[Imports] Importing Arkansas data

[Mike N]

>> - If I remember correctly, in the UK postcode data were (are?) not
>> free (in any sense of the word), so someone decided to start trying to
>> collect that data. I think it was one of OSM's first "project of the
>> unit-of-time"? Either way, it was a good thing to get the community
>> together and give an example of what free and open data mean.
>
> That's true of the UK. Postal code (zip code) data is also in the US
> map. It's generally free in the US.

   I believe zip code data is not free in the US - it is the property of 
the US post office.   Any free source such as via TIGER is way out of 
date, and at best represents only an approximation to zip code boundaries.

> I disagree with your assessment of utility. It is helpful to know the
> bounds of an address, which a parcel often gives. That's why many maps
> include it. You do raise a valid point of buildings often not being
> exactly within a tax lot. I'm curious how other mapping providers solve
> this problem or if it is effectively a non-problem.

  There are enough cases where address <> parcel are not a 1:1 mapping, 
that I still don't think this justifies bringing in parcel data.   I 
believe other mapping providers just keep the parcel data as a separate 
layer, making it easy to update when the source parcel data is updated. 
  That leads us back to the discussions about a separate OSM database 
for free data that would be easily accessible to common OSM tools and 
renderers.

>> - Most importantly, OSM mappers can not make the data any better. By
>> their very definition, any changes to the imported parcel data make
>> them invalid and useless. If OSM participants can't improve the data
>> then it should not be in the OSM database.
>
> Are importers not OSM participants?

   Yes, but it would be best if you can demonstrate the benefits in a 
small region and address some of the problems -

   Can new people pick up the tools and begin contributing to the map 
without needing a degree in GIS and JOSM University to make edits 
without destroying data?   Rerouting a modified road is intuitive to 
beginners, but is more confusing if the rerouted road crosses parcel 
boundaries.
   Can you make periodic updates to parcel data without destroying any 
OSM data that has been added around them?   How do you resolve modified 
parcel data?  Someone may have corrected a parcel in OSM.