[OSM-talk] Some thoughts against remote mapping

[Warin]

On 14/06/2015 6:31 PM, Sarah Hoffmann wrote:
> The One Map we currently show caters mainly to the overrepresented 
> tech population (or, in the case of the HOT map, to NGOs) and that 
> gives the impression that the same is true for our data (which isn't). 
> So maybe both, the diversity movement and humanitarian efforts should 
> focus less on data collection and more on the data representation, 
> i.e. make specialised maps.

Unfortunately some people in OSM don't want diversity - they see it as a 
special case and they don't want that in OSM!
This can be seen in the opposition to some new tags being introduced.
I say the more data the better. The number of tags should reflect the 
diversity of features, grouping them is something of a problem, but that 
should not stop the introduction of new tags.

The 'one map we show' .. is that not intended for checking of data? Not 
for producing a map?
Presently there are many OSM derived maps available, with lots of 
variation between them in how they present the data and what data they 
do present.
It 'would be nice' to have a 'user configurable map' .. that may come as 
time passes. But it would still rely on OSM data, and that needs to 
include a lot of diverse things. Some won't be of use in one map, but 
may be very important in another map.

> Lots of them. Invest in technologies that allow every community to 
> make exactly the map they need. Because this really is the resource 
> intensive part of OSM which most people cannot efford. Data collection 
> is easy and cheap in comparision. The local communities will 
> eventually mangage to do it on their own, once they see what the 
> benefits are for themselves. Sarah 

Good data collection in remote areas is neither easy or cheap.
The more remote the area the more it costs to get there, stay there and 
then transmit the data back.

-----------------------------
I use 'remote mapping' methods even close to home, as well as far away.

When used close to home I have cultural knowledge that help in 
determining things. For clarification I can always go and visit.

Far away I am less certain and have to take a more conservative approach.
That can lead to errors - I try to make those have as little impact as 
possible.
If, for example, a highway classification is needed than I'll demote the 
classification rather than be too optimistic about it.
Some group of buildings might be a small village .. or a group of farm 
buildings .. I'll leave that alone.