[Imports] RTD Denver GIS data

[Jason Remillard]

Hi Derek,

I would recommend treating each feature type as as separate import
project (bus stops, rail, park and ride, etc).  If the bus routes are
changing all of the time and you want to develop an automated update
function, that is going to be 10x more work than the one time imports.
Unless that is your number 1 priority, save it for last, or just skip
it.

I have written up some notes on doing large imports. You might want to
read them over. Also, be sure to read the OSM Wiki links at the top of
my README.md.

https://github.com/jremillard/osm-import-toolkit/blob/master/README.md

Thanks
Jason

On Mon, Aug 26, 2013 at 7:35 PM, Derek Kniffin <derek.kniffin at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I'm completely new to this list (I signed up less than a few minutes ago),
> so I'm sorry if I'm ignorant of anything pertaining to the list and/or
> imports in general. I am fairly experienced with many things OSM; I've been
> editing for 6 months or so, and I've created a couple applications using OSM
> data, so I'm not a complete noob. However, I've never been involved in any
> imports. I also apologize for the length of this email; I wanted to make
> sure all the details are here.
>
> I would like to import the GIS data found at the link at the bottom of this
> page: http://www3.rtd-denver.com/elbert/SystemMap/
>
> RTD is the company that runs the public transportation system for all of
> metro Denver. This includes buses and light rails. I have already contacted
> RTD about using the data in OSM (copyrights, etc), and I'm waiting to hear a
> response. In the meantime, I was hoping to discuss the technical details of
> the import.
>
> I've already downloaded their GIS data to take a look at it. It's divided
> into several different data sets, of which I'm interested in importing: bus
> stops, bus routes, light rail lines, light rail stations, call-n-rides, and
> park-n-rides. I'm planning on following the public transportation schema
> (http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Public_transport). That means that there
> will be a relation for each bus route, and possibly relation for each stop
> (with a platform and stop_area), and similarly for light rails.
>
> What I'm wondering about is the technical aspect of tweaking the import
> data. Looking at the data, I think the way they organize each route is they
> have a way at the beginning with the route information. Then they have a
> bunch more ways that usually (but not always) connect to make the rest of
> the route. (eg: A----B-----C-----D; way A has the route information, the
> rest don't). Sometimes, the ways do not connect, but the endpoints are
> within a foot of each other.
>
> The stops should be fairly easy. Each stop has an attribute mapping what
> route it goes with.
>
> Obviously, I'll also somehow have to deal with conflation. Not sure how
> yet...
>
> Another thing I'd like to consider is future route changes. RTD changes
> their routes 2-3 times per year, and sends out announcements detailing the
> changes. Sometimes the changes are just schedule changes, which would not
> change anything in OSM; other times they include topology changes,
> additional routes, removal of routes, additional stops, etc. I'd like to
> come up with a process to import those future changes, so that OSM stays up
> to date with RTD data.
>
> Any hints/tips/comments on anything I've said here would be greatly
> appreciated.
>
> Thanks!
> --Derek K
>
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