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OpenStreetMap Sends UK Volunteer Mapper To Antigua

Posted by timothy on from the new-vacation-policy dept.

Gerv writes "When Google launched their Map Maker community mapping tool last year, they included loads of Caribbean islands. This led Ed Parsons (chief Google Maps guy) to say that he was sad there wasn't any fieldwork involved. Well, now OpenStreetMap have gone one better — following a successful Pledgebank pledge, they have got together the money to send one randomly-chosen guy to Antigua for a week to work on the OpenStreetMap map!"

6 of 52 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Offtopic, but slashdot is broken again by zach_the_lizard · · Score: 3, Informative

    Oh Anonymous Coward, you do alone do not suffer. I have seen the terrible foe that is the new Slashdot, and, after succumbing to a terrible bout of despair and terror, I managed to log in and enable the old index. Oh Anonymous One, I suggest that you trade in your glorious anonymity for an account.

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    SSC
  2. Re:What can be worse? by shadwstalkr · · Score: 3, Informative

    Mapping for OSM is easy. Set your GPS to record your trail, and record street names and businesses as you drive/walk around. As long as the GPS and whatever device you use for street names have synchronized clocks, the work of matching them up and drawing the streets can be done later.

  3. Re:I don't think so... by legirons · · Score: 3, Informative

    Correct me if I am wrong, and do not mean any ill will towards the winner of this contest, but doesn't it make more sense to just hire someone from the island to do it? It would either be quicker, cheaper, or possibly both.

    I think they're doing that already -- giving GPS devices to people in developing countries to help make free maps. e.g. see http://foundation.openstreetmap.org/gpstogo/

  4. Re:GPS?? by dr-suess-fan · · Score: 2, Informative

    mkgmap is a java program that will convert OSM data to Garmin map format. It's not perfect, but I've found it works well with my GPSMAP 60CSx.

  5. Re:GPS?? by 80N · · Score: 3, Informative

    There's a choice of about 50 different models here: http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/GPS_Reviews It all depends on whether you want to contribute content to OpenStreetMap or just use the maps, or ideally both.

  6. Donations accepted! by CODiNE · · Score: 5, Informative

    I'm all by myself mapping Guyana so if you wanna keep me here...

    Kidding! :)

    But I am mapping Guyana and working on some advocacy posters to get some locals involved. Openstreetmap is such a great project, the data is open and can be used for anything. It allows places like this to get mapping done on their own because otherwise there isn't the commercial interest for it. I just did the small area known as Rosingol and part of New Amsterdam, they have NO MAPS there. None. I found someone in the area who was supportive of it and was able to have him drive me around all day twice now.

    Guyana is a really neat place, one of the few unspoiled natural environments left. Not much tourism at all, now the government and locals want more of that for the investment that comes with it, but I'm sad to think of the negative affect it'll have on the environment.

    Having no map was the scariest thing about coming to Guyana for me, and what led me to Openstreetmap. I'm really glad they got this project going and had all the tools I'd need ready to go. It also gives me a nice long term project for when I get bored or miss home there's something to work on.

    Thanks guys!

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    Cwm, fjord-bank glyphs vext quiz