[Legal-general] Proposal For OSMPD Data Repository Folder Structure

[Joseph Gentle]

Heh - not many people will comment for this reason: http://www.bikeshed.com/

How many directories does that create in the repository? 1/4 of a
degree per makes it sound like a lot. Surely more than any human can
manually manage. I guess the trick is that people only need to check
out a few of the directories dependent on where they live (which is
kinda nice).

Another way we could do it is make quad-trees out of directories. If
you imagine the root directory contains the whole planet, then four
subdirectories each with 1/4 of the world map... and they each contain
4 directories which quarter the regions again and so on to some
particular detail level.

I'm not sure if it buys you much, and again you'll have a lot of directories.

-J


On Fri, Nov 7, 2008 at 2:33 AM, Sunburned Surveyor
<sunburned.surveyor at gmail.com> wrote:
> I've attached a zip file with a proposed OSMPD data repository folder
> structure. This is only an idea of what we could do. I know there will
> be lots of other ideas on how we could set something up, or
> modifications of my proposal. I just want to help move things forward
> with a productive discusssion. :]
>
> Here is a brief explanation of how the folder structure is designed:
>
> The top level of the repository is divided into folders that represent
> areas of the globe that cover 1/4 a degree of longitude. So, for
> example, the folder W-119-00 contains all of the data between the west
> longitude of 119-00-00 and 119-15-00. Each of these longitude folders
> contains subfolders that cover 1/4 a degree of latitude within the
> strip of longitude covered in the parent folder. In this way the globe
> is divided into a grid of 1/4 degree "cells".
>
> Each cell has the following subfolders:
>
> gpx_files
> history
> metadata
> osm_files
> supplemental_data
>   raster
>   vector
> photos
>
> The "gpx_files" folder will contain raw GPS data in GPX format.
> The "history" folder can contain versioning information and/or
> information on additions and changes to the data in the cell.
> The "metadata" folder can contain metadata files for the data in the cell.
> The "osm_files" folder will contain OSM files produced from the GPX files.
> The "supplemental_data" folder can contain other PD data that can
> assist in the mapping efforts. In the United States this would likely
> include USGS quad maps and TIGER shapefiles, but it might also contain
> public domain data from other sources. In different places of the
> world other types of public domain data might be stored here.
> The "photos" folder would contain digital pictures of the features
> that had been/were being mapped in the cell.
>
> I think only the "Gpx_files" and "osm_files" folders would be required
> to contain data. The other folders would be for the optional use of
> those working together on data within a "cell". Perhaps, over time,
> individual working within the same region could agree on a basic
> structure for these optional folders and there contents. The content
> and structure of these cells would vary by region. A naming convention
> for photos might also be helpful, and I can see having a standard
> format for a simple text file with photo descriptions.
>
> It would be possible to write simple tools to work with this type of
> folder structure. For example: I could write a plug-in for OpenJUMP
> that would do the following:
>
> - Allow the user to input latitude/longitude coordinates for an area
> of interest.
> - Merge the OSM or GPS files in the zones that cover this area into
> single files for the area of interest.
> - Load and display these files in the map view on OpenJUMP.
>
> I still think it would be a good idea to appoint volunteer "Cell
> Coordinators" that could over see the contents of each cell folder and
> help coordinate mapping efforts within the cell. I believe this would
> help improve the quality and organization of the OSMPD data
> repository.
>
> I am eager to get some type of folder structure determined and put
> online so I can have a place to put my data.
>
> OK. Now you can tear my proposal apart! :]
>
>
> The Sunburned Surveyor
>
> P.S. - To view the complete folder structure in the attached zip file
> you need to click on the W-121-00 longitude folder and then the
> N-37-00 latitude folder. This folder is the one that covers my home
> town.
>
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