OpenBenches – A map of memorial benches
openbenches.org
OpenBenches – A map of memorial benches
1–10 of 33 posts
Re: OpenBenches – A map of memorial benches
#2I thought about dedicating a bench in the name of my dad. He was cremated and I struggled with what to do with his ashes (and scattering them was an odd adventure on its own). A bench seems like a nice way to remember someone without taking up a plot of land somewhere.
Re: OpenBenches – A map of memorial benches
#3On their about page:
>OpenStreetMap has a list of (nearly) every bench in the world – but they don’t record whether there is an inscription on it.
Weird since OpenStreetMap does have an inscription=* key, which could be combined with the historic=memorial and memorial=bench tags. So what the site does could very well be achieved with OpenStreetMap alone.
Re: OpenBenches – A map of memorial benches
#4On their about page: >OpenStreetMap has a list of (nearly) every bench in the world – but they don’t record whether there is an inscription on it. Weird since OpenStreetMap does have an inscription=* key, which could be combined with the historic=memorial and memorial=bench tags. So what the site does could very well be achieved with OpenStreetMap alone.
I've personally added inscriptions to the Map because I noticed other people had. I assumed, therefore, the data was coming from OSM. Then I noticed they have pictures of the benches too.
Re: OpenBenches – A map of memorial benches
#5On their about page: >OpenStreetMap has a list of (nearly) every bench in the world – but they don’t record whether there is an inscription on it. Weird since OpenStreetMap does have an inscription=* key, which could be combined with the historic=memorial and memorial=bench tags. So what the site does could very well be achieved with OpenStreetMap alone.
I understood that to mean not that OSM can't record that information, just that it doesn't - I assume people tend not to include that level of detail when contributing to OSM. So the benefit of this site is that it focuses contributor's attention on the inscription and prompts them to include it.
It's a cool idea - I wonder if they feed the data back up to OSM. If not they (or someone) presumably could easily enough.
Also interesting and linked from their About page is https://openplaques.org/
Re: OpenBenches – A map of memorial benches
#6My favourite one is already on there:
https://openbenches.org/bench/5849
"Nina Theresa Jenkinson 4th of May 1959 - 5th May 2017 She took pleasure in annoying the fisherman by feeding the ducks"
(it's by a private fishing lake within a public park; I don't know if she just liked feeding the ducks (but she could've done that many other places nearby) or if it was a passive aggressive demonstration against catch and release fishing, or against having a private lake there, but either way I find the inscription is memorable)
Re: OpenBenches – A map of memorial benches
#7On their about page: >OpenStreetMap has a list of (nearly) every bench in the world – but they don’t record whether there is an inscription on it. Weird since OpenStreetMap does have an inscription=* key, which could be combined with the historic=memorial and memorial=bench tags. So what the site does could very well be achieved with OpenStreetMap alone.
There's some recent good news about this in a GitHub issue: https://github.com/openbenches/openbenches.org/issues/232
Re: OpenBenches – A map of memorial benches
#8On their about page: >OpenStreetMap has a list of (nearly) every bench in the world – but they don’t record whether there is an inscription on it. Weird since OpenStreetMap does have an inscription=* key, which could be combined with the historic=memorial and memorial=bench tags. So what the site does could very well be achieved with OpenStreetMap alone.
I'm one of the people behind OpenBenches.
When I wrote that page (6 years ago) there was no easy way to add inscriptions to benches.
I'm happy that has changed and we now have a signed agreement with OSM to allow them to reuse our data.
Re: OpenBenches – A map of memorial benches
#9Lovely to see our work on HN.
We are looking for supporters to keep us going. You can donate with GitHub sponsors, OpenCollective, or by buying a T-shirt https://openbenches.org/support
Of course, the best way to help is to submit a photo :-)
Re: OpenBenches – A map of memorial benches
#10I thought about dedicating a bench in the name of my dad. He was cremated and I struggled with what to do with his ashes (and scattering them was an odd adventure on its own). A bench seems like a nice way to remember someone without taking up a plot of land somewhere.
That's a lovely idea.