Just a comment not all the data is the map database is presented on these map renders. I've been using Maperitive to selectively select data to be displayed for a particular purpose and working with the rule set to display the information in the way I wish it to be displayed. Working with a local copy of the database gives you a lot more control over the display options including what is displayed and how it is displayed at different zoom levels.
OpenStreetMap and its tools do have a learning curve but they are very powerful. It's interesting to note that it is possible to use the tool set and environment to create private maps where cc-by-sa is not available for one reason or another. Cheerio John On 14 October 2010 08:07, Milo van der Linden <[email protected]> wrote: > Dear 41latitude, > > I came accross your blog on "critique of OpenStreetMap". > http://www.41latitude.com/post/1310985699/openstreetmap-critique and read > it with interest. Some points are true, others need better explaination and > I think you misinterpreted some things. > > Basically your critique can be drilled down to 3 main components: > > > *The website* > The issues for mapkey/legend and the different maptypes are noticed by the > community. These points are indeed not always obvious to "newbies" and might > be better understandable by simply changing text and labels. > > *Rendering* > There is a huge misunderstanding with the rendering done on the map at > www.openstreetmap.org. www.openstreetmap.org is maintained by the > Openstreetmap foundation. Their mission goals are clearly stated here: > http://www.osmfoundation.org/wiki/OSMF:About > > "Making the perfectly rendered map available to the world" is *not* a > mission goal for the OSMF. The OSMF is primarily responsible for maintaining > the database and the services related to it. > Everybody in the world is free to make their own online-map, but it is > impossible for the OSMF to fund the hours that would need to be spent to > have the perfect map available from their website for all the different > wishes on maps that exist in the world today. > > To get a good idea of what is possible with rendering, you would need to > investigate further. For instance, look at what Geofabrik: > http://www.geofabrik.de/maps/tiles.html and Cloudmade: > http://cloudmade.com/products/web-maps-studio have to offer, or look at > open mapquest is also busy: http://open.mapquest.co.uk/ > > Please compare those rendering possibilities and see if you would need to > rephrase your conclusions on the rendering part. > > I agree that the rendering issues could be removed from your critique if > the OSMF mission statement was better proclaimed at the "main openstreetmap > map" since it's primary goal is to showcase what might be possible. It is up > to map developers all over the world to make beautiful, fit for purpose, > maps. > > *Data quality* > OpenStreetMap is a young project, with a extremely fast momentum, unrivaled > anywhere in the world of mapdata. Data is entered by volunteers all over the > world and there is NO restriction as to what data can be entered or how it > can be entered. This is the great power of openstreetmap, you are in > control! If you feel that labels like “Departamento de Santa Cruz” are no > good idea; suggest a new key-mapping, or fix the labels by changing the > tag/value pairs for the particular departemento to name=Santa Cruz > admin_level=6 and so fort. OpenStreetMap as a whole is not responsible for > incorrect labeling, we as volunteers are. If we come across data that is > wrong, and we KNOW what is right, fix it. > > I hope this give you some new insight. Please feel free to sign up for an > OpenStreetMap account and join the process of correcting what in your > opinion is not completely right. And when you are in doubt on how to correct > things, drop by on the mailing-lists and ask for review of your ideas. That > is the true beauty of the structure at OSM. > > Kind regards, > > -- > Milo van der Linden > Open Source Geospatial consultant > > _______________________________________________ > talk mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/talk > >
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