Quest-driven OpenStreetMap editing for Android

[unicornporn]

I was running on some unmapped forest roads this weekend. When I used OsmAnd (which is my goto map app) I realized the roads where missing. I took a look at Google Maps via my mobile browser and realized the roads were there.

What is the easiest way to contribute and map out these roads on OpenStreetMap? Before I've edited OpenStreetMap by hand by using a satellite imagery overlay.

Could I use a mapper app like this to automate the process, or will I be manually editing GPX uploads in the end anyways?

EDIT: Had to try it now. Simple and polished. I don't see a way to map out new roads, which is understandable (I don't think it's in the scope of this super simple app). I had some trouble understanding why the inner city of my town had no "quests". It turns out you have to go to the application menu and manually "Scan for Quests here". Some places might seem to have few quests. However, zooming in a lot revealed plenty of quests for most any urban area. Kudos for making it available via F-droid!

[krzyk]

For adding streets it would be best to use iD (web editor from osm.org) or JOSM desktop app.

If the satellite imagery is not available (iD one or in JOSM - those are approved satellite sources, that we can use - you can't use googles). In iD you just click on 3D hamburger on the right and select the source.

Other option is to make a gps trace you can use any application and upload GPX it later on on the osm.org webpage or you can use OSMTracker for Android and make a trace and upload it directly from the phone.

[Piskvorrr]

I'm using Locus Pro ( http://www.locusmap.eu/ ) for hiking, and Vespucci ( http://vespucci.io/ ) for map editing. Tried various Android editors; in the end, they're all clumsy compared to the powerful but computer-oriented mouse+keyboard interface of JOSM.

[lucb1e]

OsmAnd can record tracks, which you can upload to openstreetmap.org (in GPX format, which OsmAnd uses as well). Then using the iD editor (the built-in, online one) you can overlay that track.

[mmel]

I've found the editing interface on the website to be quite good, you can upload GPS traces if you don't want to map them out by hand.

[Mathnerd314]

> What is the easiest way to contribute and map out these roads on OpenStreetMap?

Dunno about easiest, but the most effective is probably to just buy the detailed satellite/aerial imagery, (http://microsites.digitalglobe.com/30cm/) run some machine learning algorithms to identify roads, and upload that. https://github.com/trailbehind/DeepOSM https://developmentseed.org/blog/2017/01/30/machine-learning...

[rlarroque42]

Have you already try OSM contributor? (https://github.com/jawg/osm-contributor)

I work for Jawg, the startup behind it and we are very close to OSM France.

Feel free to try it and ask questions about Jawg if you are interested in maps, tile-server or something else. (https://www.jawg.io/)

[m-p-3]

> However, zooming in a lot revealed plenty of quests for most any urban area.

Yeah, I think they could improve the UI by putting a single marker with a digit to indicate there's multiple quests to complete bundled together instead of displaying nothing at all.

[Doctor_Fegg]

Great to have you on board! Please do add surface tags when you're mapping forest roads - it makes all the difference for cyclists and other users.

[andretti1977]

Imo this app is a really good idea but the one of an automated difference check between google maps and osm road paths, at least for specific areas and using this app, would be really great and usefull to commit people mantaining osm even more!

[Semaphor]

Nice :) I used osm a lot in Germany, far better data than Google. But currently I'm in South Africa and the data for osm is usually outdated or incorrect. This might help me help osm :)

[Mediterraneo10]

The inconsistency of OSM coverage from one place to another can be a bit baffling. While cycling around South Africa four years ago, I added quite a lot of detail to areas on the Garden Route. It’s a bit disappointing to look at the map and see that almost nothing has been done with these particular locations since then, even though it’s a heavily touristed area and a developed country where you’d think at least some locals would be interested in mapping. And yet, at the same time there are some rural areas around the world that seem out of the way, but they show continual improvements by successive visitors.

[iamlukesky]

Maybe cluster objects at lower zoom levels? As it is now it's difficult to get an overview because of the quests only showing up when you're zoomed all the way in.

[andybak]

I think the gamification of contributions is extremely interesting and this is a great step in the right direction.

However - there needs to be more "game". I've personally witnessed the obsessive nature of GPS-based mobile games (Ingress mainly). If we could harness some of that towards OSM it could be amazing.

Considering the amount of energy gamers put into customizing and modding - if the right game harnessed OSM data then you'd have a willing workforce on tap.

[andygates]

That looks impressively more modern than my preferred OSMtracker, which is really just a GPS trace with notes. I'll have to give it a try.

[evolvedlight]

I've done some quests this morning - and took a look at the map history around me to see many other people also doing edits from this app. This is great! The level of participation this is enabling is really impressive!

[habi]

Does anyone know of a similar app for iOS? I'm 'addicted' to OSM and such small quests would be awesome to kill some time at bus stops or during walks.

[Piskvorrr]

Well, there's Maps.Me, which has some editing capabilities - I hear it's useful for entering e.g. opening hours or contact details for a POI (phone, website, etc.). I don't think it supports editing everything that's in OSM (only tried it briefly), but it could fit your use case; give it a try.

Edit: Apparently other editors exist for iOS: http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Apple_iOS#Editing_the_map