Did you see the Land Information Ontario wiki page? http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Ontario#Available_Data http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Land_Information_Ontario
And Richard Weait is the 'unofficial Ontario PR person'. & I am organizing the source data. (I also have a physical CD containing the provincial data, but isn't needed since we already have all the roads :) Just create a document and share what you have, and post the letter, then we all can work on it. :-) Many of us in the OSM community are working on letters that are appropriate, however each letter does need to be customized to that particular community. Benifits to the community of Barrie, Ontario could be different Benifits to the community Shkoder, Albania (who BTW, are currently trying to work with the local government to try and get 'official' access the the CAD file (which is already being used). There are still a few of the Ontario Features that i have not explored, but all of the shp files are available to download directly from the wiki. The approach that i am taking (for All of Canada) is this. I don't approach the local government, until i know that I have exhausted the sources of data that is already available. Now that the CanVec is in for your area, what i have found, is that publically sharing the results on the wiki, ie. Having the actual email response from someone who works at the office that holds the data. This way, we dont duplicate efforts from other people approaching the local government asking the same thing. We also cc: the talk-ca list during discussions. (and BTW, verbal communication is paramount, however a written follow up email confirming what was said on the phone / im person, means that it is more clear, so it is beyond a cup of coffee casual chat) (although the Vancouver data didn't work out) - Vancouver 'Open Data' is still in BETA, and (at least) they are aware of the existance of OpenStreetMap. So as the Vancouver area gets populated with the rest of CanVec data / GeoBase Aboriginal lands. Others in the Vancouver Open Data GIS circle will take notice :-) (and in the case of the Yukon, the data supplier (hat during the working day) is actually an OpenStreetMapper during the evening & weekends, so he already is aware of the OSM-world). So as i stated earlier, i put that on hold until September (as there is lots of other data to work on). http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Canada:Yukon (the page is a stub, but not forgotten about) Ideally, the data supplier would: work directly with the OSM Community, and create .osm.zip files, customized with our exact specifications, and the data supplier would work with a company like SAFE[1], to create DIFF datasets, so they can do their own quality check, and provide data updates that are even better. If the data supplier is unaware of exactly[2] what OpenStreetMap is, and they don't understand how the data gets mixed in with the user created data, & that the source data can be modified (UUID does not get retained), then it is very difficult to get this direct permission. If however, you can show the data supplier that OpenStreetMap already contains all of the map information that is already listed on tourist maps. And a considerable effort has already been given. You will be able to explain to the data supplier that using data from the 'official source' can make the 'official source' data even better, as OSM contains the trails / sidewalks / fountains / tourist information boards, that does not exist on any other 'available' map. Where commercial map providers cannot maintain the same level of real-time map accuracy. So having access to the most available data is a win-win for both parties. Hope that make sense, Welcome to the talk-ca list :) Cheers, Sam Vekemans Across Canada Trails [1] http://blog.safe.com/2010/03/sharing-your-data-on-openstreetmap/ [2] 'Exactly' is not clearly defined. Richard prefers that the source data is copyrighted to conform with Open Data Commons, http://www.opendatacommons.org/licenses/odbl/ where myself (Sam) understand that on all copyright noties it states "Unauthorized re-production is no permitted, whithout direct concent" means, that if i post a letter from the person who actually works with the GIS data and can speak on behalf of that government organization, that specifically states that "the OpenStreetMap community is permitted to use the data", and post this letter on the wiki & in the talk-ca archives. That is holds the same weight as conforming to ODC. On 6/1/10, G. Michael Carter <[email protected]> wrote: > Do we have a PR person for OSM in Canada? > > I've had this idea rolling around in my head. Years ago, when I was in > high-school, the teacher of geography had us map out our local plaza. > Most of us just paced out the dimensions of the parking lot, locations > of the building, and any features, then we had to draw it all to scale. > We got marks on accuracy. > > I thought it would be amazing if they taught this in schools from an OSM > perspective. Have the students pick target. (eg: park, their school, > local plaza, what ever) Then have them map out the area based on GPS > co-ordinates and taking measurements. Then have that data uploaded to > OSM. > > I've tried three times to draft up a letter to my local MP and the > Minister of Education but can't quite get it right. Do we have any PR > experts which could run with the idea? > > Mikey > > -- > *G. Michael Carter* > Contact: sip:[email protected] | H: 1-519-940-8935 | W: > 1-905-267-8494 | M: 1-519-215-1869 | F: 1-519-941-0009 > Google Talk: xmpp:[email protected] > > <http://wiki.carterfamily.ca/index.php/Re-Spin_DVD> > -- Twitter: @Acrosscanada Blogs: http://acrosscanadatrails.posterous.com/ http://Acrosscanadatrails.blogspot.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sam.vekemans Skype: samvekemans IRC: irc://irc.oftc.net #osm-ca Canadian OSM channel (an open chat room) @Acrosscanadatrails _______________________________________________ Talk-ca mailing list [email protected] http://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/talk-ca
