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

[Sam Vekemans]

Hi,
Would you be able to hold out until nov 21st?

At that time, myself will have the shp-to-osm java script out of beta,
and available to 'build-from' using python/java FME tools.

Frank has offered to be the main person to maintain the conversion
script once im done with it.

And Yes, i agree, the actual act of importing the .osm files (made by
the scripts) can be done with a 'couch mapping party'

Cheers,
Sam


On 11/7/09, Michel Gilbert <michcasa at gmail.com> wrote:
> 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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