KWSN Orbiting Fortress

ToeBee · Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2011 1:52 am Post subject: Any mappers out there?

I got a GPS bicycle computer back in April. Garmin Edge 305. It records position, speed, altitude, etc plus heart rate and pedal cadence. (with wireless sensors) Shortly after that I lamented the fact that the bike trails in my area weren't on any maps. Then I looked at my GPS device and thought "hmm... I'm capturing all kinds of data with this. I should use it!"

So I found OpenStreetMap (OSM) that lets anyone edit the map of the world just like anyone can edit wikipedia. Now all the bicycle lanes/trails/paths are mapped! And they show up on OpenCycleMap in a nice blue.

Anyone else heard of/used OpenStreetMap? There are all kinds of thematic sites that use the data. For example, wheelmap.org highlights features that relate to wheelchairs. Perhaps more appropriate for this group, there is Open Brewpub Map. (give this one a while to finish loading) Cheers!
#Beer

It also seems to be gaining some attention from bigger players now. MapQuest has launched a new service at open.mapquest.com that is 100% based on OSM data and even the open source tool chain to process/display the map itself.

Anyway, it has become quite the hobby for me this year and I was just curious if anyone else had heard of it. If not, now you have! Perhaps we could start a project to map all killer rabbits so that people know to stay clear of them! Then maybe also all known locations which sell holy hand grenades.

Sir Hamster of Elderberry · Posted: Fri Feb 04, 2011 2:24 pm Post subject:

I hadn't heard, but it sounds interesting. I'll try to look into it before the snow melts and the wheels start spinning.

ni! i!u
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John Galt 007 · Prince Joined: 31 Dec 2007 Posts: 1206 Location: Wisconsin

I was actually thinking of doing this with my ATV. The trail maps are not of the greatest resolution, and this would give me a good excuse to spend more time on the quad....

#ni-1

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ToeBee · Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2011 1:04 am Post subject:

Indeed. I was riding my bike anyway but I did do many rides just to get data for OSM.

Oh and I guess I could link to my blog here. I just started it at the end of last year. So far all the posts are OSM related.

http://ksmapper.blogspot.com

mohrorless · Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2011 9:51 am Post subject:

do they do snowmobile stuff? I have a DeLorme Earthmate that was my Dad's. He did some (personal) mapping on some snowmobile trail mapping in Upstate NY (in the general direction of Sir Farty Shocked

).
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ToeBee · Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 3:31 am Post subject:

Well it's a wiki style system so you can pretty much map whatever you want to. It may not get rendered on the default map at openstreetmap.org but it will be in the database for someone to make a thematic map with. The OSM community generally prefers that it be things that actually exist here and now. So no mapping out Camelot. 'tis a silly place anyway.

However it does seem like others have mapped snowmobile paths. See the OSM wiki here and here

mohrorless · Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 4:17 pm Post subject:

I suppose I will have to read the instruction book now... but little time for that by Saturday.
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Fetch me the Holy Hand Grenade!

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Keeper of the Unending keg of PGGBs
Taunter in Training
Campaign Manager for Sir Shrubbery

Plus