Just a little bit more toward the goal of a complete OpenStreetMap
December 19, 2024 10:06 PM Subscribe
StreetComplete: OpenStreetMap surveyor app. An Android app that gives you a friendly interface to help build OpenStreetMap by answering questions as you walk around. Populate surface types, where crosswalks are, if there are trash cans, and so on. (The FAQ mentions both that an iOS version is in the works and there are some alternatives there.)
It's fun, I've had it for ages. My neighbourhood is just that little bit better mapped as a result.
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 10:23 PM on December 19, 2024 [2 favorites]
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 10:23 PM on December 19, 2024 [2 favorites]
I'll have to keep an eye out for the iOS version.
My little Alaska island town has a fair number of "city streets" that are actually publicly maintained stairways, boardwalks, or footpaths. I live on one such and the "street" itself isn't visible on Google Maps, though if you plug in my actual address you'll get a pin dropped in about the right spot.
Recently I have been reminded of this because it turns out that the current UPS driver in town seems to have no idea that my street exists and while I almost never get deliveries via UPS two recent packages have disappeared completely with no way to track them down, delivered, I believe, to a similarly-named (think "Maple Street" vs "Maple Way") but actually paved street in a different part of town. I've spent hours on the phone and on chat with the vendor trying to convince them that, no, it is not okay to just drop my packages somewhere within the city limits.
Surprisingly, and I presume through the volunteer efforts of one of my fellow residents, OpenStreetMap has excellent coverage of all of the local funky stairway and boardwalk streets I've thought to check. I wouldn't mind contributing to that data set.
posted by Nerd of the North at 10:44 PM on December 19, 2024 [3 favorites]
My little Alaska island town has a fair number of "city streets" that are actually publicly maintained stairways, boardwalks, or footpaths. I live on one such and the "street" itself isn't visible on Google Maps, though if you plug in my actual address you'll get a pin dropped in about the right spot.
Recently I have been reminded of this because it turns out that the current UPS driver in town seems to have no idea that my street exists and while I almost never get deliveries via UPS two recent packages have disappeared completely with no way to track them down, delivered, I believe, to a similarly-named (think "Maple Street" vs "Maple Way") but actually paved street in a different part of town. I've spent hours on the phone and on chat with the vendor trying to convince them that, no, it is not okay to just drop my packages somewhere within the city limits.
Surprisingly, and I presume through the volunteer efforts of one of my fellow residents, OpenStreetMap has excellent coverage of all of the local funky stairway and boardwalk streets I've thought to check. I wouldn't mind contributing to that data set.
posted by Nerd of the North at 10:44 PM on December 19, 2024 [3 favorites]
OpenStreetMap people, what is the best google maps replacement for walking around and for driving directions on Android?
posted by Grimp0teuthis at 11:09 PM on December 19, 2024
posted by Grimp0teuthis at 11:09 PM on December 19, 2024
Throwing OsmAnd (specifically its F-Droid/OSS version) into the mix. I like the Organic Maps UI better, but I frequently have it fail to resolve street addresses on searches or lag/hang for whatever reason. Maybe because I don't have a good GPS fix(?) but it's frequent enough that I tend to fall back to OsmAnd.
posted by 1xdevnet at 1:02 AM on December 20, 2024 [2 favorites]
posted by 1xdevnet at 1:02 AM on December 20, 2024 [2 favorites]
Organic Maps is absolutely the best user-friendly OSM app out there. OSMAnd is absolutely the most amazing tinker-to-your-heart's-delight OSM app for Android.
If the quests on StreetComplete are a bit kerb-nerdy for you, there's also Every Door, which basically asks you to look around your street and mark the shops that are either still there, closed, or changed their hours, or some other possibilities. It's important because this is a data set that doesn't often get reviewed any other way.
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 3:45 AM on December 20, 2024 [3 favorites]
If the quests on StreetComplete are a bit kerb-nerdy for you, there's also Every Door, which basically asks you to look around your street and mark the shops that are either still there, closed, or changed their hours, or some other possibilities. It's important because this is a data set that doesn't often get reviewed any other way.
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 3:45 AM on December 20, 2024 [3 favorites]
In addition to StreetComplete, I find Every Door really useful for adding minor submissions to OpenStreetMap from my phone. Mostly for things like bike parking and benches, but that's more down to the things where I'll remember to add them, the app does lots more :-D
posted by amcewen at 3:58 AM on December 20, 2024 [3 favorites]
posted by amcewen at 3:58 AM on December 20, 2024 [3 favorites]
Wheelchair ramps? Has anyone notated which corners have, or rather don't have, ramps? Yikes that's 8 per intersection. And how do you notate? Left/right facing intersection on (side?) of (street name)? Numerically, erk that may require quaternions! ;-) I insert joke but a real question I'm thinking about.
posted by sammyo at 11:13 AM on December 20, 2024
posted by sammyo at 11:13 AM on December 20, 2024
I do know there is wheelchair accessibility but woo what a set of threads to work through and most are passion projects that go quiet for long periods.
posted by sammyo at 11:25 AM on December 20, 2024
posted by sammyo at 11:25 AM on December 20, 2024
sammyo: I hope I'm not missing any other context, but streetcomplete does ask about things like ramps in the context of each potential crossing. And if they have ramps on both sides/if they have texture both side/ if there are crossing indicators and such. StreetComplete/Quests is, I think the complete list of what they may ask (the only ask it once per some time period for each location, I believe).
posted by skynxnex at 8:01 PM on December 23, 2024
posted by skynxnex at 8:01 PM on December 23, 2024
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posted by wafehling at 10:18 PM on December 19, 2024 [2 favorites]