[Talk-GB] Terraced Houses Mapping - JOSM and iD

Richard Fairhurst richard at systemed.net
Thu Apr 8 13:58:47 UTC 2021


Rupert Allan wrote:
> We are remote-mapping an area near home, in the South Wales Valleys

This has just started showing through and I think there's some issues of concern here.

The project appears to involve mapping building outlines in the most deprived areas of Merthyr Tydfil CBC and elsewhere (certainly Gurnos, I presume you'll be doing Galon Uchaf etc. as well).

The project appears to be documented here:

https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/South_Wales_COVID_19_Vulnerability_Mapping

Of particular concern is this:

"Public Health officials in the Rhondda Cynon Taf district have requested a mapping of the worst-affected areas. it has been agreed that using remote mapping (ideally using Ugandan/OSM Africa remote-mappers) and field mapping public amenities and contextual health indicators (again, potentially using african technicians/trainers) will be highly effective"

This is on the HOT Tasking Manager here:
https://tasks.hotosm.org/projects/10632
https://tasks.hotosm.org/projects/10634
https://tasks.hotosm.org/projects/10635

There have been some significant problems with this mapping and UK volunteers are having to run around to clear it up. Examples include:

. Residential roads inappropriately reclassified to motorway/trunk/tertiary
. Paths across open ground mapped as cycleways without any evidence of access or construction standards
. Poor quality approximate building outlines

Examples: https://imgur.com/a/rxDLOzZ

Everyone has to start somewhere; we wouldn't and shouldn't expect perfect quality geometries from OSM newcomers; and in general no-one should bite the newbies. OSM thrives on people bringing their local knowledge to the map and we should welcome that whenever it happens.

However, this is not people bringing local knowledge to the map, and I genuinely do not understand why OSM Uganda has been enlisted to map South Wales when there are more local mappers available and willing to help. The original message said "we are remote-mapping an area near home" - Merthyr is really not near anyone's home in Uganda!

Could you provide some clarity as to what's going on here; why OSM Uganda was asked to help in preference to asking the UK community; why OSM Uganda's involvement was not disclosed on this list; and how the damage to roads, paths etc. is going to be reverted, and prevented from happening again?

Richard
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