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OpenStreetMap Is Turning 20

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Re: OpenStreetMap Is Turning 20

#111

Post by abdullahkhalids »

viscousviolin wrote: post #104
zikduruqe wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm an avid cyclist and always update routes, document drinking fountains, shelters, bicycle repair stations and update businesses that I see need it.

Thanks for all your input! How long does it usually take you to complete a single update? I'm curious about helping out with the effort in my neighbourhood.

I use StreetComplete (mentioned elsewhere in this thread), and have added substantial amounts of data to my city. It just asks simple objective questions (Does this crosswalk have a light to tell pedestrians when to cross?). Very easy and quick to answer.

Re: OpenStreetMap Is Turning 20

#112

Post by roeles »

Freak_NL wrote: post #25
Ruthalas wrote: post #10

If you appreciate OSM, consider installing the StreetComplete mobile app[0]! It lets you contribute to OSM in a very simple manner, via simple questions like, "Is there a marked crosswalk here?" I'm not affiliated, I just think it's cool. It's very satisfying to complete quests in your local area. [0] https://streetcomplete.app/

StreetComplete is fun for casual contributions, but what OSM really needs is good local mappers. You can tell when a place has local mappers updating and monitoring changes in the real world. Even just taking care of the coming and going of shops is really useful. People who visit your area using apps like OsmAnd and OrganicMaps use that data!

I tried editing my area to reflect road closures due to construction. It was surprisingly difficult. Spent an hour searching online. My edit was denied by the reviewer (I used the wrong method) and the closure was not reflected in the map.

Google maps was a one minute process and it was reflected in the map after about an hour. OSM stayed outdated for weeks.

From this experience I am tempted to conclude that OSM needs to make mapping easier.

Re: OpenStreetMap Is Turning 20

#113

Post by habi »

IndySun wrote: post #91
Ruthalas wrote: post #10

If you appreciate OSM, consider installing the StreetComplete mobile app[0]! It lets you contribute to OSM in a very simple manner, via simple questions like, "Is there a marked crosswalk here?" I'm not affiliated, I just think it's cool. It's very satisfying to complete quests in your local area. [0] https://streetcomplete.app/

I use GoMap!!. It's comprehensive and a little clunky to use. I had not heard of streetcomplete. A quick suggests it is similar but a welcome alt.

StreetComplete is a gameified approach to updating details on OpenStreetMap, and only available on Android (for the moment: https://github.com/orgs/streetcomplete/projects/1).

A good companion to Go Map!! (which is a nearly full-featured OSM editor app) is https://every-door.app/, which is great for on-the-go stuff.

Re: OpenStreetMap Is Turning 20

#114

Post by habi »

tictacttoe wrote: post #44

First, happy customer of OSM and it’s impressive what they’ve built! That said, I’ve noticed their company website field is sparsely populated. Any recommendations for acquiring the place website URL through an API or ethically scraping it at scale? I’m specifically wondering about options that wouldn’t involve Google Places.

Do NOT scrape OpenStreetmap, you can download the full dataset for yourself: https://planet.osm.org/ and search for what you want in it.

If you want regional extracts, you can simply download them from Geofabrik at https://download.geofabrik.de/

Re: OpenStreetMap Is Turning 20

#115

Post by zelphirkalt »

politelemon wrote: post #5

OSM is the only implementation of maps that has been done with privacy in mind. It's a real shame that DDG chose to drop it for a much worse alternative. OSM has been an absolute necessity when out hiking in the sticks, and knowing that someone has done work to map this trail out without expectations from me. It's also led to many useful derived maps like public toilets and parking and accessibility. I've always made…

I feel like they could do a little more in terms of promoting on their own website to add/update things. I use it, but so far never saw any "Something new here? Do xyz to add it to the map!". So I have no clue how to even start adding anything. Alternatively perhaps they could allow users to add things to some staging ground, where authorized users could decide, whether to take it or not. But I guess that would result in lots of spam.

Re: OpenStreetMap Is Turning 20

#116

Post by fabioborellini »

I love OSM and its default web app, especially when travelling. The commercial maps are too dynamic and fuzzy, zooming in may make previously visible POIs go away. It also gives a general view of what is available in a given place.

I can’t find a supermarket using google maps in a new country, the search function usually fails and I don’t even know if I should use English, my native language or the destination’s language to find places. A more oldschool and less dynamic map allows to look for basket or cart symbols.

Re: OpenStreetMap Is Turning 20

#117

Post by Rygian »

kjrfghslkdjfl wrote: post #54
thefz wrote: post #7

Having an offline, updated map in my pocket is invaluable when hiking and cycling in the mountains. I have been contributing to it as much as I can, to at least give something back.

Currently, I use google maps "offline maps" for this. However, one thing it can't do is give you directions in offline mode. Meaning, I can have the map in offline mode but not ask it to find me a path from A to B. Do you know of an OSM app that can do this is offline mode?

As sibling comments point out, you can try OsmAnd or Organic Maps.

Re: OpenStreetMap Is Turning 20

#118

Post by n4r9 »

pietervdvn wrote: post #96

Another way to contribute is my project https://mapcomplete.org I'm trying to build a somewhat generic map view, which features many thematic maps (e.g. shops, restaurants, bicycle pumps, toilets, ...) Most data comes from OpenStreetMap, but it also allows to make changes, upload pictures, show wikipedia or make reviews with mangrove.Reviews

Can I use this to update the location of e.g. a restaurant that is in the wrong place?

Re: OpenStreetMap Is Turning 20

#119

Post by kjrfghslkdjfl »

Rygian wrote: post #117
kjrfghslkdjfl wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Currently, I use google maps "offline maps" for this. However, one thing it can't do is give you directions in offline mode. Meaning, I can have the map in offline mode but not ask it to find me a path from A to B. Do you know of an OSM app that can do this is offline mode?

As sibling comments point out, you can try OsmAnd or Organic Maps.

[dead]

Re: OpenStreetMap Is Turning 20

#120

Post by viscousviolin »

abdullahkhalids wrote: post #111
viscousviolin wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks for all your input! How long does it usually take you to complete a single update? I'm curious about helping out with the effort in my neighbourhood.

I use StreetComplete (mentioned elsewhere in this thread), and have added substantial amounts of data to my city. It just asks simple objective questions (Does this crosswalk have a light to tell pedestrians when to cross?). Very easy and quick to answer.

I installed it last night and their flow seems very simple, yeah. Does it allow you to, for example, add missing streets or paths that aren't marked as missing? Because it sounds like it only lets you contribute to things that are already marked as "needs more data"
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