[Talk-ca] Question re mapping parties and geobase upload

[Michael Barabanov]

Agreed on all points.  I'd still encourage to do GeoBase import ASAP,
though.  Most of the labor with importing Geobase is sorting out the overlaps
between existing OSM and GeoBase data.  For one thing, RoadMatcher does
not always find all matching roads.  Also, topological problems are guaranteed to 
happen where two datasets meet because we're favoring OSM data. These need to be fixed
for routing to work (but can be done after the import).  
So the net effect is that the more OSM street data there is, the more
conflicts there will be to fix during the import and after.

This is absolutely not to discourage OSM mapping; I'm just sharing my
observations from doing an import. Also note that this only applies to streets.
As Richard mentioned, there are plenty of other things to map!
I'm finding I'm having much easier time mapping these other features now that I
have the base NRN data in place for the area.

Michael.

On Tue, Jun 02, 2009 at 03:27:49PM -0400, Richard Weait (richard at weait.com) wrote:
> On Tue, 2009-06-02 at 14:54 -0400, Pagurek,Debbie [NCR] wrote:
> > Hi all, 
> > I am new to OpenStreetMap. I am happy to hear about the announcement
> > about the inclusion of GeoBase data in OSM. I am currently writing an
> > internal newsletter for my organization, with an article featuring
> > OSM. My question is this - in light of GeoBase data being included,
> > should I be encouraging people to get out there to do mapping parties?
> > Or should I instead tell them how to get involved in uploading areas
> > from Geobase? If people go out to do mapping parties and then the
> > GeoBase data is uploaded to the same area, what happens to their
> > mapping party data?
> 
> Hi Debbie, 
> 
> Welcome to you and to your organization.  
> 
> Yes!  Absolutely you should get out and participate by mapping and
> hosting mapping parties and learning about the tools and projects in and
> around OpenStreetMap.  If you look at the OpenStreetMap slogan [1] "It's
> fun.  It's free.  You can help."  All of that is true when considering
> the imported data.  
> 
> Firstly, you will participate in OSM because it is fun.  If it is useful
> to you or your organization that's great too, but you'll keep
> participating because it is fun.  
> 
> It's free and the GeoBase and other data sets [2] are included because
> they can be included without detracting from your freedom to you the
> data and the rest of the OpenStreetMap project.  
> 
> And you can help.  The governments of Canada (federal, provincial,
> regional) can not map everything that we can map as OpenStreetMap
> contributors.  We, as contributors, have diverse interests and we live
> and work everywhere we can accomplish mapping tasks that "The
> Government" can't or won't map.  We as citizens would flip out if the
> government compiled a map of Canadian coffee shops and bowling alleys.  
> 
> We can do it for fun.  So why not add the local bowling alleys and
> coffee shops that you know to the map?  
> 
> How does the import effect your mapping parties and your collected data?
> The import team is deliberately avoiding the destruction of user
> contributed data.  The process may not be perfect but we are using tools
> that allow us to recognize GeoBase data that already has already been
> contributed by a user, and preferentially leaving that user contributed
> data in place.  
> 
> Also, there are many things that you can add to the map that do not
> appear in the GeoBase or other data sets.  Things like recreation trails
> and facilities, businesses, historic and tourism points of interest.  
> 
> We're having a mapping party in Toronto on Sunday, 07 June 2009 and you
> should join us.  [3]  
> 
> Best regards,
> Richard
> 
> [1] http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Banner
> [2] http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Attribution
> [3] http://www.meetup.com/OpenStreetMap-Toronto/calendar/10345433/
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Talk-ca mailing list
> Talk-ca at openstreetmap.org
> http://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/talk-ca