[Talk-ca] PR person for Canada/Ontario?

Tue Jun 1 23:09:40 BST 2010

Did you see the Land Information Ontario wiki page?
http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Ontario#Available_Data
http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Land_Information_Ontario

And Richard Weait is the 'unofficial Ontario PR person'.  & I am
organizing the source data.  (I also have a physical CD containing the
provincial data, but isn't needed since we already have all the roads
:)

Just create a document and share what you have, and post the letter,
then we all can work on it. :-)

Many of us in the OSM community are working on letters that are
appropriate, however each letter does need to be customized to that
particular community.   Benifits to the community of Barrie, Ontario
could be different Benifits to the community Shkoder, Albania  (who
BTW, are currently trying to work with the local government to try and
get 'official' access the the CAD file (which is already being used).

There are still a few of the Ontario Features that i have not
explored, but all of the shp files are available to download directly
from the wiki.

The approach that i am taking (for All of Canada) is this.

I don't approach the local government, until i know that I have
exhausted the sources of data that is already available.

Now that the CanVec is in for your area,  what i have found, is that
publically sharing the results on the wiki,
ie. Having the actual email response from someone who works at the
office that holds the data.  This way, we dont duplicate efforts from
other people approaching the local government asking the same thing.
We also cc: the talk-ca list during discussions.  (and BTW, verbal
communication is paramount, however a written follow up email
confirming what was said on the phone / im person, means that it is
more clear, so it is beyond a cup of coffee casual chat)
(although the Vancouver data didn't work out) - Vancouver 'Open Data'
is still in BETA, and (at least) they are aware of the existance of
OpenStreetMap.   So as the Vancouver area gets populated with the rest
of CanVec data / GeoBase Aboriginal lands.  Others in the Vancouver
Open Data GIS circle will take notice :-)

(and in the case of the Yukon, the data supplier (hat during the
working day) is actually an OpenStreetMapper during the evening &
weekends, so he already is aware of the OSM-world).    So as i stated
earlier, i put that on hold until September (as there is lots of other
data to work on).   http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Canada:Yukon
(the page is a stub, but not forgotten about)

Ideally, the data supplier would: work directly with the OSM
Community, and create .osm.zip files, customized with our exact
specifications, and the data supplier would work with a company like
SAFE[1], to create DIFF datasets, so they can do their own quality
check, and provide data updates that are even better.

If the data supplier is unaware of exactly[2] what OpenStreetMap is,
and they don't understand how the data gets mixed in with the user
created data, & that the source data can be modified (UUID does not
get retained),  then it is very difficult to get this direct
permission.

If however, you can show the data supplier that OpenStreetMap already
contains all of the map information that is already listed on tourist
maps.  And a considerable effort has already been given.   You will be
able to explain to the data supplier that using data from the
'official source'  can make the 'official source' data even better, as
OSM contains the trails / sidewalks / fountains / tourist information
boards, that does not exist on any other 'available' map.  Where
commercial map providers cannot maintain the same level of real-time
map accuracy.   So having access to the most available data is a
win-win for both parties.

Hope that make sense,
Welcome to the talk-ca list :)
Cheers,
Sam Vekemans
Across Canada Trails

[1] http://blog.safe.com/2010/03/sharing-your-data-on-openstreetmap/
[2] 'Exactly' is not clearly defined.  Richard prefers that the source
data is copyrighted to conform with Open Data Commons,
http://www.opendatacommons.org/licenses/odbl/    where myself (Sam)
understand that on all copyright noties it states "Unauthorized
re-production is no permitted, whithout direct concent"  means, that
if i post a letter from the person who actually works with the GIS
data and can speak on behalf of that government organization, that
specifically states that "the OpenStreetMap community is permitted to
use the data", and post this letter on the wiki & in the talk-ca
archives.  That is holds the same weight as conforming to ODC.

On 6/1/10, G. Michael Carter <mikey at carterfamily.ca> wrote:
> Do we have a PR person for OSM in Canada?
>
> I've had this idea rolling around in my head.   Years ago, when I was in
> high-school, the teacher of geography had us map out our local plaza.
> Most of us just paced out the dimensions of the parking lot, locations
> of the building, and any features, then we had to draw it all to scale.
> We got marks on accuracy.
>
> I thought it would be amazing if they taught this in schools from an OSM
> perspective.   Have the students pick target.  (eg: park, their school,
> local plaza, what ever)   Then have them map out the area based on GPS
> co-ordinates and taking measurements.   Then have that data uploaded to
> OSM.
>
> I've tried three times to draft up a letter to my local MP and the
> Minister of Education but can't quite get it right.   Do we have any PR
> experts which could run with the idea?
>
> Mikey
>
> --
> *G. Michael Carter*
> Contact: sip:mikeycarter at fedoraproject.org | H: 1-519-940-8935 | W:
> 1-905-267-8494 | M: 1-519-215-1869 | F: 1-519-941-0009
> Google Talk: xmpp:mikeycarter1974 at gmail.com
>
> <http://wiki.carterfamily.ca/index.php/Re-Spin_DVD>
>

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