OpenStreetMap Adds Easier Reporting of Map Problems

An anonymous reader writes "OpenStreetMap recently topped one million registered users. Now they are trying to make the barrier to entry for contributing to the project even lower. A new 'notes' feature, announced on the project's blog, allows anonymous users to submit bug reports which will alert mappers in the area to incorrect or incomplete map information. The feature also allows for commenting on notes, potentially enabling two-way communication between a mapper and a bug reporter if more information is needed."

Comments

OSM is fine -- I have yet to find the

[Mister Liberty]

first ... ... SPLASH!! bubble...bubble... ...

Trap Streets

[IonOtter]

I wonder how many "errors" in maps, map software and apps are "trap streets"?

A trap street is a fictitious entry in the form of a misrepresented street on a map, often outside the area the map nominally covers, for the purpose of "trapping" potential copyright violators of the map who, if caught, would be unable to explain the inclusion of the "trap street" on their map as innocent.

Re:Trap Streets

[Chuq]

There is some information on these as they relate to OpenStreetMap on the OSM Wiki - http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/index.php/Copyright_Easter_Eggs

Re:Trap Streets

[Technician]

Some street maps in the country as easments for future roads are in the map, even though they don't physically exist. The street next to a relative's of mine has that. The only indication in RL that a road exists is the power poles on the easment are 60 feet away from the fence in a field. The road passes between the poles in the filed and the fence. To use the "Road", you will need wire cutters to go through the barbed wire fence. There is not even a gate there.

Re:Trap Streets

[Errol backfiring]

I wonder, are people in violation if they really build that road and give it that name because it is seen as "planned"?

Re:Trap Streets

[IonOtter]

No, that would be like dividing by zero.

iOS Maps?!

[R3d M3rcury]

FTA:

OpenStreetMap’s data is used by some of the biggest mapping names on the web, including Foursquare, Craigslist, Wikipedia, Mapquest, and Apple’s iOS Maps app.

I'm not sure they want to be so proud of the last one...

Re:iOS Maps?!

[Anonymous Coward]

Note that Apple does *not* use OSM in the US or even most of the world. They seem to be using OSM to fill the gaps in their primary data provider in countries like Pakistan and Africa.

Neat

[taz346]

Nice... just used it to correct a couple of errors in my neighborhood.

Re:Neat

[wonkey_monkey]

Nice... just used it to correct a couple of errors in my neighborhood.

If only it actually worked that way...

A lot of mistakes in all map services in my area

[caseih]

There are numerous towns that google map shows (dots anyway) that don't exist in my area. Oddly enough they have wikipedia entries even. But I have no idea how to tell google this town doesn't really exist. Maybe it was on some old government record from a hundred years ago. No idea how to tell Google and Bing about this. But at least I can try to get it corrected in OpenStreetMap.

Re:A lot of mistakes in all map services in my are

[caseih]

Yeah I've put in a few corrections for roads in my area on openstreetmap. And they've not been overruled by anyone so far!

Waze is a great client to update OSM

[SuperKendall]

I have and regularly use Waze, a really great map/navigation app available on all major mobile platforms.

The navigation is not too bad, a bit wonky at times - but where Waze really shines is in general driving around information where you just want to see what streets are around you, and also map updates.

You can pretty easily mark a problem on a map, and even better if there's a road that is not on the map you can go into "bulldozer mode" and add it. I believe the changes you make in the app are forwarded to community map moderators.

Waze also has great community features of marking hazards, like problems with the road, stuff on the side or police traps and speed cameras.

Re:Waze is a great client to update OSM

[darkHanzz]

Waze seems nice, the big difference with OSM is that the OSM maps are fully and freely available. With waze, the actual map-data is company owned. I'd rather put effort in improving an open dataset than a company owned one.

Re:Waze is a great client to update OSM

[Pecisk]

Sorry, but no, Waze is completely proprietary, they tried to use OSM, but they understood that anyone with half a brain will be capable to capitalize on their improvements on OSM when creating competitor for their service and retreated. So please stop spread misinformation.

Re:Waze is a great client to update OSM

[richlv]

as others have noted, but to make it perfectly clear...

waze is not using osm data.
waze is not contributing to osm data.
if you contribute to waze, it goes in a closed, proprietary database that you are not allowed to use (or even obtain).

with osm, you get all the resulting dataset for free to be used for any purpose.

Re:Waze is a great client to update OSM

[BasilBrush]

But Waze is better.

Re:Waze is a great client to update OSM

[richlv]

are you the one who created waze or just trolling ? :)
you can actually get all openstreetmap data. all of it. for free.
openstreetmap has much better coverage.

the only thing waze offers on top of osm is the mobile application... which would be great to see somebody build on top of osm, of course :)

OpenStreetBugs

[Anonymous Coward]

As the fine article notes, this feature has been in openstreetbugs for a long time, and has been actively used to fix issues in my area.

As for 1 million registered users, yeah right. Only if you include "users" who have never contributed anything, users who used to contribute but don't any more, and users who were blocked from contributing by the licence change. Their own stats suggest there's around 8000 contributors in any given month, so saying they've got 1 million "registered users" means nothing.

Of course, there are lots of "users" of the map who don't need to register, but those numbers are more difficult to get at.

Re:They should be proud

[richlv]

waze is not based on osm. waze is based on people, who want to work for a company for free ;)

Re:They should be proud

[BasilBrush]

So is Red Hat.

Thanks for clarification

[SuperKendall]

I really had no idea they were not using and contributing to OSM anymore, I've been using the app a long time...

That's really too bad.

So are there any good apps that are in fact based on OSM and contribute back? I wouldn't mind switching away from Waze if there was something close in utility.

Re:Thanks for clarification

[richlv]

there are various routing and similar applications. maybe you can find something you like at http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Software

Re:They should be proud

[SuperKendall]

Too bad about Waze not using OSM, I really thought I was helping out with road updates.

I don't mind doing small amounts of work for free if it means I get some really useful results!

Re:They should be proud

[richlv]

come to osm ;)
we now also have a new javascript based editor in beta, if you don't want to use something more heavy - http://openstreetmap.us/iD/release