[OSM-talk] Adding vmap0 road data to OSM

[Karl Newman]

On Jan 6, 2008 12:49 AM, 80n <80n80n at gmail.com> wrote:
> There's some anecdotal evidence that seeding an area with some data
> encourages local contributors.  If this is actually true then loading vmap0
> would be a good thing.
>
> A newbie faced with a blank continent would find it quite intimidating to
> get started.  If they see some data, especially data that they can relate
> to, then it gives them a clue about how to proceed.
>
> IMHO low quality data is always preferable to no data.  In the early days a
> lot of the UK motorway network was mapped from landsat imagery. Since then
> it has been refined many, many times.  I'm sure every mile of it is now very
> accurately drawn based on multiple tracklogs.  Stepwise refinement is valid
> and proven way of achieving our goals.
>
> I think it would be a good thing to load vmap0 data for any area where there
> is currently no data at all.
>
> 80n

I'll wholeheartedly concur here. I looked at openstreetmap early in
2007 and concluded it wasn't quite ready for primetime, because there
was almost no mapping done in the US. I came back a few months later
and noticed the TIGER data being added and decided it was worth my
time after all. If you can get even the major road networks done, it's
a key starting point that can draw people in.

Karl