[OSM-newbies] Data layer doesn't look like track shape

[A.E.Lawrence]

Anne Wilson wrote:
> On Tuesday 22 April 2008 13:13:05 ael wrote:
>> Andy Robinson wrote:
>>> On 22/04/2008, Anne Wilson <cannewilson at googlemail.com> wrote:
>>>>  > Can you confirm what you have the tracklog interval set at. If its
>>>>  > not set to 1 second interval then do so and take a walk around the
>>>>  > block (after getting a good fix).
>> Actually, on recent eTreks, the auto setting is really rather good. It
>> eliminates redundant points in a track. So I think that the advice to
>> set to 1 second intervals is historical.
>>
>> Of course, everything else is right: you should edit the data layer by
>> hand in the light of the errors and resolution inherent in gps and from
>> your memory/photographs of the geography. And download the active track
>> with the timestamps.
>>
> How do I do that, though? 

Is this josm, potlatch or something else?

> I can see a shrunken image of the walk in the 
> screen, so I know it has it.

This is josm and the data layer as a result of your previous efforts?

>  It also has the waypoints that I used to denote 
> changes in street names. 

I would normally keep waypoints separate from the raw tracks.

 I know there's enough info there to do a decent
> job.  It's just a matter of getting it :-)

Personally, I download an active track using gpsbabel (and or maybe
gpsman). If I have relevant waypoints I download those separately and
view them with the track in gpsman (which also allows me to animate the
track among many other things.) If I have photographs, I download those
as well and then run gpscorrelate to geo-tag them from the active track.

Then I fire up josm, and load the active track (track.gpx or whatever.)
That then gives me an rectangular area on which to work. I may adjust to
a smaller or larger area, but usually it is exactly the track which is
of interest. I then download the osm data for that area. If I have
geo-tagged photographs I next load them. Now I zoom into a small area
typically at the start of the track, and compare with the existing data,
if any. I then add to or adjust the data layer as appropriate.

In more complex cases, I will refer also to the gpsman window which
might be displaying waypoints, or animating the track.

You want the timing information on the tracks so that you can see which
point is which. I normally only adjust data if I have two 'traces' of a
path/road/way: an outgoing journey (on the left in the UK if a road) and
the return also on the left. That give me a good idea of consistency
over a short period, perhaps an hour or two. In such situations, it can
be quite hard to work out which point is 'adjacent' to which, especially
when you have to negotiate puddles and mud on foot. Likewise, josm (and
friends) really needs to timing info to join the points on a track.
Although I suppose it can just use the order in the gpx file if the
timing is not included. You certainly need the timing to geo-tag
photographs (unless you have a really upmarket camera with a built in gps).

Just my way of doing things. There are many others.

ael