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StreetComplete: Fixing OpenStreetMap, one tiny quest at a time

streetcomplete.app

151–160 of 209 posts

Re: StreetComplete: Fixing OpenStreetMap, one tiny quest at a time

#151

I just downloaded it and launched it. It's very funny and somewhat addictive but it also feel overwhelming, just around me there are hundreds and hundreds of questions. Some,I really don't care to answer, like "the Telephone pole, is it made of wood or steel ?!" Who cares honestly.

Yes but there is Hans, 25, of Wiesbaden who is the telephone-pole-material guy who catalogues these things.

Re: StreetComplete: Fixing OpenStreetMap, one tiny quest at a time

#152
post #65

Are there other similar apps to stimulate soft "crowdfixing" ? I'm sure there are plenty of other aspect of society that would benefit from a light way to know where someone can contribute or notify so other can fix things (forest dumps, random trash). Homeostatic apps to ensure our surroundings are close to a good state :]

I upload street view pictures to Mapillary, which again can be used to automatically infer info into OSM (like signs etc)

But I feel very few OSM mapping apps use street view / have it as a feature. But for me it's the main feature I use Google Maps for. Like checking road conditions or finding nice places to camp when bikepacking. Which is why I also upload my stuff to Google (cars can't access most of these areas), but I'd prefer open alternatives.

Re: StreetComplete: Fixing OpenStreetMap, one tiny quest at a time

#153

Is https://keepright.at still a thing? That used to be my go-to site when I was bored and wanted to find things to fix in OSM. No matter how much you fix, it seems that when you go back to that site, there seem to always be tons of stuff flagged for fixing.

Seems like it's pretty out of date, from the site:

Site updated at 2024-03-03

It's a shame because it seems very useful.

Re: StreetComplete: Fixing OpenStreetMap, one tiny quest at a time

#154

What's the best apps as a Google maps replacement that uses open street maps?

I would second CoMaps if you're just starting out. Google has some unique features like tracking everyehhh—I mean traffic data! (Tracking everyone is sometimes legitimately useful :P) and they got businesses on board by displaying Google Maps information alongside Google Search results, so all business owners seek out to add their data to Google for free whereas in OpenStreetMap (and other competitors) someone needs to painstakingly find all the businesses themselves. So business info is much less complete.

On other fronts, like hiking trails or public infrastructure, you'll find OSM much more accurate, especially around the world (I hear that Google is comparatively good on their home market). If you want things like trip planning, nautical maps, road avoidance, and tons more features: OsmAnd can do basically everything but the sheer feature count also clutters the UI. I have no problem with it but others say they prefer CoMaps and other apps for the simpler tasks, so just be aware of the different pros/cons and enjoy :)

Re: StreetComplete: Fixing OpenStreetMap, one tiny quest at a time

#155

Does it have to be a mobile app? Id love to do this when im bored at work but i dont wanna make it seem like im just sitting on my phone.

https://MapComplete.org is made by someone from Belgium with the aim of making a website that's at least as good as a native app could be. It's both a data viewer and editor but generally that sounds like it's what you're looking for!

I have yet to get into it myself (I already have established workflows in StreetComplete and other editors) but from the demo that the author gave on CCC ~1.5 years ago it seemed perfectly usable back then already

Re: StreetComplete: Fixing OpenStreetMap, one tiny quest at a time

#156

I really love this - fantastic that it's open source too as would love to contribute. Is there an opportunity to add fresh new sites on this?

SCEE adds a bunch of features on top of StreetComplete. One of them is that you can always open up the tags for a feature on the map and add or update, e.g., the website information. To do this, open up the appropriate overlay (such as "things" or "places"), tap the POI, and choose "Show/edit tags" in the options menu

Some editors like OsmAnd also let you do that. In OsmAnd you can enable the OSM development plugin (it's pre-installed, more like a setting to unlock expert options than a plugin) and use "Edit POI" to add or update website information

Or simply use the website at https://osm.org/edit

StreetComplete doesn't ask for websites specifically. It's pretty restrictive in what they'll allow as 'quests' to avoid overloading new users

Re: StreetComplete: Fixing OpenStreetMap, one tiny quest at a time

#157

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, the huge difference is creating the good part. Where is the open data for the general public created from Pokemon GO? You can't stop the military using open data but that is on them. The evil is them getting your private data to have an exclusive advantage people have no control or transparency over.

I was talking about a difference for the bad outcome in this case... if Pokemon Go was open souce and public, the military could have done the same, for that matter the might be doing the same with OSM data to some extend right now and it would be harder to know about it. Open-source software and data are obviously public goods I support. I was just pointing out that the only "evil" parts here are rent seekers resell…

You have no idea what they are selling though. You can ask to get bad things removed from Open Street Maps. It isn't just the money making aspect it's the secrecy too.

Re: StreetComplete: Fixing OpenStreetMap, one tiny quest at a time

#159
post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

oooo what a fantastic idea. I have always wanted to map as many clothes donation boxes as possible.

You can do that, little free libraries, water fountains, etc. all in StreetComplete as well.

The amount things you can map in OSM is impressive. However I ran into two things that have no formal tags: time capsules (historic=time_capsule), and camera obscuras (camera_type=obscura). You can add the values, but they are not official. Time capsule is in the work [0].

[0]: https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Proposal:Time_capsule

Re: StreetComplete: Fixing OpenStreetMap, one tiny quest at a time

#160
post #144
post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Raw Information cannot be licensed, and I am not sure why OSM sticks to the policy that it can. Google Maps does not hold the rights to which opening hours Bob's Bakery keeps. If someone entered them from Bob's Bakery their site onto Maps, you are free to type it off of Maps onto OSM. Legally anyway. OSM themselves still hold the policy you can't, so you should adhere to that.

That doesn't fly for several reasons, one of them another commenter already mentioned. See these pages for why we can't copy facts from proprietary sources: https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Copyright_Easter_Eggs https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Database_right

It's too bad you guys aren't incorporated in the EU[0].

Looking at that, Google is only allowed to protect its content with database rights for 15 years after publication, with "substantial additions" getting the same 15 years from the moment of their publishing. I bet there is an interesting legal argument in if modifying opening hours or location of a PoI is considered a "substantial addition", because otherwise any PoI (including businesses) added up to July 2011 would be fair game now :). Not that OSM has the financial means to fight off a behemoth like Google.

Tbh, even then, OSM itself states: "The project is not an exercise in copying maps while trying to avoid copyright traps. We create maps without copying at all! That is the challenge we have set for ourselves.", so the point is moot.

I do wish Apple would just incorporate OSM's PoI data. Right now their's is complete garbage compared to Google Maps and OSM, missing vast swathes of info (or being woefully out of date) in almost all cities.

[0]https://intellectual-property-helpdesk.ec.europa.eu/regional...

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