[Osmf-talk] seeking funding ideas

[Sam Larsen]

Mikel,

I have been thinking for a while about the possibilities of mapping for the purpose of sustainability & environmental issues.  I have been talking to a couple of colleagues in wind energy & carbon trading companies and they definately have a need for mapping of sustainable projects worldwide, this could also be extended in the other direction (pollution, deforestation etc..).   
I am unaware of any other project on OSM that attempts to tackle this area (feel free to flag it up).  I notice that the main map now renders wind farms, national parks & protected areas - so there is some data there.  But i think there is a need for a strategy around this - much like you guys are setting up for the Humanitarin OSM team (i.e. investiate what types of data is needed, tagging, sources etc...).
I am hesitant to start adding a whole bunch of data without a clear strategy and encounter the issues we discovered in Haiti - where we dumped a whole lot of data into the project & are now putting together a clearer strategy for this scenario in the future.

I am passionate about our environment, looking after what we have left and minimising our impact on it and i would love to be able to use OSM to help this cause, maybe there is a group in OSM that i don't know about?  I guess before this kind of project will be eligable for any funding it needs to have some wiki content (i'll get onto that shortly) and a handful of supporters.  So maybe the purpose of this email is to hopefully drum up a bit of support, so that next time you come around offering funding to an OSM project - we'll be there.

I also think that this kind of project could learn a lot from the Humanitarian OSM response - so Mikel, if you have any tips, please let me know.

Sam

 
Sam Larsen
Web GIS Specialist
York St, Cambridge, UK, CB1 2PY
M: +44 (0)794 433 7455



>
>From: Mikel Maron <mikel_maron at yahoo.com>
>To: osmf-talk at openstreetmap.org
>Sent: Mon, 22 February, 2010 9:43:00
>Subject: [Osmf-talk] seeking funding ideas
>
>
>I'm having informal discussions with a funder this week on possible short term projects for the OpenStreetMap Foundation.
>The type of project is pretty open, though it should generally have a social focus, and help strengthen OSM organizationally.
>
>
>So I'm seeking suggestions from the OSMF membership on ideas for small fund-able projects. I'll bring these into dicussion,
>and then we'll see what makes sense from their point of view too.
>
>My ideas so far
>* replication of the SOTM Scholarship program
>* GPSToGo 
>* Humanitarian OSM Team organizational build up
>* slum mapping ala Map Kibera
>* aerial imagery fund
>
>Your ideas?
>
>Thanks
>Mikel
>
>== Mikel Maron ==
>+254(0)724899738 @mikel s:mikelmaron
>http://mapkibera.org/
>http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/index.php/Haiti
>
>