OpenStreetMap
Last year while hiking in the Algarve, Portugal, I added a house with its name. Recently, I received this message from an observant contributor:
https://www.openstreetmap.org/message/read/581970
This is the pertinent changeset!
https://www.openstreetmap.org/changeset/41180155
by user
https://www.openstreetmap.org/user/Dreganius
This is his/hers only contribution to OSM!
Bearing in mind that the name of the house was visible from the track I was walking on and that the Bing imagery is far more explicit/detailed than my OSM entry and within the definition of public domain data, then I consider “Dreganius” act to be very petty indeed.
So, what should I do?
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nothing: What for?
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reverse the said changeset: Dreganius could consequently do more damage than this petty act.
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report Dreganius: And have him removed as a contributor. What would we gain?
Discussion
Comment from Vincent de Phily on 12 August 2016 at 12:38
Can’t read the message you posted, it is only readable by you.
It’s common enough for people to look at OSM and be surprised that part of their private property is mapped, and think that it shouldn’t be. Each time I encountered this, a quick explanation was enough to convince the property owner, and often even gain some local knowledge to improve the map.
As long as you’re only using public data (satellite imagery, non-trespassing survey…), are tagging things properly (don’t forget to add access tags when necessary, especially to prevent routers from suggesting a driveway as a shortcut between two road, but most driveways don’t need that), and are not including private information (such as “John Woo lives there” or similar), it’s normal to have it in OSM.
Start by explaining this to Dreganius. Whether he is or knows the owner isn’t actually important for the purpose of deciding what goes into OSM or not, what matters is the previous paragraph. Everybody benefits from a complete map; it would be pretty stupid for all the neighbouring houses/driveways to be mapped except this one.
After that, re-add the driveway, tagging it as access=private/destination if necessary. Local knowledge is needed before readding the name tag. If it is the name of the house, then putting it in addr:housename is probably the right thing to do. If it is the name of the people living there, then I agree that it is out of scope for OSM.
Comment from santamariense on 12 August 2016 at 14:10
I think only the tag “Casa dos Carvalhos” should be excluded, not the building, nor the service streets. And if “Casa dos Carvalhos” is written on the front of the house as a house identification form, I think it can indeed be used the name because it is visible to all who pass there, why can not be in OSM?
Comment from woodpeck on 16 August 2016 at 23:45
Even though it is difficult, I’d recommend simply leaving things. The person not wanting something in OSM is going to lose in the long run because every mapper who walks down that track will add the building again. It’s no use getting all worked up about it - in only reduces the happiness of at least two people.