[Osmf-talk] Humanitarian work

Anders Anker-Rasch anders at anker-rasch.no
Sat Dec 15 11:58:23 UTC 2018


Great idea. I hereby declare my interest in a HWG within OSMF.

Regards,

Anders


Den 15.12.2018 11.56, skrev Frederik Ramm:
> Hi,
>
> changed the subject again into something less combative.
>
> On 12/14/18 11:08 PM, Simon Poole wrote:
>> OpenStreetMap is a proper noun not a verb (if that wasn't clear).
> Frankly that is more puzzling that what was said before but I think I
> get the direction.
>
> The problem is that with the name it has, HOT practically lays claim to
> all humanitarian work in the OSM context. The name is so descriptive
> that everyone who thinks of a humanitarian project with OSM, thinks HOT.
>
> And many of us are actually furthering that conception by pointing
> everyone to HOT when it is about anything humantiarian - e.g. if someone
> contacts the board of directors or CWG with an inquiry that somehow
> includes an aid project, they are certain to get the recommendation of
> talking to HOT.
>
> We don't do that in other departments. When someone emails board asking
> "where can I buy map tiles" or so, we'll take great care not to point to
> one specific provider, but point them to a list on the Wiki where
> everyone can add themselves.
>
> Until now the existence of HOT has basically been a reason for OSMF to
> keep out of anything humanitarian. We act as if HOT was "our department"
> for humanitarian work, while at the same time having zero influence on
> HOT.[*]
>
> Perhaps this should change! Why don't we accept the fact that HOT is
> only one of many groups doing humanitarian work, and embrace the topic
> ourselves. Let us create a "humanitarian working group" of the OSMF
> which is then our go-to group for anything humanitarian, and this
> working group can then either have small projects of their own, or
> advise third parties, or interface with HOT and other groups where
> necessary. If it works well, then this group could also provide advice
> and coordination for humanitarian mapping projects in general.
>
> That would then hopefully end the "special status" of HOT, and serve to
> reduce sentiment against HOT or humanitarian mapping altogether, because
> humanitarian OSM work would then have its proper place inside our
> organisation where currently there's just a void.
>
> Bye
> Frederik
>
> [*] "zero influence" is not fully correct since we own the OpenStreetMap
> trademark and could stop HOT from using it in their name, but that would
> be a really drastic action that we'd probably only take if HOT stopped
> doing OSM mapping and produced wellington boots instead.
>



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