[Openstreetmap] What I'm working on

[Nick Whitelegg]

Hello everyone,

Just thought I'd let you know what I'm working on in case you're
interested. In approximate order of priority:

1. Writing code to export Freemap maps (code which could be applied to
OpenStreetMap as a whole potentially) in "Polish" format. As some of you
may be aware "Polish" format is a format which is used by the cGPSmapper
software to generate base maps suitable for Garmin receivers. In other
words this will allow a user to upload (the principal features of) Freemap
maps to their Garmin GPS. Thus someone out walking will easily be able to
use their Garmin GPS and Freemap/OpenStreetMap data to find out whether
they're on the right path. As far as I'm aware this is only possible in the
USA and Canada at the moment - Garmin's MapSource maps do not provide
footpath (trail) data for the UK.

2. Looking at the possibility of an "AJAX" (look on Google) and SVG
rich-client based mapping interface, again initially for Freemap but with
possible application to OpenStreetMap as a whole.

The idea is to allow more maintainable, clean client/server separated, code
and reduce load on the server. The AJAX idea is as follows: JavaScript on
the client side can make an HTTP request to the server *at any point* (not
just when requesting a new HTML page) and the server can then respond with
arbitrary data - XML, HTML or anything else. This data can then be
processed by the JavaScript on the client side, using the DOM to change the
contents of the page, and, excitingly, also any SVG images embedded on the
page. (Since SVG is XML you can just use the DOM to access the SVG image).
With a bit of thought I can easily see the potential for interactive
rich-client mapping applications fully using standard web techniques and
protocols - no proprietary plug ins like Flash needed.

Firefox 1.1 will have SVG support to this level, the preview "Deer Park
Alpha 2" can already do it on Linux and Windows.

3. Refine osm-editor into a complete standalone GPX editor and
OpenStreetMap client (once the backend has been converted to Ruby and the
key-value system is ready for use) and also a standalone "landscape
browser" (the inclusion of Landsat and contours has suggested this possible
use to me).

Once the key/value system is ready transfer Freemap data to the
Openstreetmap database.

So if anyone fancies hacking on any of that lot....

Nick