OpenStreetMap
After I decided to spend 10 days in Tuskany with my wife, I concentrated on the GPS data in OSM available for that region. When I realized that BING and PCN 2006 can be used now (thanks to Alexander Roalter) I started to update street and wood data for Tuskany. So whenever I have a few minutes time I will continue to do that. I will take my eTrex with me for hiking and hope to use the updated map in June.
Update: data shows up in the latest hiking/riding maps, great !
Discussion
Comment from Alexander Roalter on 15 February 2011 at 09:16
Instead of bing, you can use the newer (albeit slower) PCN (Portale Geografico Nazionale)
In JOSM, use this as WMS service: http://wms.pcn.minambiente.it/cgi-bin/mapserv.exe?map=/ms_ogc/service/ortofoto_colore_06.map&LAYERS=ortofoto_colore_06_32,ortofoto_colore_06_33&REQUEST=GetMap&VERSION=1.1.1&FORMAT=image%2Fjpeg&
In my home town in South Tyrol, BING data is > 15 years old, while PCN is from 2006
Comment from Alexander Roalter on 15 February 2011 at 09:17
^^^^ in the above comment, you'd have to replace & by a single ampersand.
More on the issue (in italian) here: osm.wiki/WikiProject_Italy/PCN
Comment from fraq42 on 15 February 2011 at 11:54
Alexander, thanks for the hint. There are quite some differences. Unfortunately the resolution and quality of the PCN pictures is less than BING images, sometimes I cannot recognize the ground structures. I will try to use both image sources in the future.
Comment from Alexander Roalter on 16 February 2011 at 09:06
Keep in mind that the PCN doesn't resize automatically (in JOSM), you need to right-click on the WMS layer and select 'change resolution'. In the top left corner of JOSM you see the current scale, when it shows 50m, it's the highest resolution, although there might be a small improvement if you go a bit below.
It can go up to 1km, but then it's only adapted to trace outlines of forests etc... Above that, you only get a white default image.
I usually have the bing layer on for quick orientation, and activate the PCN when I do the details.