Fwd: How can we add more data to OpenStreetMaps easily?

[Shrinivasan T]

Hi all,

I am shrini from Chennai. Joined datameet group today.

When exploring on creating maps in Tamil using OpenSteetMaps [ https://goinggnu.wordpress.com/2017/03/04/let-us-create-maps-in-tamil/ ] found that the current data available on OSM is not equivalent with Google Maps.

We can not copy data from Google Maps and import to OSM as it is a big copyright violation. Yes. We dont have control over the data for the area where we live.

We can do the following.

1. Look for the data sources who may have the data about the streets, villages, cities. I think think the government departments like Postal, Revenue,Rural development, Public Works may have these data. How can we ask them to share the data in public? Will a RTI help on this?

I am seeing some data collected by reading our archiees.

Is it possible to share the available data in a single blogpost or page?

2. Add the data manually.

By this way, we can add any data manually, edit, improve the existing data. But editing on the browser is not possible for many.

It will be nice if we have a mobile app to add data to OSM. When I had a smartphone, few years ago, searched for a OSM mobile app. Cant find any app, which helped to edit OSM.

I dont use smartphone nowadays.

If you have a smartphoe, can you search for the apps, which can help to edit the OSM easily?

The app should be very simple. The user should should open the app. It should capture the latitude, longitude from its GPS or mobile tower. Then it should ask for the name of the building,  building number, type of the place, street name, area name,city name, if required a photo, etc. Once the user entered these data, it should be synced on OSM. Contribution should very simple as filling few forms only.

If we have such app, we can create communities/volunteers to add data to OSM with their smartphones. Just open app, fill data. They are done.

If there is no such easy editing app for OSM, it is high time to create such one. If you are a mobile developer, please create such app and help to build the Openstreetmaps as content rich.

Wondering how the Google, Apple, Bing maps collected data. What kind of mobile app they used, what ate the data they collected. If you have worked for these maps, please share more details about them. It will help a lot.

There may be other easier, better ways to add data to OSM. Please share the details or connect with the communities.

Let us build content rich Open Street Maps.

--

Regards,
T.Shrinivasan


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[Nagesh Aras]

Hi

Try OsmAnd app (link). You can also use the latest nightly from here.
This is offline GPS navigation app. Feature-rich and user-friendly.

It has a built-in OSM editor plugin.

1. Activate the plugin, using the Start> Plugins> OSm Editing

2. Go to its Settings, and enter your OSM username and password.

3. In the Settings menu, activate the offline editing option.
    This allows to create new POIs offline, and upload them when you have the WiFi connection.

4. Now switch back to the OsmAnd's main screen.
   Long-press on any point on the map. A card pops up from bottom of the screen.
   Tap on the overflow button (three vertical dots, at far right).
   From the context menu that pops up, select Create POI option.
   Enter the data and save.

5. If you have selected the offline editing option (step-2), then the POIs will be added to OSM only when you upload them.
    For this, tap on any POI, and select the Upload option.
 
Hope that helps.

Regards,
Nagesh

[Nagesh Aras]

There is another way too:

Long-press on a point on the map, and from the overflow button, select any one option from the following:

• Take an audio note (read aloud the boards, and record them).
  
• Take a video note (record an entire street)
  
• Take a photo (snap name-plates in a complex)
  

Later, once you reach home, use your browser and edit OSM using the notes you made.
 
This is very useful to record multiple POIs along a street.
I have done this to add many POIs in Bangalore and the tourist spots I visit.