Distribution of the PGCC sources as seen from the north Galactic pole. Only distance estimates with a DIST_QUALITY flag equal to 1 and 2 are plotted. Different methods have been used to derive the distances: kinematic (purple), optical extinction (blue), near-infrared extinction (green), molecular complex association (orange), and Herschel HKP-GCC (red). We also show the distribution of the distance upper-limits (DIST_QUALITY=4) provided by the near-infrared extinction method (light green). The red dashed circle shows the 1 kpc radius around the Sun. Black dashed lines represent the spiral arms and the local inter-arm spur in our Galaxy. The black circles, centred on the cross, provide an indication of the location of the molecular ring.