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OpenStreetMap proven to be a highly accurate map in top US cities

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Re: OpenStreetMap proven to be a highly accurate map in top US cities

#91

Post by HotVector »

tracerbulletx wrote: post #74

As Google has lost it's sheen of benevolence over the last decade public knowledge projects like this become ever more appealing. Wikipedia proves they can be wildly successful all without capital investment and the perverse incentives that follow.

I used to think Google was the "good guy" by providing so many resources for free, but I've realized how they've exploited their market dominance by essentially manipulating the masses with their ad service. We need to move away from conglomerates and start using software that doesn't sell your soul to the devil.

Re: OpenStreetMap proven to be a highly accurate map in top US cities

#92

Post by s0rce »

Ayesh wrote: post #4

Good that OSM is accurate in cities as well, because in hiking, skiing, or even some ferry routes, OSM simply wins because that's often the only mapping provider to even have _any_ data. Some of my first hand experiences: - French GR-20 routes. Google maps are laughably empty, while OSM has you covered with almost the same information as the hiking maps you can buy on the trail. - Anapurna - similar to GR-20 situatio…

I often notice when OSM is wrong/missing data while hiking and I'll record a trace and update when I get back home. I enjoy contributing but I wish there was a bit more of a community aspect to it (or maybe I simply haven't found that). In some areas the US government agency maps are hilariously out of date or simply completely wrong so OSM is great to able to simply fix it after visiting.

Re: OpenStreetMap proven to be a highly accurate map in top US cities

#93

Post by s0rce »

ghaff wrote: post #9
Ayesh wrote: post #4

Good that OSM is accurate in cities as well, because in hiking, skiing, or even some ferry routes, OSM simply wins because that's often the only mapping provider to even have _any_ data. Some of my first hand experiences: - French GR-20 routes. Google maps are laughably empty, while OSM has you covered with almost the same information as the hiking maps you can buy on the trail. - Anapurna - similar to GR-20 situatio…

OSM isn't perfect--especially on trails that aren't official in any way. (Although there are some totally informal trails literally out my door that are far better than you could reasonably expect. And the missing sections are probably on private land which is one reason I haven't filled them in.) But Google seems to have pretty much zero interest in mapping even popular official trails in many cases.

I'm often hesitant about mapping the unofficial trails, particularly the ones you aren't supposed to use. There are many around the SF bay area, some are simply non-maintained non-system trails, while others are illegal mtb paths off the allowed trail network. Some of them are so well traveled in areas with minimal erosion that they are almost as good as maintained trails, although often less well graded.

Re: OpenStreetMap proven to be a highly accurate map in top US cities

#94

Post by matkoniecz »

nbar wrote: post #5

What is the barrier to adding more data? Do they need funds to purchase it from satellite providers?

You can donate at https://donate.openstreetmap.org/ - though money is not used for buying satellite imagery, but rather for server upkeep, maintaining core software etc.

You can also contribute directly - there is edit button on https://openstreetmap.org

StreetComplete may be useful if you have and Android phone and you are not interested in learning how to contribute (registering for OSM account is the worst step).

Vespucci (for Android), Go Map!! (for Apple devices), JOSM (Java standalone program) are full-scale editors that I also recommend.

Re: OpenStreetMap proven to be a highly accurate map in top US cities

#95

Post by RicoElectrico »

nbar wrote: post #5

What is the barrier to adding more data? Do they need funds to purchase it from satellite providers?

OSM Foundation does not buy imagery. The community just relies on what is made available to them: Bing, Esri, Maxar, Mapbox all make their imagery available worldwide, on top of that many state or local governments have freed up their imagery.

As for street-level imagery there's Mapillary and KartaView, both relying on volunteers with smartphones.

The most important stuff, and the real asset of OSM, is what can't be added with aerial imagery: POIs aong with their attributes, road surface, speed limits, turn restrictions, paths in forests covered by trees and so on.

Re: OpenStreetMap proven to be a highly accurate map in top US cities

#98

Post by matkoniecz »

s0rce wrote: post #92
Ayesh wrote: post #4

Good that OSM is accurate in cities as well, because in hiking, skiing, or even some ferry routes, OSM simply wins because that's often the only mapping provider to even have _any_ data. Some of my first hand experiences: - French GR-20 routes. Google maps are laughably empty, while OSM has you covered with almost the same information as the hiking maps you can buy on the trail. - Anapurna - similar to GR-20 situatio…

I often notice when OSM is wrong/missing data while hiking and I'll record a trace and update when I get back home. I enjoy contributing but I wish there was a bit more of a community aspect to it (or maybe I simply haven't found that). In some areas the US government agency maps are hilariously out of date or simply completely wrong so OSM is great to able to simply fix it after visiting.

You can find something at https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Contact_channels or https://community.osm.be/ (click on your area).

Personally I follow

- global Discord channel (and local one) https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Discord - global and local Telegram - https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/List_of_OSM_centric_Tele... - forum of a local community - https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Tagging_mailing_list (if you enjoy participating in design of tagging schemes) - https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Talk_mailing_list

Re: OpenStreetMap proven to be a highly accurate map in top US cities

#99

Post by blackboxlogic »

HotVector wrote: post #91
tracerbulletx wrote: post #74

As Google has lost it's sheen of benevolence over the last decade public knowledge projects like this become ever more appealing. Wikipedia proves they can be wildly successful all without capital investment and the perverse incentives that follow.

I used to think Google was the "good guy" by providing so many resources for free, but I've realized how they've exploited their market dominance by essentially manipulating the masses with their ad service. We need to move away from conglomerates and start using software that doesn't sell your soul to the devil.

I thought I was helping the world by fixing things on google maps. That will be a perpetual reminder for how naive I can be.

Re: OpenStreetMap proven to be a highly accurate map in top US cities

#100

Post by tppiotrowski »

radicaldreamer wrote: post #70

What is the best-in-class iOS app using OpenStreetMap? For iPhone, MagicEarth looks extremely good ( https://www.magicearth.com/ ), but I'm wondering if people have other recommendations...

I have been using maps.me for about 5 years. It is becoming more and more commercialized but it's fast and has a simple interface.
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