[OSM-dev] USGS fork of OpenStreetMap

[Paul Johnson]

On Thu, 22 Jul 2010 10:27:49 -0600, Eric Wolf wrote:

> An initial project has started at the USGS to explore using the OSM
> stack to facilitate our data integration and, eventually, involve more
> user generated content (i.e., give a home to The National Map Corps).
> The project is currently titled the OpenStreetMap Collaborative
> Prototype (OSMCP). It's a really small team (three people, part time)
> working on this. Initially we are working with a state GIO (geographic
> information office), loading their data into OSMCP, configuring the
> tools to use our schema and then co-editing the data. It's really just a
> "see what temperature the water is" kind of project right now but will
> be expanding later this year and next.

Given the sparsity of mappers in the United States, why not directly 
contribute to the project, rather than attempting to fork it?  The USGS 
could be a bigger asset to OSM than the US Census.