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

Sun Nov 8 18:32:03 GMT 2009

I’m in!

  _____  

From: Michel Gilbert [mailto:michcasa at gmail.com] 
Sent: November 7, 2009 19:49
To: osm-sherbrooke-discussion at lists.coactivate.org; Talk-CA OpenStreetMap
Cc: Yves Moisan; jfd553 at hotmail.com
Subject: Re: [OSM Sherbrooke discussion] Re: Geobase / Canvec import
workshop in Sherbrooke?

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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