[OSM-talk] Trace type

[Liz]

On Wed, 2 Sep 2009, Ed Avis wrote:
> Another person on this list mentioned that he didn't think of tagging
> traces with the mode of transport used.  There's no prompt for it when you
> upload a file, and so most people don't. 
So I drive somewhere, walk a bit to get some details, unload the bike, cycle 
some, drive home
and now you think that I am going to split a trace into what I was doing 
where?
If I'm solo driving I stop and start on lonely roads to get all the markers, 
get out of the car to photograph stuff, with the gps unit now attached to the 
camera, so it can be used for better geo-tagging
what information will you get from this trace on the average speed?
and how will this info relate to the average speed of a person on a normal 
trip?
I ask this because you are thinking about collecting information and you 
aren't thinking about the relevance of the gathered information to the 
intended use of this information.
It is poor planning to collect information without working out for what you 
are going to use this information. You cannot assume that the information is 
going to be relevant.
Neither random nor compulsive information gathering are going to add value to 
the data.



> Similarly, I never thought until
> now of adding the model of GPS I used, until by chance someone happened to
> mention it on the mailing list.  And even now that I know I should add it,
> it's far from obvious how to do so.  If there were a simple text box
> labelled 'GPS unit used' then I would have filled it out on every trace
> uploaded, and so, I assume, would hundreds of others.
While the average OSMer has one GPS, I confess to owning 3, and having had a 
number of others pass through my hands, all of which I have used and tested 
before sending elsewhere in the world.
No, I am not going to add in which GPS unit I used. I use them as most suited 
to me on the day - availability of bike mount, accuracy, whether it takes 
standard batteries or needs a fancy recharger - and by the time I sort out my 
traces and photos I may no longer know which GPS I used.
And what will this add to the data??
Zilch (although I actually mean another Oz phrase, which would be offensive in 
print for most).