Hi James, Richard Weait, on the [email protected] listserv, explains it better than i can. Note: slight mixup, sorry, James for Jim
Thanks Richard! Cheers, Sam ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Richard Weait <[email protected]> Date: Mon, 7 Sep 2009 07:46:00 -0400 Subject: Re: [gvcc-members] Re: OpenStreetMap Vancouver Island Cyclemap Mappers meetup October 4th To: Sam Vekemans <[email protected]> Dear Sam, Please forward this to the gvcc list for me? Best regards, Richard Dear Jim, Sam misspoke regarding copyright in his earlier message to the gvcc list. As you supposed in your reply, OpenStreetMap is protected by copyright and freely distributed. OpenStreetMap is licensed under a Creative Commons license[1], granting additional rights to each user of the map, including using the map and sharing it with others. This generous license allows people with an interest specialty maps to make those maps with OpenStreetMap. Current projects that use OpenStreetMap data to create specialty maps include, a map for downhill skiers, topographic maps and a university campus map.[2] The most widely used specialty map is probably the cyclemap[3]. It was initially created by Andy Allan and Dave Stubs, two British cyclists with a bone to pick; they want more and better cycleways. So they, and many others, add cycleway data to OpenStreetMap when the data is missing, and they created software tools that make the map work for cyclists. Some cyclists load OpenStreetMap data on their GPSes to find their way around, then when they discover a cycleway that is not in OSM, they add it to the map, then load the improved map back onto their GPS. Lots of folks, around the world, are using OpenStreetMap and contributing to the project. That 'contributing' part is pretty important. OpenStreetMap allows contributors to make improvements to the map data wherever improvements can be found. So, if you know that there is a cycleway between A and B, you can add it to OSM and the rest of the world can see it on the map within days.[4] Sam, from Vancouver Island, is intensely interested in Canadian recreational trails. I'm interested in golf courses and Toronto neighbourhoods. Sam and I are both part of a small group that is helping to import to OSM a large amount of data donated by the Canadian government. And many thousands[5] of other contributors around the world are participating in OSM according to their interest and abilities. So if you, or other gvcc-ers are interested in maps, and specifically in maps that you can use and improve and maps that you can feel pride of ownership in, then please consider joining Sam at the OpenStreetMap meetup.[6] He'll be able to demonstrate how to use some of the software we use and you'll be meet other folks with similar interests. And be sure to drop by one of my meetups in Toronto or Waterloo if you are out this way. As I said earlier, their are thousands of OSMers around the world, and these mapping meetups happen in many cities. OpenStreetMap - It's fun. It's free. You can help. Best regards, Richard Weait. weait.com [1] http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/ [2] http://openpistemap.org/ http://toposm.com/co http://map.umd.edu/map/ [3] http://opencyclemap.org/ [4] Actually some changes can be seen in minutes, but few believe that until they see it in action. [5] 156,641 users as of this morning. Again, folks initially have a hard time believing this! [6] http://www.meetup.com/OpenStreetMap-Vancouver-Island-Mappers/calendar/11303718/ -- Twitter: @Acrosscanada Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sam.vekemans _______________________________________________ Talk-ca mailing list [email protected] http://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/talk-ca
