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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

#231

Post by lucb1e »

known wrote: post #209

Wish Google MAPS and OSM share data with each other;

I wish that too! The OSM data license is similar to GPL in that it requires, when mixed, the resulting derived work to still be shared in an open license. Having Google's data to complement OSM's would be a huge benefit for researchers that can use geographical data for all sorts of purposes, users of course, everyone really. As someone who contributes to OpenStreetMap and avoids Google Maps (for privacy reasons, not map reasons), I have nothing but respect for how much data they gathered. I'm just sad they keep it locked up.

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

#232

Post by lucb1e »

post_break wrote: post #97

Is this because Google has increased the api pricing and people have switched to OSM?

If at all, then only as an indirect effect. I haven't really noticed an uptick in contributors since then. There has been more publicity and more people using it (and abusing the community-run openstreetmap.org tile servers for commercial purposes²).

² It's fine to use OSM for commercial purposes, but hosting the tiles costs bandwidth and computational power. Embedding the community servers in your taxi tracking product and refreshing the page and map background every second is just a dick move.

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

#233

Post by lucb1e »

sschueller wrote: post #165

Mapping should be something done by the government. They know the most (construction plans etc) and they need to do it anyway. The data should then be available to anyone who needs it.

Dutch government does this partially. That's how OSM got some great address location and house outline data in the Netherlands :)

OSM worldwide is a mix of open datasets and original data. We'd not be as complete if one of those two were missing.

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

#234

Post by walrus01 »

npteljes wrote: post #200
walrus01 wrote: post #173

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It specifically says: OSM does NOT pre-render every tile. Pre-rendering all tiles would use around 54 TB of storage that 54TB figure is only if you pre-render into raster every zoom level of every tile for the whole world. a more typical self hosted openstreetmap renders the tiles on demand as you scroll or move the map. Disk space usage is MUCH less, such that my test/development setup fits well on a virtual machine…

Maybe the tileset could be distributed via torrent, like how they distribute the main dataset.

that would be a bad idea since the tiles are ever changing. the master copy of the data is in a vector format. the idea is you want to run the (free) software engine that turns the vector data into various zoom levels of raster tiles, on demand. the vector data is really quite small, an entire large-population US state with many complex cities is under a few hundred megabytes.

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

#235

Post by HotVector »

berkes wrote: post #198
konjin wrote: post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You need to start paying for software because if you don't then you're the product. Payment might include leasing out your infrastructure to the project until cryptos become viable for something other than ponzi schemes.

There is a fallacy in that conclusion though. When you pay, you may still be a product. There is no (economic) law that dictates that when you pay, your data may not be sold. Paying customers might dissapear if they find out you make additional profit through datamining or -sales. So there is more incentive not to sell or mine data, but it is no guarantee. The only guarantee is when technology ensures the service pro…

Exactly. It is more lucrative to provide a product for free and make money mining data rather than providing a paid product, and this is even making it harder for competitors to enter the market and not die instantly. The next logical step is not paid products, but rather open source ones with distribued data storage.

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

#236

Post by HotVector »

konjin wrote: post #195
matkoniecz wrote: post #177

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you aware of software developed as a hobby or as part of the actual product (without making the user a product) or as a limited version demonstrating full product?

There is a reason why we don't visit surgeons who do it as a hobby.

I don't see anyone asking for professional knitters on Etsy

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

#237

Post by dredmorbius »

dualthro wrote: post #229
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…

For volcanoes, what do you mean guides lose potential clients because of this? Like their maps aren't as good as other guides and so people don't hire them? I'm a bit confused.

With a sufficiently accurate map, hiring a guide is unnecessary.

Somewhat similar to the situation with IT, where sufficiently documented software or hardware cuts into consultancy fees.

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

#238

Post by npteljes »

walrus01 wrote: post #234
npteljes wrote: post #200

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe the tileset could be distributed via torrent, like how they distribute the main dataset.

that would be a bad idea since the tiles are ever changing. the master copy of the data is in a vector format. the idea is you want to run the (free) software engine that turns the vector data into various zoom levels of raster tiles, on demand. the vector data is really quite small, an entire large-population US state with many complex cities is under a few hundred megabytes.

Well their master data, planet.osm, is ever changing also, and they have a good time distributing that via torrent.

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

#239

Post by mcv »

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…

The amount of detail OSM has on Artis, the Amsterdam zoo, is insane.

Also, until quite recently (and maybe even still today) Google Map was terrible at bike routes in and around Amsterdam, whereas OSM was excellent at it. I remember how Google ignored major bike routes and tried to send you over highways or footpaths instead. Nowadays they just send you along bike paths next to major car thoroughfares, instead of sending you along the major bike thoroughfare that's discouraged for cars, running parallel to it.

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

#240

Post by themeiguoren »

blackboxlogic wrote: post #99
HotVector wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

You were helping google, but you were also helping everyone who used their maps from that day into the future. Your comment gives off the air of someone upset they helped the wrong party in a zero-sum game. IMO, this is clearly a positive sum one, and you shouldn’t despair at improving little corners of the world just because actors you don’t like will also benefit.
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