OpenStreetMap

Going where no mapper has gone before...

Posted by Peanutz on 18 November 2010 in English.

*Intro credits*

In a land, not so far away i am helping to slowly populate the map of where i live, work, and play.

It all started from downloading a free GPS for the iPhone which harnessed the OpenStreetMap content system. However there was one problem... There was a great big blank nothing where my estate 'should' have been. So i took it upon myself to start sorting that out by setting off with my iPhone and getting some GPS traces!

However since then i have come up with a more interesting way to get accurate results without the need to get GPS traces. How? Using Google Earth you can set markers on the map and save them as a .kmz file! All you need to do then is give it a name, find an online converter (type convert kmz file to gpx into google) and away you go, you can then import the trace into JOSM and start building roads by just following the lines you mapped out using the satellite imagery. :]

Discussion

Comment from hbogner on 18 November 2010 at 00:47

That's the main thing you must NOT do.

http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/OSM_in_Google_Earth

Important legal note: Do not use use data from Google Earth to add or change anything in Open Street Map, ie. don't look at a satellite image from Google and add or change streets or other things. Somebody has a copyright on the data shown in Google Earth and using any data from it will compromise the OSM database. See the Legal FAQ for more information.

http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Legal_FAQ

Can I trace data from Google Maps/Virtual Earth/Ordnance Survey/...?
No. Other sources must not be used as the base of any data uploaded to OSM. This is because their licences forbid you to do so. Only sources with compatible licenses - such as US Government information released into the public domain - may be used as base for adding OSM data. However, it is OK to use Yahoo! Aerial Imagery, as Yahoo! have agreed to allow OSM to use it. Better still, create the data yourself!

So use your gpx traces.

Would you be so kind to remove the data from GE yourself.

Comment from onion on 18 November 2010 at 07:43

That is a BIG nono. Never trace from copyrighted material unless you have permission to do so. You must remove everything you have mapped using those traces you have made from GE.

Comment from davespod on 18 November 2010 at 10:47

I wonder how many people do this and then don't post a diary comment about it.

Perhaps we need really prominent warnings about this particular issue the first time you start JOSM or Potlatch? Just a thought.

Comment from Peanutz on 18 November 2010 at 19:34

Ah parden didn't realize! I shall go and correct the mistake, apologies! :S

Comment from Peanutz on 18 November 2010 at 19:43

Now corrected, lesson learnt. Now time to carry on with the original idea (Strap iphone to the bike!) :] I have only left the roads i put in originally from my own GPX data.

Comment from Rikki on 19 November 2010 at 00:09

Welcome to OSM Peanutz. Venturing out with a GPS and collecting traces in the map void is at the heart of this project. Map what you see on the ground and it's all good.

Once you start mapping your area it might encourage others to contribute too.

Comment from Sam Wilson on 19 November 2010 at 04:29

Yes, absolutely, getting out there with GPS and bicycle is much more fun than tracing from silly old aerial photos! :-)

Good on you for getting involved, Peanutz. By the way, have you come across Walking Papers yet? It's another good way of mapping one's local area, and an easy one to share with other people.

Comment from Sam Wilson on 19 November 2010 at 04:30

(Hmm, I don't know why that link didn't work. It's meant to be http://walking-papers.org/ )

Comment from Peanutz on 19 November 2010 at 19:04

Ah thanks very much Sam! Also thanks Rikki and others for the welcome, glad to be of service. :]

I know it's probably a stupid question but what do others find is the most reliable/accurate GPS to use for mapping? The reason being is I have made quite a few traces on my walks to work each morning, and some will be quite a bit off whereas others seem to be roughly on par with where the previous track(s) were. I'm sure i will find the information eventually but i welcome anyone's input/tips/tricks with it.

Comment from chillly on 19 November 2010 at 21:23

You might like to look at the wiki page http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/GPS_Reviews

Comment from Sanderd17 on 20 November 2010 at 09:47

Walking papers can only work when about 80% of the streets is already mapped, it's good for noting names and POIs.

About the accuracy of the GPS. When I travel through an already mapped area (and I don't have time to map extra details), I put my gps tracing on. Afterwards, I compare the gpx trace with the map, if the difference is too big, I put the trace on OSM and I take the mean of all the public gps traces of that road.

That way, the roads get precise, even if no gps is accurate.

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