[Talk-ca] [OSM Sherbrooke discussion] Re: Geobase / Canvec import workshop in Sherbrooke?

[Michel Gilbert]

Hi Frank, Yves and all,

I like the idea to have a mapping party in Sherbrooke that may attract
people of other regions. The mapping party, considering we are in November,
could concentrate on importing CanVec data for OSM. So, a Mapping Party with
no field work, only desktop work in front of a fireplace.  We would need a
place in Sherbrooke with good wireless connections, good coffees and a room
where we can talk and help each other. I think that "La Brulerie" on
Wellington meets all the requirements.

In order to make the event possible we will need experts that could explain
importing tools (python, java, fme) and editing tools (josm, potlatch).  Any
volunteers ? Also, we need available data to import. My preference would be
to have data that include all the CanVec feature classes. At my knowledge, I
don't think such data can be generated rigth now. There are tools in
development to generate such data but are not ready for importation. We
(Daniel and I) do plan to work on a FME CanVec Import tool this winter but
the tool won't be available in short terms.

If we have Canvec OSM file ready to import, I will participate to organize
the "Sherbrooke Couch Mapping Party". Here are some ideas for the agenda:
   - Explain translation between CanVec features and OSM tags
   - Training on Importing tools
   - Explain OSM xml file
   - Training on JOSM
   - Importing session. Each participant take a region and import data.

Let me know if anyone would like to participate at such event. We will keep
on discussing to put in place the missing pieces.

Cheers,

Michel



2009/11/6 Frank Steggink <steggink at steggink.org>

> Yves Moisan wrote:
>
>> Hi Frank,
>>
>> Sorry for top posting, but I just want the ball rolling on the OSM
>> Sherbrooke list.  Michel was thinking of a Sherbrooke OSM meeting end
>> November.  I think the training you are proposing could be part of that
>> meeting, although it is probably a bit technical for the average mapper.
>> Michel, what do you think ?
>>
>> Yves
>>
>>
>>
>>> Hi guys,
>>>
>>> I just had an idea, but because I don't know if it is a good one, I'll
>>>  share it with you. Would it be a good idea to organize a workshop to
>>>  import Geobase and Canvec data?
>>>
>>> Today I was contacted by Oxalin, who has been editing in Granby  lately,
>>> and he mentioned that he and a friend are willing to help with  the import
>>> as well (at least for St-Jean-sur-Richelieu). Perhaps there  are also some
>>> people from Montreal interested. There is a large  concentration of users in
>>> Sherbrooke, and because it is somewhat in  between Montreal and Quebec, I
>>> think it would be the most obvious  location.
>>>
>>> Regarding the workshop: I could explain how to import the roads, and
>>>  edit / make connections with JOSM. We could also discuss the import of
>>>  Canvec and NHN (hydro) data, because both Daniel and I are interested  in
>>> it. Maybe Michel can explain how he imported the data through FME,  although
>>> I'm not sure if this is relevant, because not everyone has  access to it.
>>>
>>> About NHN import: I think that users from the Montreal area should  also
>>> pick up the gauntlet. There is a whole lot of data to be  imported. I also
>>> have no idea about the current data quality, but I  expect this to be a huge
>>> undertaking. (And what I've done so far pales  in comparison with that.)
>>> Anyways, they'll also benefit from OSM :)
>>>
>>> If you think this would be a good idea, what would be the term to
>>>  organize such an event? A couple of hours, together with a small  mapping
>>> party (proposal: gathering and entering addresses) should be  enough. And of
>>> course a dinner at the end of the day :) For me it  won't be a problem to
>>> come from Quebec, but I would prefer doing this  before the winter really
>>> sets in. The winter is too cold and snowy to  venture outdoors anyways, so
>>> what would be better than to spend our  time importing data in our beloved
>>> Open Street Map?
>>>
>>> Cheers,
>>>
>>> Frank
>>>
>> Hi Yves,
>
> What kind of meeting are you considering? Is it a mapping party, or just an
> event planned in an evening. In the latter case it won't be possible for me
> to attend, because of the distance. When the idea is to hold a mapping party
> (on a day in the weekend), I think it can be combined very well. For
> example, we could start an hour earlier in the morning, and I can explain a
> number of things about the import. The mapping party itself could start
> afterwards, so then people who do not care about the import, don't have to
> hear all of this stuff. I only mentioned "a couple of hours" because I was
> not aware you were thinking about organizing something yourself, and someone
> from farther away would not come if there was not a mapping party or
> something else going on.
>
> Right now the import of Geobase and Canvec data in Quebec is gaining
> momentum, so this is an excellent occasion to get more people jumping in :)
> Daniel already mentioned that he and Michel were interested in adding Canvec
> data around Sherbrooke (although I hope they're willing to extend their
> efforts to the rest of Quebec too). Also Alex (user:Oxalin) and his friend
> are willing to lend a hand. So, that would already be 5 persons, if all of
> them can attend, and 6 including you. And, as mentioned I also hope to get
> some people from the Montreal area interested.
>
> Importing all of the data is a lot of work. I think that road-wise we're
> about halfway in Quebec. Not too bad, but it could be better, considering
> that other provinces are "finished". Importing is more than just uploading
> the data to the OSM server, so I want to pay some attention to cleanup an
> other quality aspects as well. This certainly improves the data quality,
> which opens the way for things like routing. Although information about the
> import is available in several places (wiki, talk-ca), it is hard for
> someone just starting to get going. Unfortunately the guy who took on
> himself to coordinate the import has a communication style which is hard to
> follow. Also the wiki pages are outdated, or not entirely correct (as is the
> current shp-to-osm page). Certainly, someone could improve it, but I think
> it would be more effective to show in person how things are working, what to
> look for, etc. Hence this idea.
>
>
> Frank
>
>
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-- 
Michel Gilbert
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