OpenStreetMap
First post - undergraduate geography dissertation.
Posted by CarolineH on 22 September 2008 in English.No mapping activity as yet. Am researching for my undergraduate geography dissertation at the University of Manchester, and interested in what motivates people to participate in mapping and the OSM project.
I attended the State of the Map conference in Limerick in July as my first introduction into the OSM community, and am looking forward to the forthcoming Mapping Party in Manchester in October.
I would be pleased to hear from anyone who would like to share their opinions and experiences of mapping, and why they got involved with OSM.
If so, please get in touch with me either by replying here, or e-mail me at caroline.hangartner@student.manchester.ac.uk
Caroline
Discussion
Comment from blackadder on 23 September 2008 at 09:30
There is an OSM mapping party in Manchester scheduled for Oct 25/26. Keep an eye on the wiki for more details coming soon.
Comment from daveemtb on 23 September 2008 at 12:49
Caroline,
For me, mainly, it is that the kind of data I want to be able to use on my computer, my mobile phone, my GPS etc, is not available at a sensible price, has ludicrous licensing limitations, and is full of mistakes. Why should I correct mistakes for commercial companies when I will have to pay to receive my own updates in future?! So if I contribute data to OSM and others do the same, we will all benefit. It's satisfying working together for a common goal.
As a secondary motivation, I find it fun mapping things and satisfying seeing my contributions appear on the various output maps. I have always found maps inexplicably fascinating.
Comment from HannesHH on 23 September 2008 at 13:08
I joined this project rather recently (well, almost 10 months ago now and before the big german waves). The fascination was mostly the "hacker" thought behind it. "There is nothing as free as we want it, so let's build it ourselves" or something like that. Plus I used GPS a lot (Geocaching, Sailing), have too much free time and sit too much infront of my computer. Oh, and being outside on foot or with my bike is fun, OSM gave me more motivation for it. ;)
Oh, and also being able to map better than the other maps. Adding those footways only the locals know etc. That's always motivating.
If you have specific questions or I can help you in any way, just shout.
Comment from gwolf on 23 September 2008 at 15:56
In my case, I have been a map addict since my early childhood (I'm currently 32 year old). When I was around 4 years old, one of my most valued posessions was a very old (1952, I think) edition of the Hammond's World Atlas - specially the historic maps section.
My current cell phone has a GPS receiver. Or, maybe I should say it as it really is: My GPS receiver can also act as a cell phone. Up until last year, I had never paid for a cell phone, but I wanted bad to have a GPS - So, the best deal for me was to buy it on a single package: I have a Nokia N95 phone.
I am also an active member of several Free Software projects - Most notably, I am a Debian developer. I had heard, of course, about OSM - But it was not until last August, when we held DebConf8 in Mar del Plata, Argentina, that I started mapping.
I live in Mexico City. The city is in perfect shape for me to start working on it: Most of the central city is mapped (and well mapped, AFAICT). I live precisely on the southwestern edge of what is mapped - So I have started working on Ciudad Universitaria and the neighbouring areas. Of course, whenever I go out of town, I also trace my way.
So far, it's great fun. And a time sink!
Comment from CarolineH on 24 September 2008 at 21:22
Thank you to everyone who has got in touch (either by e-mail or commenting here) your feedback has been really useful, and helps me form a more detailed picture of online mapping.
Once I am in a position to ask some more specific questions I will post again.
Thanks again
Caroline