I cannot thank you enough Mark! I would not have ‘down-graded’ the need for mappers without your amazing efforts in the area. Not a small component of why I started the call for remote mapping is that OSM can/will be able to provide at minimum a better basemap for these fire areas.

Keep up the great work, and Happy Mapping! =Russ

Rusty, Are you getting an error when you try to save? I addressed the issue of 2+ mappers editing the same node/way at the same time above - if that isn’t it, maybe search at: https://help.openstreetmap.org/

Also, you’ve probably found yourself living in a ‘TIGER desert’, see osm.wiki/TIGER_fixup for some tips. I also was living in one, it will take some time to fix-up, but keep going, we’ll get there.

Happy Mapping, =Russ

Oh, unless your question was more basic than that - sorry, old hat - the beauty of OSM is that we as a community reach consensus about the data; the wiki gives suggested/’approved’ tagging schemes, i.e. highway=motorway has a well defined usage versus highway=trunk (although in different parts of the world they may still be used differently). Start there, then if you find something that isn’t clear or you think should be different in your area versus what the wiki describes (the project started in the UK, so their english sometimes doesn’t directly translate ;) ), that’s when it’s usually time to reach out to the community - typically through the mailing list, but in CO we often discuss things at our meet-ups/mapping events, etc. and basically ‘decide’ how we as a sub-set of the community will tag and sometimes we’ll get a volunteer to mediate with the larger OSM-US, and international communities.

In a nutshell it depends on what editor you are using, but typically just save often and if you use on ‘offline’ editor, make sure you re-import the OSM data frequently. If you get an error when you try to save, it might be that someone beat you to editing one or more node you’re trying to. Doesn’t happen too often unless your doing a mapping event, then it’s about trying your best to coordinate; if you haven’t had a chance yet, head over to the main wiki for OSM - wiki.openstreetmap.org - there is a ton of info there (yes, it needs some cleaning up, i.e. also a volunteer project that doesn’t get as much attention as the map, but still very useful). In particular you should look at the communication page: osm.wiki/Communication

‘Final’ update on the ‘285 Corridor’ OSM group - I’ve had too much fun collaborating with the OSM-Colorado folks on the larger scale/statewide group. Please consider joining http://www.meetup.com/OSM-Colorado/ - even if you’re not in the ‘front range’ (where we do most our things) we might have a remote viewing/call-in option and/or if you’re coming for a visit, suggest a meet-up; I’m sure I’m not the only one who wouldn’t mind a ‘spur-of-the-moment’ meet mapper(s) from other places while your in town.

Actually Rusty, I just looked at the area you are editing in on the main website, zoomed out to the majority of Houston, hit the History tab (next to edit if your on the main openstreetmap.org webpage) - and there is actually a user osm.org/user/Cam4rd98 editing right around you today and another working the Northeast part of Houston. You can click through to their profiles and send them a message - it’s a bit confusing at first, the history tab often shows changesets that don’t necessarily have anything to do with your area, but if you look at the little map and see a ‘bounding box’ that is in your area you can ‘highlight’ it to see who it was, etc. As always, reach out to me if that doesn’t make sense.

Welcome to OSM Rusty, You Are Not Alone! There’s over 1 million registered users in OSM, and at least several thousands who are committed mappers. I’m based in Colorado, and although it’s no-where as dense as Houston, it’s also not nearly as populated (at least in my mountain community); so you may struggle to find other mappers in your area - but keep it up and you’ll find some (or you may have to convert some). Point being, there is a vibrant community behind the map and it continues to grow; as with yourself. For some basics to get started, I suggest visiting learnosm.org - and feel free to reach out to me for more guidance.

=Russ russdeffner@gmail.com russdeffner on OSM

So I have since learned somethings about landuse vs. natural keys, and have (or am working on) changing all landuse=forest/meadow/etc. to the more appropriate natural=* tagging scheme (and not worrying so much about landuse and natural polygons overlapping - they are different/should not be considered the same ‘layer’)

Hello Adam,

Just wanted to suggest not using landuse=forest, the wiki describes (and most of us in Colorado have agreed) that this is meant for forest production, i.e. logging, etc. I would suggest using the natural Key for the things you describe. I haven’t looked at the tagging, but someone is making the map look really good in this area: osm.org/?mlat=39.5557&mlon=-104.9859&zoom=12 west of Lone Tree, Colorado and I think is mapping the Open Space similar to what you’re after.

My condolences to the family and friends of those who lost their lives today fighting the fire in Arizona. I had only just posted this message and then saw the news… what a shitty way to start this week.

My condolences to the family and friends of those who lost their lives today fighting the fire in Arizona. I had only just posted this message and then say the news… what a shitty way to start this week.

For the Colorado Wildfire mapping project, we’re using (and I’ve been doing the same in my local area) this basic tagging scheme: - landuse (most importantly residential) is drawn roughly around a structure or group of structures where there is a visible difference between that and the natural surrounding; using natural=wood, scrub, or grassland (majority) for the ‘ground cover’. - highway=track is typically what we use for 4x4/off-highway vehicles, with or w/o surface, type, smoothness, etc. unless it’s got a ‘predicted’ residential use; i.e. there are multiple homes along it somewhere (single home/ranch typically tagged service). Even if it looks rough, the ‘usage’ of roads up here are better tagged as residential, etc. You’d be surprised what people will drive up, so hesitate to use footway unless it is restricted to non-motorized vehicles.

KPost,

Great! Have you tried getting the missing road names from TIGER 2012?

=Russ

I would suggest we take them as an opportunity to get more contributors, maybe reply with something like “openstreetmap is a community effort, and general suggestions like this are not very helpful. Someday a contributor may take the time to collect addresses, draw building footprints, etc. (whatever the note was regarding) - but if that/those thing(s) are important to you, the fastest way to get it done is learn how. I am happy to point out resources or answer your questions as I am able to get you started. Thank you for your note.”

=Russ Russell Deffner russdeffner@gmail.com russdeffner on OSM

Using Pinecam is not ideal and I’ve let this fall by the wayside, looking to get this ‘restarted’ as spring 2013 approaches (plus I’ve met a few more Evergreen Area mappers).

Thanks Greg, I too worry a bit about the complexity of the area now that I’ve added all these relationships, etc.

Had an initial meeting on 8/9/12; four people included myself. Have more who couldn’t make it so we’ll probably do it again around the end of August.

Thanks Buck,

I’m slowly reaching out to them via their OSM inbox as well, but figured they might look at my profile when the got the friend notification and see this.

Absolutely Dave, I was thinking that this coming spring/summer trying to get folks up this way for some mapping fun, but probably wouldn't be very successful this winter since 'the park' doesn't have any winter sports/etc. However, I think we could do some damage at ski resorts and surrounding towns this winter. We'll keep in touch.

rkumar02, I sent you a message but if you return here first - it basically said I think you are trying to make a road oneway, if so add the tag/attribute oneway=yes and then you can force a direction. If that isn't what you are asking, let me know more detail and I'll try to help you out.

Russ