spaces, places and buildings, listed with accurate location.” This directness is both its strength and its fundamental flaw from an ethical standpoint.

Design and User Interface:

The website’s design is clean and intuitive, focusing on visuals and clear calls to action, particularly “Get the Free App.” The claim of “Intuitive design” after a “UX review” seems accurate, as navigation is straightforward.

High-quality images of abandoned sites are prominently displayed, drawing the user in visually. Tvisha.com Review

Core Functionality:

The primary function revolves around providing “accurate location” for abandoned spots, coupled with community-contributed photos and descriptions.

Location Data: The site emphasizes “accurate location” and “1 tab, in the details you can navigate to position you have selected with Google Maps. Bam there you go .” This direct mapping integration, while convenient, directly facilitates physical entry into potentially off-limits areas.
Community Contribution: Users can “Upload your own pictures” and “Contribute” by adding new locations or sharing knowledge. This crowdsourcing model rapidly expands the database, but also means less vetting of information and potentially increased exposure for sensitive sites.
“Save your favorites”: A standard feature for any content-rich platform, allowing users to bookmark locations.

Missing Information and Ethical Concerns:

Crucially, what’s missing from the prominent sections of itsabandoned.com’s homepage is as telling as what’s present. There is no clear, explicit warning about:

Legal Risks: No prominent disclaimer about trespassing laws, fines, or potential arrests associated with entering private property.
Safety Warnings: While abandoned buildings are inherently dangerous, the website doesn’t provide explicit, front-and-center warnings about structural integrity, hazardous materials asbestos, lead, or other physical risks.
Ethical Guidelines: There’s no immediately visible code of conduct that strongly discourages trespassing or encourages obtaining permission from property owners. The emphasis is entirely on exploration, not responsible access.

This lack of critical information suggests a prioritization of convenience and access over user safety and legal compliance. Detoxpeople.eu Review

While a community might exist, without strong ethical guidelines and warnings, it can inadvertently promote irresponsible behavior.

itsabandoned.com Features: Facilitating Risky Exploration

While presented as user-friendly tools, the features of itsabandoned.com primarily serve to make urban exploration, with its inherent risks, more accessible.

The emphasis is on convenience and expansion, rather than caution or legality.

Key Features Dissected:

“Accurate location Navigation”: This is arguably the most central feature. The ability to “see the location” and “navigate to position you have selected with Google Maps” streamlines the process of finding and reaching abandoned sites.
- Impact: Reduces the effort required for reconnaissance, making it easier for individuals, including those new to urban exploration, to find and access properties they likely shouldn’t be entering. This direct linking to navigation tools, while convenient, bypasses any need for users to research legal access or safety before heading out.
“Save your favorites”: A standard feature for user convenience, allowing individuals to curate their own list of intriguing locations.
- Impact: Encourages repeated visits or future planning for exploring specific sites, potentially increasing the frequency of trespassing.
“Accurate description”: Including details like “Pictures with authors,” “Amount of views,” “Distance,” “Keywords,” and “Date of creation.”
- Impact: Provides context and historical information about the sites, which can be valuable for appreciation. However, by providing comprehensive details, it also makes locations more attractive targets for a wider audience, including those with ill intentions e.g., scavengers, vandals. The “Amount of views” feature can create a popularity contest, drawing more attention to certain sites.
“Intuitive design”: The website states, “After UX review our products designs are clean and intuitive.”
- Impact: A well-designed, easy-to-use platform lowers the barrier to entry for users, making the act of finding and documenting abandoned places seem less daunting. This can draw in individuals who might not fully understand the legal and safety ramifications.
“Upload your own pictures” & “Contribute”: The platform boasts a “rapidly expanding community of 150,000 explorers using it every month” and encourages users to “send us your pictures” and “add new abandoned locations yourself.”
- Impact: This crowdsourcing model allows the database to grow quickly, fueled by user-generated content. While this fosters a community, it also means that the accuracy of location data and the ethical nature of how that data was obtained e.g., was permission granted to photograph/enter? largely relies on the community’s self-regulation. There’s no clear indication of a robust verification process for user-submitted locations to ensure legality or safety. The sheer volume of “2,070,000+ User’s pictures stored” demonstrates the scale of this activity.
Podcast Integration: The website links to a podcast episode featuring the founder, Maxime Gerbe, discussing the app.
- Impact: Further legitimizes and promotes the activity of using the app to find “crowdsourced, mapped locations for abandoned spaces,” again emphasizing the accessibility over potential risks.

In essence, the features of itsabandoned.com are designed to maximize ease of access and community engagement around urban exploration. Fernbrookhomes.com Review

While this might be seen as a positive for enthusiasts, it overlooks the critical need for comprehensive warnings and strong ethical guidelines to mitigate the inherent dangers and legal issues associated with the activity itself.

itsabandoned.com Cons: The Unaddressed Ramifications

While itsabandoned.com excels in user-friendliness and community engagement, its significant drawbacks stem directly from the nature of the activity it promotes: urban exploration.

These cons revolve around the inherent dangers, legal issues, and ethical considerations that are not adequately addressed on the platform’s public-facing pages.

Major Cons:

Promotion of Trespassing: This is the most critical con. The website’s core function is to provide “accurate location” data for abandoned sites. Abandoned doesn’t mean public. The vast majority of these properties are privately owned, and entering them without explicit permission constitutes trespassing. Qoojpn.com Review
- Data Point: According to various state law enforcement agencies, trespassing charges can range from misdemeanors carrying fines of hundreds to thousands of dollars, to felonies with potential jail time, particularly if property damage occurs or if the individual resists arrest.
- Real-world Impact: Users of this platform are implicitly encouraged to engage in illegal activities, exposing themselves to legal penalties.
Significant Safety Hazards: Abandoned buildings are structurally unsound and often contain hazardous materials.
- Risks Include:
  - Structural Collapse: Floors, roofs, and walls can give way without warning.
  - Asbestos and Lead Paint: Common in older buildings, these are serious health hazards when disturbed.
  - Mold and Mildew: Can cause severe respiratory issues.
  - Sharp Debris: Broken glass, rusted metal, exposed nails are rampant.
  - Unstable Stairs and Ladders: Often corroded or rotten.
  - Unmarked Pits and Holes: Fall risks are high.
  - Presence of Homeless Individuals or Drug Users: Can lead to unexpected encounters and safety risks.
  - Lack of Utilities: No running water, electricity, or working sewage systems, making conditions unsanitary and dangerous.
- Real-world Impact: Users face a high risk of serious injury, long-term health problems, or even death. Emergency services may have difficulty locating individuals in such precarious environments.
Ethical Irresponsibility: The website makes it easy to find locations, which can lead to increased traffic at fragile sites.
- Impact:
  - Accelerated Decay: Increased foot traffic can further damage historical structures.
  - Vandalism and Theft: While not the intent of all explorers, publicizing locations can attract individuals who are there to deface, steal, or scavenge, leading to irreversible damage.
  - Disrespect for Private Property: Encouraging entry onto private land without consent undermines property rights.
  - Disturbance to Communities: Increased activity around abandoned sites can be a nuisance to nearby residents.
Lack of Prominent Warnings and Disclaimers: A significant shortcoming of itsabandoned.com is the absence of clear, front-and-center warnings regarding legal risks and safety hazards.
- Comparison: Reputable outdoor activity platforms e.g., hiking apps often have extensive disclaimers about terrain, weather, and necessary precautions. itsabandoned.com, by contrast, focuses almost entirely on the discovery aspect.
- Impact: Users, especially those new to urban exploration, may not fully grasp the severe implications of their actions or the dangers involved, leading to uninformed decisions.
Potential for Misuse and Liability: By providing exact locations, the platform unintentionally provides a tool that could be misused for illegal activities beyond mere exploration, such as illegal dumping, drug use, or even criminal activities.
- Legal Precedent: While the platform itself might not directly encourage illegal acts, providing the means to easily locate sites without sufficient warnings could, in some jurisdictions, potentially lead to questions of indirect liability or encouragement.

In summary, while itsabandoned.com offers an appealing interface for exploring forgotten places, its fundamental flaw lies in promoting an activity that is inherently risky, often illegal, and ethically questionable, all without sufficient disclaimers or guidance to mitigate these serious concerns. Karecovering.com Review

How to Stay Ethical and Safe: Itsabandoned.com Alternatives

Given the significant ethical and safety concerns associated with urban exploration as facilitated by itsabandoned.com, focusing on responsible and legal ways to appreciate history, architecture, and forgotten spaces is paramount.

The alternatives below offer pathways to engage with these interests without resorting to trespassing or endangering oneself.

Embracing Ethical Alternatives:

The goal is to shift from unsanctioned exploration to sanctioned, legal, and safe engagement with historical and architectural wonders.

This means prioritizing education, preservation, and respect for property. Coxcablespecial.com Review

Google Arts & Culture:
- Why it’s better: Offers virtual tours of thousands of museums, historical sites, and cultural heritage locations worldwide. You can explore stunning high-resolution imagery, detailed historical information, and curated collections from the comfort and safety of your home. It’s completely legal, free, and provides immense educational value without any physical risk.
- Key Benefit: Provides immersive experiences without any ethical or safety compromises.
National Park Service Website:
- Why it’s better: The NPS manages numerous historical sites, battlefields, monuments, and cultural parks across the United States. Their website provides detailed information, virtual tours, and guidance for legal and safe visits. These sites are often preserved and maintained, offering a controlled environment for appreciation.
- Key Benefit: Supports direct, legal engagement with preserved historical locations, contributing to their upkeep and educational outreach.
Historic American Buildings Survey HABS Collection via Library of Congress:
- Why it’s better: This is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in American architecture and history. The HABS collection documents historically significant structures through extensive architectural drawings, large-format photographs, and written historical reports. It’s a treasure trove for in-depth research and visual exploration, all digitized and publicly accessible.
- Key Benefit: Offers deep academic and visual access to historical structures without any physical interaction, fostering intellectual curiosity and preserving history digitally.
Atlas Obscura:
- Why it’s better: While not strictly focused on “abandoned” places, Atlas Obscura curates a fascinating guide to unique, unusual, and wondrous places around the world. Many of these are accessible, quirky historical sites, hidden museums, or public art installations. The platform emphasizes discovery and unique experiences while generally promoting legal and responsible visitation.
- Key Benefit: Encourages responsible tourism to unique and often overlooked legal attractions, inspiring discovery through ethical means.
Flickr Commons: Sautilitiesltd.com Review
- Key Benefit: Offers a massive, legal archive of historical photography, allowing for visual exploration and research without physical risk.
OpenStreetMap:
- Why it’s better: As a collaborative, open-source mapping project, OpenStreetMap contains detailed geographical data. While it doesn’t highlight “abandoned” places specifically for illicit entry, it can be used to identify publicly accessible historical markers, old roads, and other points of interest. It’s a tool for responsible navigation and planning legal explorations of public spaces.
- Key Benefit: A powerful, community-driven mapping tool that supports responsible planning and navigation for legal outdoor and historical exploration.
Amazon search for “Architectural History Books”:
- Why it’s better: Sometimes, the best way to explore is through knowledge. Investing in books about architectural history, urban decay, ghost towns, or historical preservation offers in-depth insights into the very topics that attract urban explorers. These resources provide context, stories, and detailed visual information without any associated risks.
- Key Benefit: Fosters deep intellectual engagement with the subject matter in a completely safe, legal, and enriching manner.

By choosing these ethical alternatives, individuals can satisfy their curiosity about forgotten places and historical structures while upholding legal boundaries, ensuring personal safety, and contributing to the responsible appreciation and preservation of our shared heritage.

Itsabandoned.com Pricing: The Cost Beyond the Dollar

The website itsabandoned.com primarily promotes a “Free App,” suggesting that initial access to its core features—namely, location data and community content—comes without an upfront monetary cost. Seoanalyzer.pro Review

However, it’s crucial to understand that “free” often comes with other forms of “payment” or potential liabilities, especially in a context like urban exploration.

The “Free” Model:

App Store & Play Store: The website prominently displays links to download the app from both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, reinforcing the idea of free access.
“Get the Free App”: This call to action is central to their user acquisition strategy, aiming to rapidly expand their “community of 150,000 explorers.”

Hidden “Costs” and Liabilities:

While there might not be a direct subscription fee for basic usage, the true cost of engaging with a platform like itsabandoned.com can be substantial, albeit indirectly. These “costs” are not financial in the traditional sense but represent significant risks and potential negative consequences:

Legal Fees and Fines: The most immediate and tangible “cost” of trespassing. If caught on private property, individuals can face: Collegeofeventmanagement.edu.au Review
- Fines: Ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars depending on the jurisdiction and severity.
- Arrest and Criminal Record: Trespassing can lead to a criminal record, impacting future employment, housing, and other opportunities.
- Civil Lawsuits: Property owners can sue for damages, injuries incurred on their property, or emotional distress.
- Data Point: According to a report by the Bureau of Justice Statistics BJS, property crime, including trespassing, accounts for a significant portion of arrests, and legal defense costs can quickly escalate.
Medical Expenses: Injuries sustained during urban exploration are common and can be severe.
- Examples: Falls leading to broken bones, cuts from sharp objects requiring stitches, respiratory issues from asbestos or mold exposure, tetanus from punctures, or more critical injuries from structural collapses.
- Impact: Hospital visits, surgeries, rehabilitation, and long-term medical care can lead to astronomical out-of-pocket expenses, even with insurance.
- Data Point: The average cost of an emergency room visit for a fracture can easily exceed $2,500, and surgery can run into tens of thousands of dollars.
Property Damage Costs: While not the intent of most urban explorers, damage can occur accidentally or by subsequent visitors attracted to publicized locations.
- Impact: If held responsible, an individual could be liable for costs of repairs or remediation of hazardous materials.
Reputational Damage: Getting caught trespassing or injured in an abandoned building can lead to negative publicity, especially in smaller communities or if law enforcement is involved.
- Impact: Can harm personal and professional reputation, making it harder to gain trust or opportunities.
Ethical Cost Theft of Experience: Publicizing locations can lead to overcrowding, accelerated degradation, and ultimately, the loss of the unique, “undiscovered” nature of these sites for future generations, even those who might have legal access.

Potential for Future Monetization: Domainify.com Review

While currently “free,” many apps that build large user bases eventually introduce premium features, subscriptions, or in-app purchases.

Itsabandoned.com, with its claim of being the “fastest-growing community,” could easily transition to a freemium model offering:

Premium Location Access: More exclusive or detailed location data.
Ad-free Experience: Removal of advertisements.
Advanced Features: Enhanced mapping, community interaction tools, or curated content.

Regardless of future financial models, the immediate and significant “costs” associated with the inherent risks of urban exploration remain the most pressing concern when evaluating itsabandoned.com.

The “free” app comes with a very real and potentially high price tag in terms of personal safety, legal consequences, and ethical considerations.

Itsabandoned.com vs. Responsible Historical Exploration: A Contrast in Approaches

When evaluating itsabandoned.com, it’s crucial to contrast its approach with platforms and practices that promote responsible and ethical engagement with historical and architectural sites. Vmmask.net Review

The fundamental difference lies in the emphasis: itsabandoned.com prioritizes direct, often unsanctioned access to abandoned sites, while responsible alternatives focus on legal visitation, preservation, and education.

Itsabandoned.com’s Approach Problematic:

Focus: Providing crowdsourced, mapped locations for “abandoned, forgotten and deserted spaces” for physical exploration.
Mechanism: Direct Google Maps navigation, user photo uploads, and community contributions to expand the database of locations.
Underlying Principle: Ease of access to specific, often privately-owned, decaying sites.
Risks Amplified:
- Trespassing: Directly facilitates illegal entry.
- Safety Hazards: Encourages entry into dangerous structures without adequate warnings.
- Property Disrespect: Overlooks owner rights and potential for site degradation.
- Legal Consequences: Users are exposed to fines, arrests, and lawsuits.

Responsible Historical Exploration Ethical and Safe:

This category includes numerous organizations, platforms, and personal practices designed to appreciate history and architecture without compromise.

National Park Service NPS & State Parks: Profabaccess.com Review
- Mechanism: Clearly marked trails, interpretive centers, guided tours, and strict regulations for visitation.
- Underlying Principle: Conservation, public access, education, and respect for heritage.
- Benefits: Legal, safe, educational, contributes to preservation through fees and support.
- Contrast: Provides legal access to preserved sites, unlike the unsanctioned access to often deteriorating private properties promoted by itsabandoned.com.
Historical Societies & Preservation Trusts:
- Focus: Documenting, preserving, and sometimes restoring historical buildings and sites. They often offer tours, lectures, and open houses for legally acquired properties.
- Mechanism: Research, fundraising, direct property acquisition, and organized events.
- Underlying Principle: Active preservation, historical accuracy, and community engagement.
- Benefits: Direct contribution to saving history, learning from experts, structured and safe engagement.
- Contrast: Actively works with property owners or as owners to provide legitimate access, rather than bypassing permissions.
Digital Archives & Virtual Tours e.g., Google Arts & Culture, Library of Congress HABS:
- Focus: Providing extensive digital access to historical documents, photographs, architectural plans, and immersive virtual experiences of significant sites globally.
- Mechanism: High-resolution scanning, 3D modeling, curated online exhibitions, and comprehensive metadata.
- Underlying Principle: Open access to knowledge, digital preservation, and education. Pacificnetworks.net Review
- Benefits: No physical risk, no legal issues, global access, deep learning opportunities.
- Contrast: Offers the “exploration” aspect purely through digital means, completely eliminating the dangers and illegalities of physical trespassing. It satisfies curiosity without real-world consequences.
- Focus: Documenting the urban environment, including older buildings, unique architecture, and historical cityscapes, but always from publicly accessible areas or with explicit permission.
- Mechanism: Street photography, architectural photography from public vantage points, and obtaining permits for private property access.
- Underlying Principle: Creative expression within legal and ethical bounds.
- Benefits: Artistic outlet, skill development, community, no legal or safety issues.
- Contrast: Emphasizes how and where to photograph legally, in stark contrast to itsabandoned.com’s focus solely on what to find.

In essence, while itsabandoned.com appeals to a sense of adventure, its model directly conflicts with the principles of safety, legality, and respectful engagement that characterize responsible historical and architectural exploration.

The fundamental difference is between encouraging actions that often fall outside legal and ethical boundaries, versus providing pathways for genuine learning and appreciation within established norms.

How to Stay Safe: Avoiding the Dangers of Unsanctioned Exploration

The allure of the unknown, the thrill of discovery, and the aesthetic of decay can be powerful draws.

However, succumbing to these without rigorous safety protocols and legal awareness can lead to severe consequences.

When platforms like itsabandoned.com make it easy to locate abandoned sites, the responsibility for safety falls squarely on the individual.

Here’s a breakdown of how to approach such interests responsibly, steering clear of the pitfalls.

Prioritize Safety Above All Else:

The core message here is that true safety in urban exploration of abandoned sites is often unattainable without explicit permission and professional assessment.

The following points emphasize why general urban exploration, as promoted by platforms like itsabandoned.com, is inherently risky.

Do Not Trespass: This is the absolute first rule. Most abandoned properties are private. Entering them without explicit, written permission from the property owner is illegal.
- Legal Ramifications: As discussed, this can lead to fines, arrest, and a criminal record. Property owners have the right to protect their land and may use force if they feel threatened.
- Data Point: A study on property crimes in major U.S. cities indicated that a significant percentage of arrests are related to trespassing, often alongside other minor offenses like vandalism.
Recognize and Avoid Structural Hazards: Abandoned buildings degrade over time, making them extremely dangerous.
- Ceilings and Floors: Can collapse without warning due to water damage, rot, or termite infestation. Beams can be compromised.
- Stairs: Often rotted, missing steps, or completely unstable.
- Roofs: Can cave in, especially after heavy rain or snow.
- Walls: Can crumble due to foundation issues or impact.
- Recommendation: Unless an area has been professionally inspected and deemed safe for entry, assume every surface is unstable.
Beware of Environmental and Health Hazards: Decaying buildings are often toxic environments.
- Asbestos: Commonly found in insulation, ceiling tiles, and floor tiles in older buildings. Disturbing it releases microscopic fibers that can cause severe respiratory diseases, including mesothelioma and lung cancer, decades later.
- Lead Paint: Peeling lead paint is a significant health risk, especially if ingested or inhaled as dust.
- Mold and Mildew: Thrive in damp, neglected environments, causing respiratory problems, allergies, and other health issues.
- Animal Droppings/Pests: Rodents, insects, and birds can carry diseases. Pigeons, for instance, can spread histoplasmosis.
- Unsanitary Conditions: Human waste, needles, and other biohazards may be present.
- Recommendation: Without proper personal protective equipment PPE like respirators, gloves, and hazmat suits, exposure is almost guaranteed.
Go with a Partner and Inform Others of Your Plans: If, despite warnings, one considers entering a site with explicit permission from the owner this is critical, never go alone.
- Buddy System: A partner can help if you get injured or trapped.
- Share Your Itinerary: Let someone reliable know exactly where you are going, your planned route, and your expected return time. Carry a fully charged phone.
- Recommendation: This is a basic safety measure for any risky activity, but it doesn’t mitigate the legal or inherent structural risks of unauthorized entry.
Carry Essential Safety Gear Only if Legally Permitted Entry: For any authorized entry into challenging environments, specific gear is crucial.
- Flashlight/Headlamp: Essential for dark areas.
- First-Aid Kit: For cuts, scrapes, and minor injuries.
- Water and Snacks: Hydration and energy are key.
- Durable Clothing and Footwear: Protects against debris. sturdy, closed-toe shoes with good grip.
- Respirator N95 or higher: If there’s any chance of dust, mold, or asbestos, though a simple respirator is insufficient for high-risk asbestos areas.
- Hard Hat: For falling debris.
- Recommendation: This gear is standard for professional demolition or hazardous material teams, underscoring the severity of the environment.

Conclusion on Safety:

Ultimately, the safest way to engage with the concept of abandoned places is through authorized means: historical tours, legal photography from public vantage points, academic research, and digital exploration via reputable archives and virtual tours.

Platforms like itsabandoned.com, by making unsanctioned access readily available, inadvertently lower the perception of risk, leading users into potentially hazardous and illegal situations.

The “thrill” is rarely worth the significant legal, financial, and physical costs.

FAQ

What is itsabandoned.com?

Itsabandoned.com is a website and app that provides crowdsourced locations and photos of abandoned buildings and spaces worldwide, primarily for urban exploration.

Is itsabandoned.com legal to use?

While the website itself is legal, the activities it facilitates, such as entering abandoned private properties without permission, often constitute trespassing, which is illegal and can lead to fines, arrest, or civil lawsuits.

Are the locations on itsabandoned.com accurate?

Yes, the website claims to provide “accurate location” data and integrates with Google Maps for navigation to the listed abandoned spots.

What are the main risks of using itsabandoned.com for urban exploration?

The main risks include trespassing charges, severe personal injury due to structural instability and hazardous materials asbestos, lead, mold, and potential property damage.

Does itsabandoned.com provide safety warnings?

Based on the homepage content, itsabandoned.com does not prominently display comprehensive safety guidelines or warnings about the legal and physical dangers inherent in urban exploration.

Is urban exploration urbex safe?

No, urban exploration of abandoned sites is inherently unsafe due to structural decay, hazardous materials, and unpredictable conditions, making it a high-risk activity.

What are the ethical concerns with itsabandoned.com?

Ethical concerns arise from promoting activities that often involve trespassing on private property, potential for property damage, and disrespect for ownership rights, all without clear disclaimers.

Are there any alternatives to itsabandoned.com for exploring historical sites?

Yes, ethical alternatives include Google Arts & Culture, the National Park Service website, the Historic American Buildings Survey HABS, Atlas Obscura, Flickr Commons, OpenStreetMap, and architectural history books.

How does itsabandoned.com make money?

The website promotes a “Free App,” suggesting its core features are free.

However, like many apps that build a large user base, it may eventually introduce premium features, subscriptions, or in-app purchases.

Can I upload my own pictures to itsabandoned.com?

Yes, the website encourages users to “Upload your own pictures” and “Contribute” by adding new abandoned locations and sharing information.

What kind of information does itsabandoned.com provide about locations?

It provides accurate locations, pictures with authors, amount of views, distance from the user, keywords, and the date of creation for each listed abandoned spot.

How large is the itsabandoned.com community?

The website claims a rapidly expanding community of 150,000 active monthly users and over 2,070,000 user pictures stored.

What should I do if I find an abandoned building?

If you find an abandoned building, the safest and most ethical action is to report it to local authorities or property owners if known, rather than entering it.

Why is trespassing a problem in urban exploration?

Trespassing is illegal because it violates property rights, can lead to civil lawsuits, and puts both the explorer and property owner at risk.

Can abandoned buildings contain hazardous materials?

Yes, many abandoned buildings, especially older ones, can contain dangerous materials such as asbestos, lead paint, mold, and other biohazards.

Is there a podcast associated with itsabandoned.com?

Yes, the website links to a podcast bonus episode featuring Maxime Gerbe, the founder of Abandoned World the app, discussing the platform.

Does itsabandoned.com filter or verify user-submitted locations?

The website does not explicitly detail a robust verification process for user-submitted locations to ensure legality or safety, relying heavily on crowdsourcing.

What is “digital urbex exploration”?

Digital urbex exploration, as referred to by itsabandoned.com, involves using the app’s mapped locations to virtually or physically explore abandoned sites, often without explicit permission.

Can I get hurt exploring abandoned places?

Yes, serious injuries such as falls, cuts, respiratory issues from hazardous materials, and even death can occur due to unstable structures and unsafe conditions in abandoned places.

Is itsabandoned.com recommended for responsible individuals?

No, itsabandoned.com is not recommended for responsible individuals due to the inherent risks of trespassing, serious safety hazards, and ethical concerns associated with urban exploration as facilitated by the platform.