OpenStreetMap

Users' Diaries

Recent diary entries

CC

Posted by OQuiron on 25 October 2021 in English (English).

Per

Journey searching for a facade survey app

Posted by Lejun on 24 October 2021 in English (English).

Objective

For a while now I’ve been contributing in smallish countryside cities. While not small through their surface area nor their population count, they have a low proportion of active OpenStreetMap contributors and their urban development share a common pattern that is “downtown commercial arteries” leading me to classify them as “countryside cities” rather than “modern evolved and distributed cities”. Those commercial arteries are defined by a street network of mixed uses buildings with shops at ground level and housing at higher levels ; Walking down one of these street, one could model the facade as a succession of doors allowing access to either a shop or housings and that’s exactly what I am looking a software for.

Criteria

I have searched and tested multiple solutions in my journey but haven’t quite found the ideal one so far. The criteria I am looking for are as follows:

  • Lightweight: I’m one of those still using old hardware limited both in memory and performance ;
  • Offline map: I’m a cheap guy, allow me to cache the mapping area through WiFi before leaving home ;
  • “Notes” creation rather than Waypoints: Most of the apps allows you to create “waypoints” on a GPS trace, while those have their use I definitely can’t use those as GPS function is rather battery intensive and high-rise buildings, or simply clouds, highly affects signal quality. Given a map (see aforementioned point) I would rather be allowed to pinpoint a location and add my own tags to it. Those data could then be exported to a computer to be processed through comparison with OpenStreetMap data.

While not dealbreaking, the app use could be extended through an uncluttered UI and workflow, a customizable presets to one-tap buttons function could make themed mapping parties a breeze, and pictures/voice records.

Tested solutions

Below are some solutions I tested with no success so far.

“Utility” solutions

Three applications stood out for their uses, having clear aims, they offer both mapping function and lightweightness. Sadly, none of them fill all my criterias. * Keypad Mapper 3: The last version of the Keypad Mapper suite, last updated in 2013, is explicitly oriented toward house numbering. While offering rather interesting functions such as “relative to position note location”, it doesn’t offer presets nor pinpoint function. It is GPS dependent and while one could use the pad to write comments instead of housenumbers the process would be painfully slow. Moreover, there seems to be an issue with the app making users share cell towers location to CellTowerID. While I do contribute to this database too, I would rather have the choice to do so ; * OSMTracker: One of the KeypadMapper successors, while not being perfect offers more flexibility and uses. As I see it, the application follows the same workflow of a buttons-filled screen but with the possibility to create presets. The so called custom layouts, while rather difficult to create, can easily be shared to multiple devices. The only downside in my opinion is the once again “waypoint GPS dependent” function rather than a pinpoint one ; * StreetComplete: While having many benefits, StreetComplete is too limited for my use. Its main aim could be described as “data refinement” rather than mapping. Furthermore, it only offers limited offline functions.

“Maps” solutions

These solutions deliver a map-like experience, which can be extended with some freemapping functions at the cost of ressources use and device bloating. Using those for mapping require prior mapping experience and can be clunky for first time users. * Organic Maps: A new application developped by the MapsMe team, without any editing capabilities. I find it quite interesting in its own category, that is an offline map, and could use it as my main smartphone map application given some refinement. One thing I disliked while testing it is the absence of option to turn off GPS, launching the app automatically starts location search even before acquiring map data (that needs to be downloaded at first use). I have high expectations for this app in the future if given the option to turn off GPS (using it as a map exclusively) and some refinement to the search function ; * OSMAnd: One of Android OpenStreetMap based bigshots and my main smartphone map application. It offers both a map and editing functions but I find it quite cluttered and ressources heavy. Not using it daily, I often find myself lost in the interface. Some links directing to the same content while important ones are scattered among minor ones. I would prefer a standalone application to this, more lightweighted that could be installed on devices for mapping parties.

“Editors” solutions

Fully fledged map editors offer limitless tagging possibilities to users at the cost of being too complex for beginners and ressources intensive. I would rather have a lightweight data surveyal tool and a power editor at home than having under my, more often than not, frozen fingers a tool capable of nuking entire OpenStreetMap areas given an hazardous tap. * Vespucci: The community goldstandard OpenStreetMap mobile editor, offers a complete contribution solution on a smartphone. Tried it once and instantly made my device freeze and reboot, potentially because its ressource consumption or my device being outdated. For the glimpse I caught of the user interface, it seemed very bloated on my small screened device ; * JOSM: My computer editor of choice for its capabilities and extensive addons library. On top of not being keen of the idea of laptop surveying, it would not be an acceptable solution for mapping parties and beginners. I would still use it to process surveys data, comparing with OpenStreetMap database.

Special cases

Pen & Paper

Of course, the simplest, most accessible and lowtech answer would be to grab a pen and some paper onto which one could have printed the building footprint through OpenStreetMap. Using some kind of code it’s rather easy to have “presets”. Unfortunately that process is too time consuming, tinkering heavy and beginner unfriendly in my opinion.

Mapillary/KartaView

Until recently, I considered buying an action cam to survey street facades and upload pictures to Mapillary and/or KartaView (previously known as OpenStreetCam). The two of them are the most known survey pictures hosting services, and while sharing them under open licences they aren’t fully opensource. The aquisition of Mapillary by Facebook back in 2020 has been a major dealbreaker to me while looking for a decentralized and fairer internet and the idea will be undefinitely pending until the next Mapillary.

Conclusion

During my journey I searched for a way to make street surveyal easier. So far, one have to stop at each doorstep to take notes while hoping for having a precise enough GPS signal. My main take on it would be to completely ditch the use of GPS location service for an offline map marker system. Once again, the ideal workflow as I see it would be a lightweight smartphone application that allows its user to describe elements’ succession while walking down a street before exporting it to a computer for further processing. I am by no mean expert in UI, UX, software development nor even GIS. This diary entry simply aims to share my idea upon making data surveyal easier through a basic application that could be further extended by users feedback.

Location: Rue Battant, Besançon, Doubs, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Metropolitan France, 25000, France

Upgrading Wawa, Ontario

Posted by TravelingEditor on 24 October 2021 in English (English).

I’m having a ton of fun trying to fix up my local community and close surrounding areas and other little interesting things. Here’s hoping that what I am doing will have an impact on someone’s journey thru town or even one of my fellow locals! I’m having a blast as a beginner, why didn’t I do this sooner?!

Location: Wawa, Algoma District, Northeastern Ontario, Ontario, P0S 1K0, Canada

Dados do IBGE Atualizados 2010, 2019, 2020 / Updated IBGE data 2010, 2019, 2020.

Posted by raphaelmirc on 23 October 2021 in Brazilian Portuguese (Português do Brasil).

Hoje venho compartilhar com vocês as novas pastas criada pelo IBGE ( Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e estatisticas ) orgão que disponibiliza os dados para que possamos mapear e atualizar os dados existente no Openstreetmap para o Brasil.

Só tinhamos dados de 2010 da area Urbana e 2017 da area Rural, hoje temos dados de 2019 e 2020.

Esse link tem os endereços para baixar os arquivos zipados de 2010, 2019 e 2020. https://geoftp.ibge.gov.br/recortes_para_fins_estatisticos/malha_de_setores_censitarios/censo_2010/

No Gith temos esse repositorio com os endereços para baixar os arquivos e ainda disponibilizados os arquivos para baixar no modo torrent, facilitando ainda mais o donwload dos arquivos. https://github.com/vgeorge/cnefe

Baixar torrent dos arquivos do IBGE.

ARQUIVO PDF CNEFE 2010 https://raw.githubusercontent.com/vgeorge/cnefe/master/torrent/cnefe-2010.torrent

Faces de Logradouros (2010) https://raw.githubusercontent.com/vgeorge/cnefe/master/torrent/cnefe-2010-logradouros-2010.torrent

Faces de Logradouros (2019) https://raw.githubusercontent.com/vgeorge/cnefe/master/torrent/cnefe-2010-logradouros-2019.torrent

Faces de Logradouros (2020) https://raw.githubusercontent.com/vgeorge/cnefe/master/torrent/cnefe-2010-logradouros-2020.torrent

FTP IBGE - 2010. https://geoftp.ibge.gov.br/recortes_para_fins_estatisticos/malha_de_setores_censitarios/censo_2010/base_de_faces_de_logradouros_versao_2010/

FTP IBGE - 2019. https://geoftp.ibge.gov.br/recortes_para_fins_estatisticos/malha_de_setores_censitarios/censo_2010/base_de_faces_de_logradouros_versao_2019/

FTP IBGE 2020. https://geoftp.ibge.gov.br/recortes_para_fins_estatisticos/malha_de_setores_censitarios/censo_2010/base_de_faces_de_logradouros_versao_2020/

Today I come to share with you the new folders created by the IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics) which makes the data available so that we can map and update the existing data on Openstreetmap for Brazil.

We only had data for 2010 for the Urban area and 2017 for the Rural area, today we have data for 2019 and 2020.

This link has the addresses to download the zipped files for 2010, 2019 and 2020. https://geoftp.ibge.gov.br/recortes_para_fins_estatisticos/malha_de_setores_censitarios/censo_2010/

At Gith we have this repository with the addresses to download the files and also the files to download in torrent mode, making it even easier to download the files. https://github.com/vgeorge/cnefe

Download torrent from IBGE archives.

CNEFE PDF FILE 2010 https://raw.githubusercontent.com/vgeorge/cnefe/master/torrent/cnefe-2010.torrent

Sides of Streets (2010) https://raw.githubusercontent.com/vgeorge/cnefe/master/torrent/cnefe-2010-logradouros-2010.torrent

Sides of Streets (2019) https://raw.githubusercontent.com/vgeorge/cnefe/master/torrent/cnefe-2010-logradouros-2019.torrent

Sides of Streets (2020) https://raw.githubusercontent.com/vgeorge/cnefe/master/torrent/cnefe-2010-logradouros-2020.torrent

FTP IBGE - 2010. https://geoftp.ibge.gov.br/recortes_para_fins_estatisticos/malha_de_setores_censitarios/censo_2010/base_de_faces_de_logradouros_versao_2010/

FTP IBGE - 2019. https://geoftp.ibge.gov.br/recortes_para_fins_estatisticos/malha_de_setores_censitarios/censo_2010/base_de_faces_de_logradouros_versao_2019/

FTP IBGE 2020. https://geoftp.ibge.gov.br/recortes_para_fins_estatisticos/malha_de_setores_censitarios/censo_2010/base_de_faces_de_logradouros_versao_2020/

Location: Cohab, Recife, Região Geográfica Imediata do Recife, Região Metropolitana do Recife, Região Geográfica Intermediária do Recife, Pernambuco, Região Nordeste, Brasil

health

Posted by Capmas on 23 October 2021 in Arabic (العربية).

capmas

🎯 OSMaPaaralan tasks are complete!

Posted by GOwin on 23 October 2021 in English (English).

It took us 2 years, and 22 days but it’s now “complete.” 😉

Well, at least, all the published tasks has been completely reviewed, resulting in 39,129 mapped schools out of the 39,966 tasks. An additional 837 tasks has also been reviewed but was deemed unverifiable, or needed further information.

The school dataset was informally released to the OSM-PH community in 2013 but languished in the pipeline because of a murky data license until official permission to use it with OpenStreetMap was obtained in 2016. Even with that out of the way, it still needed tons of work before it was ready for use.

In October 2019, the cleaned-up dataset was made into a MapRoulette challenge, as a practical mapping exercise for MapAmore’s mentoring program for NSTP volunteer students from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines’ campus in San Juan City.

However, a few months after we started, the coronavirus pandemic ensued, and we were unable to pursue the mentoring program, or face-to-face mapathons. Thanfully, a wider OSM community took up the slack.

School data in OSM

At the end of 2018, there were 16,445 Philippine schools in the OSM database. Today it has grown 284%, at 46,638 schools, and most are mapped as polygons, with additional attributes added, thanks to information provided by the Department of Education.

You can download the Philippine school dataset using this Overpass query.

So, how was it?

Apart from the obvious, that is mapping the schools themselves, the effort positively impacted OpenStreetMap in the country, and has substantially improved the fundamental quality of the local OSM database (e.g. routing for navigation, place names, and schools, of course). The schools became effective proxies of previously un-mapped settlements in the Philippines. Many contributors has added other features, including remote sitios (hamlets) and purok (zones), local parks, gyms – even flagpoles! – while working on their respective OSMaPaaralan tasks.

OSM in the Philippines now has the most comprehensive open dataset for schools, with more accurate geographic locations verified through up-to-date aerial imagery. Most school buildings, as well as surrouding highways has been mapped, too.

We have learned that direct engagements through mapathons is a fun and fast way of completing a large number of tasks, and investing in quality training is paramount to ensuring quality output.

We also observed that using RapId instead of regular iD allowed us to maximize our investments in training, and tap the power of artificial intelligence detection of road networks.

It also goes to say that “deadlines” won’t always work. In the beginning, I projected the project’s completion within 12 months, with regular mapathons from our NSTP mentoring program, and the contributions of the general community, but the coron virus way-laid those plans.

In the end, the Pareto Principle (aka the “80/20 rule”) held true: a smaller group of people contribute the most number of features. In our case, from the pool of 1,577 usernames who’ve added at least one Philippine school in OSM, a handful of contributors were responsible for 79.74% of total schools added.

All contributions, of course, are valuable. This understanding is important if you’re embarking in any similar effort, to learn why these mappers are motivated (altruism, personal goals, ideologies, etc.) and how to effectively work with them.

Thank you to everyone who mapped a school in the Philippines – and those people and orgs external to OSM who supported (venue hosts, snack donors, Internet service support, your kind words) us ! 😍

Just for fun, here’s a wordcloud of usernames who has mapped at least one school in the country:

radikal ang mag-mah̶a̶l̶pa

* Auto-magically generated using wordclouds.com using weighted usernames based on OSM data count of schools contributed.

What’s next?

We’re excited with what’s possible with the data:

  • Next year, we’re having a national general elections, and apps could leverage this dataset in assisting (new) voters to find their respective polling precincts.
    • the feedback could be useful for adding missing, or mis-located schools, too
  • It would be easier for local authorities to update their disaster preparedness plans, since schools in our country are often designated or utilized as a shelter during emergencies.
  • There are still over 4,000 unpublished tasks (because of issues with their provided geographic locations – missing, invalid, or improbable) and we are planning to make these available soon. Perhaps, as a monthly project to tackle at the province level.
  • We’ve requested Education department to release additional datasets for schools created after 2012, and informed them of the improved version available in OSM.
  • Or, somebody from the local community might come up with a different project altogether!
Location: Habitat 1 - Bajumpandan, Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Central Visayas, 6200, Philippines

Current Works

Posted by Lord A Nelson on 23 October 2021 in English (English).

Currently upgrading around Mid-Selwyn area.

Including: - Residential areas - Buildings - Roads - Intersections - General tidying up

Reimagining the OSM User Profile

Posted by PlayzinhoAgro on 22 October 2021 in English (English).

I would like to start by explaining that this is an exercise in imagination on how we could improve the UX/UI in the OSM profile, this means that some changes were based on my experience and there are still some things missing that I have not explored, like the Diaries, settings and Messages, I would love to get feedbacks from you!!!

User.png

More social and personal

OpenStreetMap is a platform that encompasses not only the map but also its mappers and their communities. To start, I chose to give an air of greater personalization to the profile, bringing a larger picture of the user and a cover giving more room for customization, so they can show more of their passions beyond the map. Bringing a more familiar experience as in other social networks I gave a greater emphasis to the follow button and replacing the “add as friend” function that nowadays is kind of in disuse not to say “cringe”, A good function would be to be able to choose and manage who can follow you and from that who can send you messages too, giving more control to the user of who can follow and send messages can reduce the number of spam. Another point would be to show which organizations the person participates so it would be easier for other mappers to identify paid mappers, for example.

More statistics please!

One of the things missing in OSM profile is statistics. This is useful to know better who is the profile owner but also for future employers.

Gamefication

How to motivate the mappers more? given goals to be achieved! One of the things that most motivated me to continue mapping was to complete all the Missing Maps Bagdes. I am not only talking about a baghdad system and goals, but also a scoring system based on what is edited or added. Another point would be bagdes for participation in mapathons promoted by local and international communities demonstrating that the mapper is an active person in the community.

org.png

Profile of Organizations and Teams

The same way Github has specific pages for organizations OSM should also have, this would make it easier to know who are the organizations that work on OSM, who participates and where they participate, the intention is to better centralize the information. Today if we see that each OSM application has a different way to divide their teams and track their performance what I propose is that teams are created directly on OSM and made available via API for other applications

Location: Parque Aliança, Timon, Região Geográfica Imediata de Timon, Região Integrada de Desenvolvimento da Grande Teresina, Região Geográfica Intermediária de Caxias, Maranhão, Northeast Region, 65633-782, Brazil

Reimaginando o perfil do OSM

Posted by PlayzinhoAgro on 22 October 2021 in Portuguese (Português).

Eu gostaria de inicio explicar que se trata de um exercício de imaginação de como poderíamos melhorar a UX/UI no perfil do OSM, isso quer dizer que algumas mudanças foram com base na minha experiencia e ainda faltam algumas coisas que não explorei, como os Diários, configurações e Mensagens, adoraria receber o feedbacks de vocês!!

User Profile

Mais social e pessoal

OpenStreetMap é uma plataforma que engloba não só o mapa mais também seus mapeadores e suas comunidades. para começar optei por dar um ar de personalização maior para o perfil, trazendo uma foto maior do usuário e uma capa dando um maior espaço para personalização, para que possam demostrar mais suas paixões além do mapa. Trazendo uma experiência mais familiar como em outras redes sociais dei um maior destaque para o botão de seguir e substituindo a função “adicionar como amigo” que nos dias de hoje está meio em desuso para não se dizer “cringe”, Uma boa função seria poder escolher e gerenciar quem pode te seguir e a partir disso quem pode te mandar mensagem também, dando mais controle ao usuário de quem pode segui-lo e mandar mensagem pode diminuir o numero de spam. Outro ponto seria mostrar quais organizações a pessoa participa assim ficariam mais fácil para outros mapeadores identificarem mapeadores pagos por exemplo.

Mais estatísticas por favor!

Uma das coisas que falta no perfil do OSM é estatísticas isso serve até para conhecer melhor quem é o dono perfil mais também para empregadores futuros

Gamefication

Como motivar mais os mapeadores? dado objetivos a serem cumpridos! Umas das coisas que mais me motivaram em continuar mapeando foi completar todas as Bagdes do Missing Maps. Não falo somente em um sistema de bagdes e metas mas também um sistema de pontuação com base no que for editado ou adicionado. Outro ponto seria bagdes por participação em mapathons promovidos pelas comunidades locais e internacionais demostrando que o mapeador é uma pessoa ativa na comunidade.

org Profile

Perfil de Organizações e times

Da mesma forma em que o Github tem paginas especificas para organizações o OSM também deveria ter, isso facilitaria conhecer quem são as organizações que trabalham no OSM, quem participa e onde participam, a intenção é centralizar melhor as informações. Hoje se formos ver cada aplicação do OSM tem uma maneira diferente de dividir seus times e acompanhar seu desempenho o que proponho é que sejam criados times direto no OSM e disponibilizado via API para outras aplicações

Location: Parque Aliança, Timon, Região Geográfica Imediata de Timon, Região Integrada de Desenvolvimento da Grande Teresina, Região Geográfica Intermediária de Caxias, Maranhão, Região Nordeste, 65633-782, Brasil

Numeração na zona norte

Posted by O Fim on 22 October 2021 in Brazilian Portuguese (Português do Brasil).

Avenida Joaquina Ramalho 100% numerada , incluso pontos de interesses atualizados

Oh the irony - silly season inverse

Posted by imagico on 22 October 2021 in English (English).

When the current OSMF board some time ago spoke (during a board meeting) of the upcoming OSMF board election season as silly season i interpreted that as a indication of highly problematic collective and undifferentiated disrespect and loathing for the constituency (what we in German call Wählerbeschimpfung). I failed to consider that this would be prophetic regarding board members’ own actions during this time.

Compare:

https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Foundation/AGM21/Election_to_Board#List

and last paragraph of:

https://www.openstreetmap.org/user/mikelmaron/diary/391498

(in the not unlikely case of retroactive censorship here is the permanent record).

OTOH of course the saying is: In a democracy people (collectively) always get the government they deserve

FOSS4G SotM Oceania 2021 — Perth Hub 12–13 November

Posted by Sam Wilson on 22 October 2021 in English (English).

Logo banner

The FOSS4G SotM Oceania Perth Hub conference program has just been announced, with a few things about OSM (including a small talk by me, but I’m not promising anything amazing!). The bit I’m most excited about is an OSM workshop all day on Saturday the 13th: everyone should come along, with laptops, cameras, and GPSs (or just a phone), and learn to edit the map!

Location: Perth, City of Perth, Western Australia, 6000, Australia

What I did in OpenStreetMap in September 2021

Posted by ᚛ᚐᚋᚐᚅᚇᚐ᚜ 🏳️‍🌈 on 20 October 2021 in English (English).

What I did in OpenStreetMap in September 2021

(I was on holidays for a few weeks in September)

  • Mapping
    • I can’t remember for sure. Since I was travelling outside Germany, I was able to add lots of things that are all done in England. Thank the gods for StreetComplete. I really think it’s wonderful.
    • I was able to do some micromapping with vespucci fedi post, tweet
  • OSMF Board
    • Our bookkeeper needed my new address & IBAN to pay me expenses I incurred doing CWG stuff
    • Filed expense account for the payment, and filled in the OSMF board internal wiki page, and then posted on Mastodon/fediverse
    • WeeklyOSM № 579 says “at present announcements of upcoming meetings are being made within a week of the meeting, so it is not possible for us to announce them accordingly”. I got in touch, and tried to explain that we only finalize the agenda 7 days before the meeting. The dates are announced well in advance
    • I posted a status update on board decision re: ToU on osm-website github
    • Sept Board meeting, ensured the LCCWG mod subcttee were aware.
    • SotM & “illegal to be gay”
      • Emailed board to say SotM OC & HOT Board, and talked at the Sept. mid-month chat
    • HOT Trademark grant, emailed LWG to confirm they want a new call
    • Since I’ve changed my name, I had to upload a new signature
    • Local Chapters
      • seav is going to help with upgrading Local Chapters to the new Local Chapters Agreement
    • EU Transparency Reg: logged in with reset password & updated details
    • AGM
      • Emailed Michael Collinson if he’d want to do the Q&A facilitation again
      • Thomas__ made new graphs of OSMF membership numbers, I updated the wiki page
      • emailed osmf-talk to remind them about resolutions
    • Replied to email from a company about trademarks
    • Talked to 2 people to run for the board
    • Attented 2 × 1 hour calls from mod subcttee
    • Since I was travelling, I missed the Sept 2021 OSMF Board meeting.
  • CWG
  • Sept 2021 Karlsruhe hack weekend
    • First hack weekend in 1½ years (due to corona)
    • It was great to see many people again. Alas we had to keep the numbers small.
    • I talked to xamanu who’s been doing lots of good work with making proper, modern Debian packages for lots of OSM software like mod_tile or Tirex.
    • I attempted to fix mod_tile bug #188 which I have encountered a few times. I haven’t made much progress, but it was fun to get down and dirty with poking an apache module in C.

2021: Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug.

2020: Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.

Ubicación

Posted by Yahaira Gomez on 20 October 2021 in Spanish (Español).

Detalles

Location: 21,174, -101,633

Onboarding New Mappers

Posted by martien-vdg on 20 October 2021 in English (English).

As a validator and #Slack validation channel visitor I am regularly confronted with complaints from fellow validators about the sometimes bad quality of the mappings of beginner mappers. This refers especially to buildings and to a lesser extent highways. Adding to the frustration is that instructive comments after invalidation of tasks hardly seem to be read by these same beginner mappers. The result is often that a task is invalidated several times for much the same reason(s).

Therefore validators can get the feeling that they are “fighting against all odds”. This can work as a demotivating factor. Possibly that even some validators quit validating.

Several solutions have been tried and applied. Ranging from getting the notifications more in sight within the Tasking Manager, limiting iD Editor in which features can be mapped to making Project authors creating their project more beginner friendly.

And of course there are the training webinars organized by the Training Working Group. These are good introductions for new mappers to get themselves onboard. However, they are imo mainly visited by the more motivated mappers. While the bulk of the problem is with the large group of casual mappers, of whom some only map incidentally (e.g. during a one-time mapathon event).

But why not attack the issue right from the start? Why not educate new mappers before they make their first edit?

There are several possibilities.

Sandpit

A virtual space where new mappers can exercise their skills and get some form of basic automatic feedback. Mimicking how mapping a real world task would look like. The mappings will not be saved in the OSM database, so mappers can make mistakes without consequences. Feedback is given automatically, through popups or messages in the margins. The ID Editor WalkThrough could serve as an example.

Quiz

New mappers can do an introductory quiz/questionnaire. After successfully completing it they can earn a badge. This badge could be placed on their Tasking Manager profile.

This is already happening on a small scale, with success, at Crowd2Map. It turns out that mappers like it and the quality of their mapping improves.

Introductory video

New mappers get to see an introductory video after their first login. This video is short enough to keep their attention and covers all important subjects.

Feasibility

The most ideal would be the sandpit option. Creating a sandpit however involves developers. The Tech team was positive towards this. However circumstances (personnel shortage among others) hindered it being started up. For the time being this option is postponed.

The quiz could be placed on the hotosm courses site. This suggestion was investigated, but for several reasons did not materialize (personnel shortage among others).

An alternative could be to host it on an external source. Crowd2Map did this: their quiz is hosted by Canvas Network - Free online courses - MOOCs . Of course this brings with it limitations.

The most feasible option turned out to be the introductory video. The Training Working Group has much experience in making these sort of videos, so they could take care of this.

Voluntarily

It could be argued that an introductory sandpit or quiz, or even a video, raises a barrier for some mappers. It could give them a feeling they are “tested” before being able to take part in the mapping. And thus opposes the notion of inclusiveness that is at the heart of Openstreetmap.

It is therefore important to stress that this all is not mandatory. New mappers should be encouraged to take part in the introduction. If mappers refuse to do it, so be it.

But hey, in the context of HOT every mapper is tested in the end, namely by a validator.

What are your thoughts about this?

Or do you have other ideas to encourage good mapping from new users?

Please leave a reply in the comments. Thanks in advance.

Slack discussion about this subject: https://hotosm.slack.com/archives/C4GLC45PY/p1613406227116200

Engaging the Scouts of the Asia Pacific Region

Posted by BryDee on 20 October 2021 in English (English). Last updated on 22 October 2021.

Early in 2021, we at the Open Mapping Hub - Asia Pacific (OMH-AP) first began discussions to collaborate with the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM), through the World Scout Bureau/Asia Pacific Region (WSB/APR). Both organizations understood the atypical environment and the challenges we are all working around with amidst the pandemic. On the other hand, we also saw exciting and innovative opportunities to bring together technology and open-source mapping through OpenStreetMap (OSM), and the energy of the young people that WOSM is working with in the region.

We are delighted to share that the OMH-AP and WOSM, through WSB/APR have signed a Letter of Intent on October 17, 2021, signifying a three-year agreement between the two organizations. It captures our mutual commitment of creating and using up-to-date, high quality map data in OSM for humanitarian response and decision-making in the region. Through this partnership, we aim to mobilize the network of Scouts from their 30 national Scout organizations within the Asia-Pacific Region to map from the grassroots level. Both OMH-AP and WOSM recognize that to achieve this impact, it is vital to work together as part of a larger movement.

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In the Asia Pacific region alone, there are about 30 National Scout organizations with 30 million Scouts or around 75% of the total Scouts worldwide. WSB/APR and WOSM had been engaging their Scouts worldwide in the middle of the pandemic to continue Scouting@Home. Coordinating their initiatives and mobilizing the million Scouts, WOSM’s partnership with OMH-AP will help further these. Doing so will allow young people to have access to cutting edge technology, learn to map in OSM, and subsequently expand their knowledge and widen their understanding of their own neighborhood and communities.

Both organizations will be engaging the various National Scouts organizations for the next three years in the region, starting with select pilot countries to train their Scouts in mapping their communities. The OMH-AP and WOSM will also explore opportunities to promote the use of OSM data for the Scouts activities and other purposes, including disaster response and preparedness.

“This development provides an avenue for all the 30 National Scout organizations in the Asia Pacific and their Scouts to collaborate and provide significant contributions to the humanitarian mapping community”, expressed WSB/APR Regional Director, Mr. J. Rizal C. Pangilinan during the signing ceremony. He also mentioned his optimism of this partnership spreading not only in the Asia Pacific region, but also to the whole of WOSM.

“Scouts always take part in many humanitarian efforts across all the region,” shared Ambassador Ahmad Rusi from Indonesia, who is also the Chair of the APR Scout Committee. “The activities of the Scouts strengthen the resilience of the local communities in times of humanitarian crisis”.

“Mapping will enable the Scouts to explore the world around them and consciously observe their community. Hence there is a perfect synergy in our partnership,” OMH-AP Regional Director, Dr. Nama Budhathoki remarked. He believes we can bring together data, technology, and the young people to do interesting things in the region and promote a culture of evidence-based humanitarian decision making.

We look forward to beginning translating the Letter of Intent to reality. As our Regional Director emphasized, “Mapping is not just mapping. It is learning about the world.” This partnership between OMH-AP and WOSM exhibits our mutual goal to look for ingenious ways to engage the young people of the region, for them to be part of the wider community in the OSM movement, and to meaningfully contribute even during the time of COVID-19.

Location: La Paz, Makati 1st District, Makati, Southern Manila District, Metro Manila, 1204, Philippines

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Posted by sobol74 on 20 October 2021 in Russian (Русский).

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Location: Holte, Nome, Vestfold og Telemark, 3825, Норвегия

Clé API

Posted by iayin on 19 October 2021 in French (Français).

Est t il possible d’avoir une clé API via OpenStreetMap, pour pouvoir l’incorporer à son site web, comme chez Google Maps. Merci

Canadian coast

Posted by DENelson83 on 19 October 2021 in English (English).

In case you are wondering what I am scheming with my recent changesets, I have started converting individually-named bodies of water on the Atlantic coast of Canada to relations. I started with Cobequid Bay, progressed out the Bay of Fundy to Passamaquoddy Bay and St. Marys Bay, and I have subsequently rounded Cape Sable Island and gotten as far northeast as Liverpool Harbour, progressing towards Halifax. What I am intending to do with this series of edits is to make relations for bodies of water throughout the entire coast of Canada, from the Bay of Fundy all the way to the Beaufort Sea. I have already done this for the Pacific coast, and I figured I might continue this through the rest of the coastal areas of the country. And this little pet project is going to take quite a bit of time to complete, given just how vast Canada is and how much coastline she has, the most out of any country in the world.

Finished review of all streets for street name origins and roadkey im Mülheim an der Ruhr

Posted by tffmh on 18 October 2021 in English (English).

The Grind

After 13 days I today finished my review of all streets in Mülheim an der Ruhr, added the street name origin and roadkey ger: “Straßenschlüssel” where possible.

I have been casually adding street name origins for some time, an interesting topic if you are into history I think. At some point I set out to review all streets from A-Z, and while doing that add the roadkey too, as described in https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/DE:Key:de:strassenschluessel

Orientation and inspiration came from https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Düsseldorf/Projekte/Straßennamen

Gladly Mülheim provides a list that had both, a name origin hint and a reference from that I could get the roadkey, on their website: https://geo.muelheim-ruhr.de/node/14033

Along the way I made some minor additions, on about 4 occasions OSM didn’t have the street name or was missing renames for instance.

After having worked through the list I verified the presence of “Straßenschlüssel” by Overpass:

[out:csv("name",
         "de:strassenschluessel_exists",
         "de:strassenschluessel",
         "local:strassenschluessel",
         "wikidata",
         "wikipedia",
         "wikimedia_commons",
         "name:etymology:start_date",
         "name:etymology:wikidata",
         "name:etymology:wikidata:missing",
         "name:etymology:wikidata:note",
         "name:etymology:wikipedia",
         "name:etymology:description",
         "name:etymology:note";
         yes;
         "|"
        )]
[timeout:250];

{{geocodeArea:Mülheim an der Ruhr}}->.searchArea;

(  
  wr[highway]
    [highway != platform] 
    [name]
    [!"de:strassenschluessel"]
    ["de:strassenschluessel_exists" != "no"]
    (area.searchArea);
); 

out geom;

Some smaller adjustments and corrections using ALKIS as a source later, some streets are simply private streets that will never get a key, Mülheim now has a pretty much complete documentation of “Straßenschlüssel” for all regular streets, and about 765 of 1072 listed streets have their names origin at least briefly documented.

Whats next?

There is still quite a substantial number of streets whose names origins where not documented in the provided list, I would like to fill those blanks. Contacted the administration to see if they can provide more information, I might also pay the local archive a visit.

While reviewing the streets I came across a number I have heard where renamed after 1933, there was an “Adolf-Hitler-Straße” for instance, I like to get those information together and document it via e.g. “old_name:1933-“.

Some border streets are currently listed as Mülheim, but seem to actually belong to neighbouring cities, I like to have a look into that too.

On many streets I wasn’t able to link to a Wikipedia or Wikidata entry, I like to look into that, possibly adding items to Wikipedia.

Location: Altstadt I, Rechtsruhr-Süd, Mülheim an der Ruhr, North Rhine-Westphalia, 45468, Germany