Within the community there are different opinions about data quality which appears to vary according to the source. The type of GPS and how its configured, the weather, and in the case of satellite tracing how accurate it was. Also where two sources are combined if the more accurate is overwritten by the less accurate one then junctions etc can be lost.
The nice thing about the OSM approach is that as the maps get more input so they become more accurate over time and get more information added. Cheerio John 2010/1/24 Sam Vekemans <[email protected]>: > Hi Patrick et all, > re: data quaility & accuracy & trust > > Its great to now see more trails being mapped out :) > It looks like as soon as the NRCan canvec data is sorted out, it will > be available to import. > We (the OSM community) are not in any rush to get the data imported, > this is because we know the data is from mixed sources, and more often > that not, its dated. > So it requires being re-navigated physically, to check what the > current conditions of the trails are. > > The data (in the OSM database) is technically accurate, because the > contributors can be easily contacted, to find out what the trails are > like, and the method used to collect the data. > So if anyone questions the quality, they are welcome to re-survay the > area themselves, of find out if someone they trust more, will be > navigating the trails. (which is another reason we have ('mapping > parties') > > The OSM community works on trust. Trust that EVERYONE working on the > map, is doing so, to make the map the most accurate & uptodate as > possable, using the best available source (that was donated, or > public) domain, or permission granted to use the data.) > > Its always an interesting discussion, because traditionally, its the > 'paid cartographers' who are the only ones who are 'certified GIS > professionals', but now. The data that was heald in a vault > (copyright) can be used, with hand-held GPSs and Satelite imagery, can > make maps that dont get out of date, and is constantly changing based > on the conditions on the ground. > > Leveraging the community, and OpenSource collaboration, we make a GIS > product that is accurate to the level that contributors and the > community wants to make it. > > So for trail mapping, OSM is much more detailed than we need :) > > hope that answers your question. > > cheers, > Sam > -- > Twitter: @Acrosscanada > Blog: http://Acrosscanadatrails.blogspot.com > Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sam.vekemans > Skype: samvekemans > OpenStreetMap IRC: http://irc.openstreetmap.org > @Acrosscanadatrails > > _______________________________________________ > Talk-ca mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/talk-ca > _______________________________________________ Talk-ca mailing list [email protected] http://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/talk-ca
