Organizing OpenStreetMap mapping parties

> point people to the editor on openstreetmap.org, not any of the mobile or "simplified" editing

I wouldn't have made most of my contributions (or even started mapping) if I had to use their website on a tiny screen or had to take pictures or notes to add it later when I had my computer. I use their website, but that only for more advanced stuff.

The right approach is approach is probably somewhere between the two extremes. Teach new users about the website, but also about apps that let you quickly fix/update/add new stuff right on your phone.

You don't have to do this yourself, just understand that simple apps are a good way to bring new users in, that they're good enough for a lot of tasks, and that this newer generation of tech users usually prefer apps to web editors.

I think it's a good sign that OpenStreetMap has gotten so complete, at least in most USA cities, that we're starting to scrape the bottom of the barrel for things that can be added/edited. Water fountains?!?! Wow. I know that for every place where I've physically lived (and have local knowledge of the streets), OSM's roads are basically perfect, and there's no need anymore to edit them. Sometimes, I'll drive past a new suburban neighborhood being developed and they are spreading the asphalt for new streets, and I think to myself "AHA! Now is my chance to finally add a road to OSM!" I race back to my computer and lo and behold the new streets have already been added some time ago.

Hey, author here. I guess this is something I should update the post to address.

I guess I have always been in the "agonizing over every detail" stage, and remain so today (looks like we both have mapping parties tomorrow, because tomorrow's our 7th party :) ).

In the beginning, we were much more "lax". We waited for latecomers. During the survey, we moved in one big group. We focused on the social aspect of the meetup - often, the meet-and-greet phase would go on for too long, and there wouldn't be much time spent in actual mapping. After each party, I would be disappointed to note that most people did not make significant map changes during the survey.

In the 5th party, we decided to observe a stricter schedule, and tried a new approach - that of splitting up into teams, assigning an area to each team, surveying the assigned areas, then regrouping and reviewing the contributions. There was a radical difference. Everyone was contributing. A significant amount of data was gathered, and the social aspect of the meetup didn't seem to suffer as we feared it might.

Delhi is very populous, but somehow there are very few OSM contributors here. [1] It's been a real struggle to get people interested in OSM, and even more of a struggle to keep them contributing in the long term. Most participants don't continue mapping after the mapping party/workshop. I prefer to think there's something off in my approach rather than in the people, because that gives me the energy to keep trying new things.

It's great that you're organizing mapping parties in your region. I laud your initiative. Good luck for your parties!

[1] India's OSM community seems to mostly be concentrated in the southern states. For the Delhi OSM community, Bangalore remains our inspiration both for OSM coverage and for mapping party productivity.

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Those footnote toggles that transition to margin notes on bigger screens are absolutely amazing! Definitely going to try stealing that, thank you :)