Monthly Archives: March 2013

Database maintenance

Updates included below the original post.

OpenStreetMap database unavailable on 31 March 2013

There is a current problem with the OpenStreetMap database and so the data API is currently unavailable due to hardware failures.

The current issues were first observed early on 31 March 2013 when the primary database server became non-responsive. The system administrators are aware of the problem and will resolve it as soon as possible. A complicating factor is the observation of a holiday at the hosting facility that prevents physical access to the server until Tuesday morning.

With the database unavailable, editing is not possible. Other database-related activities, such a new-user-signups, are also unavailable.

Other non-database-related services should operate normally. Tiles are being served with current data.

The system administrators will continue to take steps towards the return of normal operation. Given the aforementioned holiday at the hosting facility, normal operation may not return until some time Tuesday, 02 April 2013.

2013-03-31 1810 UTC – Admin on site

One of the OpenStreetMap Foundation hard working system administrators is currently on-site at the hosting location and working on a solution.

Thank you to the facility and everybody involved for permitting access during the holiday.

Corrective actions are in progress. Services are not yet restored. Stay tuned.

2013-03-31 1900 UTC – Return to normal operation

The database has been returned to normal operation. All OpenStreetMap services should be operating as expected.

Thanks again to the admin team and our hosting providers for the prompt resolution to this unscheduled outage.

Interesting video using OpenStreetMap data

The short video, Motorville by Patrick Jean uses OpenStreetMap data in static and animated form while weaving an interesting story.

Congratulations on the nice film, Patrick.

Weekly OSM Summary #65

March 11th, 2013 – March 25th, 2013

A summary of all the things happening in the OpenStreetMap (OSM) world.

Learnosm.org has been relaunched with a nice new design.
The database & webpage of the OSM editor JOSM has been moved to a new server.
HOT submitted their “MapMill – Crowdsourced Disaster Damage Assessment” project at the Knight Foundation News Challenge.
Michal Migurski about Mapnik Vector Tiles (MVT).
A first module (osm-auth) of the new OSM Editor “iD” has been published. Further modules will follow.
How can you replace GoogleMaps with OSM maps on your Blackberry phone? A blog post by Luca Filighedd.
Andy Allan posted a first preview of his new Outdoor OSM Map style. Andy is the creator of OpenCyclemap which you can check out here.
An online article about the growth of OSM.
Michelin publishes and sells city maps based on OSM data now.
At corefact.com you can create your own OSM “postcards”.
The new OSM Professional Large User Summit (OSM PLUS) will take place after the State of the Map United States conference in San Francisco (June 10th, 2013).

Did we miss something? You can contact us via weekly.osm@googlemail.com

Authors: Pascal & Dennis – (thx @ “Wochennotiz”)

Join OSM PLUS – the OpenStreetMap Commercial Users Summit

Henk Hoff and I have been working with Steve Coast to develop the idea of a OSM commercial users conference. We have called it OSM PLUS – the OpenStreetMap Commercial Users Summit (http://osmplus.co/). Here is the announcement email:

The OpenStreetMap Professional Large Users Summit is going to be held just after SOTM US, on June 10th in San Francisco at the Marriott Union Square. You can register here. Be quick, space is limited.

OSM PLUS is new and focused on professional users of OSM data and toolchains commercially, academically, in government and elsewhere. It is a paid-for event and we expect it to be more of a conversation than a traditional presentation. Many professional users have similar concerns and expectations for OSM. We want to explore these in an environment focused on coming up with solutions.

Today, OSM is a volunteer-only organization. This focus doesn’t always satisfy the needs of many users. We want to have an open conversation about ways to make OSM better. Because of that, the program will be influenced by those who attend.

PS you can use the code “GPS” to get 20% off the ticket price if you register soon.

Weekly OSM Summary #64

February 25th, 2013 – March 11th, 2013

A summary of all the things happening in the OpenStreetMap (OSM) world.

The Geofabrik updated their established and famous OSM Data Extract server. Furthermore they offer regional OSM Diff files.
Microsoft Bing offers some new high resolution satellite imagery.
Caerus is working with Stamen Design on a new version of Walking Papers. Read more about the new advantages here.
Some stats from Mapping Kathmandu.
A series of new blog posts about the architecture of the new OSM editor iD [1][2][3].
An interview with the OSM Chairman Simon Poole at swissinfo.ch: The globe, mapped by you.
The OSM History Viewer is back online. What is it?
You can find all Humanitarian OSM Team (HOT) board minutes here. Also, HOT is now tax exempt in the US. Further, a new HOT task for Madagascar is available now. Derick Rethans created an animation of the HOT Mapping efforts in Mali.
The “How did you contribute to OpenStreetMap?” webpage shows the main and latest activity area of a contributor now. To get more information read Pascal Neis’ blog post here.
OWL API and History Tab Beta are back online. Thanks Pawel!
Seasonal mapping: Some stats about ski piste data collections in the past few years from Yves.
The video of the “Virtual Mappy Hour – Let’s Talk MapRoulette” is online at Youtube.
Garmin Connect now uses OSM maps too.
“State of the OSM Coastline” a blog post by Jochen Topf.
Richard Weait wrote a blog post about the Toronto OSM Hack Weekend.
“A OSM GPS Tile Type” by Tom MacWright. It hits the OSM GPX API, processes GPX with toGeoJSON, draws pictures with Canvas and it is Open Source.

Did we miss something? You can contact us via weekly.osm@googlemail.com

Authors: Pascal & Dennis – (thx @ “Wochennotiz”)

Scheduled Maintenance – 08 March 2013

Some OpenStreetMap services will be off-line on 08 March 2013 for scheduled maintenance.

The OpenStreetMap Foundation, Operations Working Group advises that on 08 March 2013, scheduled maintenance of OpenStreetMap services will occur from approximately 0900H to 1600H UTC. The following service changes are expected:

API read-only from 0900H to 1500H UTC
Diffs off-line from 0900H to 1500H UTC
Wiki off-line/read-only from 1000H to 1600H UTC

The scheduled maintenance includes upgrades for the database server and improvements for the wiki server. Some more specifics given on the wiki. Actual service times may vary within the service windows described above.

Thank you, in advance, for your patience and understanding during the maintenance window.

Thank you, as always, to the Operations Working Group, for their tireless efforts that keep OpenStreetMap services working smoothly.