[HOT] Training or Coaching Task / Project within TM?

Tue Sep 9 15:58:57 UTC 2014

Charlotte,

Thanks for your thoughts on this. I am passing them on & will try to act 
on them myself - I Know that at least one person is keen to create a 
satellite imagery interpretation guide, which should help.

Regards

Nick
(Tallguy)

On 09/09/14 16:53, Charlotte Wolter wrote:
> Nick,
>
> I am not technically a "new" mapper, having workedon several HOT 
> projects before, But, in a sense, most of us are new mappers because 
> the terrain is new as is the cultural background on what we see. When 
> I mapped the Colorado fires, I knew the typical configurations of 
> roads in the suburbs I was mapping. That is not true for Liberia or 
> Sierra Leone.
> You have highlighted nicely most of the challenges I have encountered 
> while doing this mapping, and I have some suggestions to go along with 
> yours.
> --The size of the squares--They need to be smaller. Where there are 
> many scattered farms but few towns, there is no way I can complete the 
> square in two hours. Worse, it is difficult to keep track of where I 
> am because I have to zoom in to be sure that what I am seeing is, 
> indeed, a house. If the square were smaller, I could complete it, and 
> I wouldn't become so disorieted when I zoom in.
> --We need some geographical background on the area, such as examples 
> of what we might see. For example, one validator corrected an area 
> that I had, somewhat dubiously, marked as "residential." He said it 
> was, in fact, surface mining. If I had known that there might be 
> surface mining (blood diamonds?), then I would have looked more 
> critically at the bare area with what seemed to be squares.
> I think those changes would not require much effort from the HOT 
> people. I don't want to burden them. I would, however, like to reduce 
> my frustration while working on this effort.
> I like your suggestion about small trial squares. It's a good training 
> system, but I also think some background on the geography we are 
> looking at would be helpful.
>
> Best,
>
> Charlotte Wolter
>
>
> At 06:58 AM 9/9/2014, you wrote:
>> Hi,
>>
>> I think there is a gap between the training available from the 
>> various sources such as LearnOSM & someone reaching the stage of 
>> feeling confident to map for HOT. Although we tend to think of new 
>> mappers with no experience at all, it also extends to mappers who are 
>> used to mapping their 'own back yard' but are concerned they may not 
>> interpret the aerial imagery correctly when mapping for HOT.
>>
>> I have seen several messages appear on the HOT mailing list where a 
>> 'new to HOT' mapper has asked where to start. I've also been 
>> contacted by a number of mappers asking me to check / validate their 
>> first squares in HOT. Having been involved in training new mappers at 
>> mapathons I have noticed they are unlikely to finish the current size 
>> of squares within 2 hours & they are also interested in receiving 
>> feedback on their progress. Recent discussion on this mailing list 
>> indicates many mappers are interested in feedback, especially in the 
>> early stages.
>>
>> As a test to see how successful it would be, I'm interested in having 
>> a project / Task which is marked up as suitable for new mappers. The 
>> squares should be much smaller in size, such that we anticipate the 
>> new mapper can complete a square within 15 to 20 minutes. In the 
>> perfect world that square would then be looked at fairly soon by a 
>> validator who makes suggestions if they are needed. After completing 
>> a few of these squares the new mapper should have the confidence to 
>> move onto any of the other general tasks. As an aside, this need not 
>> be a 'new task' - it could just as easily be a 'high' which has 
>> dropped down the list, but it would need adapting with additional 
>> instructions, and exisitng squares awaiting validation being 
>> validated & the outstanding squares being split far smaller than 
>> normal. It would need to be advertised so that new mappers find it - 
>> highlighted link from the home page of the Tasking Manager?
>>
>> I'm willing to validate & offer feedback on such a project / task, 
>> but ideally several other validators need to be involved. There are 
>> also times when I am not available.
>>
>> These views are my own - it would be good to get the opinions of;
>>
>> a/. New to HOT mappers (we all were once, so everyone's view 
>> appreciated) - would it have helped with the transition, and
>> b/. potential validators for such a project / task. - if there were a 
>> few squares waiting validation (potentially a new mapper waiting for 
>> a progress report before continuing), would you be willing to help 
>> with the validation. Because the squares are smaller there will be 
>> problems with working out highway grades, and an overview approach 
>> viewing several squares on occasion would be needed.
>>
>> I'm intending to present this topic at a Training working group, but 
>> would like the views of other mappers.
>> -- 
>>
>> Nick
>>
>> Volunteer 'Tallguy' for 
>> https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Humanitarian_OSM_Team 
>> <https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Humanitarian_OSM_Team>
>>
>> http://www.openstreetmap.org/user/Tallguy 
>> <http://www.openstreetmap.org/user/Tallguy>
>>
>> Treasurer, website & Bonus Ball admin for 
>> http://www.6thswanleyscouts.org.uk/ 
>> <http://www.6thswanleyscouts.org.uk/> 
>> (treasurer at 6thswanleyscouts.org.uk 
>> <mailto:treasurer at 6thswanleyscouts.org.uk>)
>> _______________________________________________ HOT mailing list 
>> HOT at openstreetmap.org https://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/hot 
>> <https://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/hot> 
>
> Charlotte Wolter
> 927 18th Street Suite A
> Santa Monica, California
> 90403
> +1-310-597-4040
> techlady at techlady.com
> Skype: thetechlady
>

-- 

Nick

Volunteer 'Tallguy' for 
https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Humanitarian_OSM_Team

http://www.openstreetmap.org/user/Tallguy

Treasurer, website & Bonus Ball admin for 
http://www.6thswanleyscouts.org.uk/ (treasurer at 6thswanleyscouts.org.uk 
<mailto:treasurer at 6thswanleyscouts.org.uk>)

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