Since I joined the OpenStreetMap project, coverage for most areas has been improving, even though areas, like where I live, go slowly (but steadily) improving, mainly because just a few people work on those areas. That’s really why not only does OSM need volunteers, but also donations of free map data from government agencies and others. UK and The Netherlands already had that kind of donations, as well as the US, which is now mostly complete (streets and highways mainly) thanks to the importing of TIGER data into OSM.
If you live in the US, you are lucky, you have now a map that is usable and that just needs volunteers to check for accuracy and complete it, adding more information to the map (like restaurants, hotels, pubs, etc, etc). For less complete areas, like mine, even companies are starting to use the map, so why not you?
In case you’re wondering how you could do that, see here for tutorials, and remember, if you’re using openSUSE, that packages for JOSM (the program used for editing the maps) is available in the build service.
Hi I am thinking myself to join the OpenStreetMap project, But I am wondering what software you are using to plotting the tracks? Or maybe you have a hand unit. I myself have a bluetooth gps. But I dont know what software to use on opensuse.
I have a hand unit, which I use to record tracks (in GPX format) to upload to OSM, and, since it’s a GARMIN, I can use OSM maps on it. As for plotting, if you have a bluetooth GPS, you can use gpsdrive. I haven’t really used it, but as you can see here you have some tips on how to set this up.
Recently Kosmos was announced, which even though it says it’s for Windows, it should work with Mono on Linux, and allows you to render locally the maps.
Anyway, any further question/doubt you have, please let me know, I’m glad to help people join the project 🙂 For the time being, you can just start getting tracks of your area and editing them with JOSM.
Wow, last time I looked at my area there was practically no data. Now it looks like it is fully covered. Saweet!
Hi Rodrigo, the build service package is missing executable permission on /usr/bin/josm, at least for 10.3.
Martin, it should be fixed now, just wait for the new version to rebuild (max 1 hour) and let me know if it works for you