OpenStreetMap (OSM) is a collaborative project to create a free, editable map of the world. It can be thought of as the Wikipedia of maps.
Contents
About OpenStreetMap
OpenStreetMap is a community-edited map of the world.
Editors
A Flash-based editor named Potlatch is available. It is most useful for editing existing data or adding points of interest. A more complex Java-based editor editor called Josm is probably the most widely used OpenStreetMap editor. Merkaartor is a Qt editor. Current versions of Quantum GIS has have support for OSM data.
Renderers
The most popular rendering software is Mapnik. For desktop or personal purposes, Quantum GIS may be the easiest renderer to use. Glosm provides an interactive 3D rendering, while osm2pov renders an isometric, Sim City-looking map.
LUUG Support
Below are listed the Linux and Unix Users Groups known to be involved with OpenStreetMap.
Tags in use around Blacksburg
| Key | Value | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| access:permit | F/S, F/S/V, C/G, R | This is a custom tag used to mark permits that are required to park. Since it's not a default tag, both Mapnik and Osmarender do not render it. |
Road Centerline Data
As of May 15, 2010, all road centerline data has been imported. If you notice any problems with the import (primarily missing streets or unconnected ways), please fix it.
Objectives
- Campus
- Complete footpath coverage (a few may be missing)
- Steps and ramps (for ADA purposes)
- Town of Blacksburg
- Bus stops: see about getting data from Blacksburg Transit directly
- Restaurants and shopping
- Add apartment complexes (a few may be missing)
- Foxridge parking
- New River Valley Mall and surrounding shopping centers
- Buildings (trace from NAIP or 2005 VGIN imagery)
- Bus stops
- Parking and parking aisles
- Restaurants and shopping
- Construction
Mapping Events
May 6th, 2015
- When: 6pm - 9pm
- Where: McBryde East entrance
March 25th, 2012
We still need to make flyers.
Wishlist
Data Collection and Entry
- Campus
- Steps and ramps (for ADA purposes; many are added already, but some are missing)
- Building entrances
- Building heights (for OSM2POV and 3D Blacksburg)
- Use 3D Blacksburg height information if available
- Just record the number of stories otherwise
- New River Valley Mall and surrounding shopping centers
- Buildings (trace from NAIP or 2002 imagery)
- Bus stops
- Parking and parking aisles
- Restaurants and shopping
- Apartment complexes
- Areas
- Get address information
- Parking (many places are complete, some still reminaing)
- Downtown
- Establishments
- Shopping centers on South Main
- Wardriving
April 23rd, 2011
We still need to make flyers.
Wishlist
Data Collection and Entry
- Campus
- Steps and ramps (for ADA purposes; many are added already, but some are missing)
- Building entrances
- Building heights (for OSM2POV and 3D Blacksburg)
- Use 3D Blacksburg height information if available
- Just record the number of stories otherwise
- Bus shelters
- New River Valley Mall and surrounding shopping centers
- Buildings (trace from NAIP or 2002 imagery)
- Bus stops
- Parking and parking aisles
- Restaurants and shopping
- Apartment complexes
- Areas
- Get address information
- Parking (complete at Terraceview, The Village (Phases I and II), and Sundance Ridge)
- Downtown
- Establishments
- Main Street construction
- First & Main shopping center
Rendering and Server Changes
- Aerial imagery available as a WMS and integrated into map.vtluug.org
October 3, 2010
Only a handful of members showed up, potentially due to lackluster advertising efforts.
Main Objectives
- Campus
- Steps and ramps (for ADA purposes)
- Correct building heights (for massing model 3D renderings)
- Building entrances?
- New River Valley Mall and surrounding shopping centers
- Buildings (trace from NAIP or 2002 imagery)
- Bus stops
- Parking and parking aisles
- Restaurants and shopping
- Apartment complexes
- Areas
Address information (available from TOB?)- Parking (complete at Terraceview, The Village (Phases I and II), and Sundance Ridge)
- Downtown
- Establishments
- Main Street construction
CRC Buildings and Parking
April 10, 2010
On April 10th, as part of Open Geospatial Information Systems Week, the Linux and Unix Users Group and Free Culture hosted a mapping event focusing on an aerial imagery workflow and integration OSM data with the 3D Blacksburg project.
Details
- When: Saturday, April 10th from 10:00am to 4:00pm
- Where: 3180 (and 3060 and 1080) Torgersen Hall, Blacksburg, Virginia 24060
- Tentative Event Schedule:
- Show and tell with items like OSM3D and TerpNav
- Tutorial on mapping with aerial imagery
- Brief field work
- Weather: This event is mostly indoors and will happen rain or shine.
- Bring: Camera (smartphone works) and laptop, if possible
Main Objectives
- Complete campus coverage
Oak Lane- Footpaths, steps and intersections (to make OSM a worthwhile ADA map)
- Recycling bins (to help the Office of Sustainability)
- Points of interest like volleyball courts and benches (to help new students find their way around)
- Expand town coverage
- Apartments (to make OSM a worthwhile designated driver's map)
- Restaurants and shopping (in anticipation of routing capabilities)
Additional_Possibilities
- Pedestrian plazas and other area features
- Interior details like bathrooms, water fountains, ballrooms, bowling, etc.
- Apartment building addresses
- Hokie Spirit Garden Trail
- Trees
- Parking
- Bus stops
November 7, 2009
On November 7th, 2009, the LUUG in cohorts with fc:FC@VT, will be hosting a mapping day. Prizes sponsored by Qualcomm and O'Reilly, including an Android G1 cell phone, will be raffled off amongst participants.
Details
- When: Saturday November 7th, 11am - 4pm
- Where: 1020 Torgersen Hall, Blacksburg, Virginia 24060
- Contact: Christopher Covington - cov_at_vt_dot_edu - 434-466-3255
- Event schedule:
- 11:00am: Introduction to OpenStreetMap for beginners
- 11:30am-1:30pm: Mapping time (walking/biking/driving) with lunch break
- 1:30pm-3:30pm: Uploading and editing map data and discussion
- 3:30pm-?: Raffle followed by celebration and socializing downtown
- Weather: This event is rain or shine.
Bring
- If you own a GPS or laptop computer, please bring it along. If not, we will have GPS units to loan.
- Please bring a digital camera, audio recorder or notepad to take notes about areas you are mapping (see osm:Mapping techniques)
- Syncing photos with GPS tracks will be used to edit the map (see w:Geocoded photograph)
- Mode of transportation can be by foot, bike or car. We'll likely assigned groups areas based on what mode they are using.
- Weather: This event is rain or shine.
Main objectives
We encourage you to record map information that you think would be useful. Some core features that could be useful to a lot of people are:
- Complete coverage of campus paths
- Complete coverage of University Mall
- Parking and addresses in major apartment complexes
- Additional bicycle and pedestrian ways and points of interest
- Additional street updates (new roads, closed roads)
Potential Extra POIs
- Recycling centers and containers
- Outdoor benches, tables, grills
- Businesses
April 5, 2009
A mapping event that focused on cycling points of interest. osm:Blacksburg Mapping Party April2009