There is a huge gap between passive and active OSM users. In most regions, the map is maintained by a small number of users. Not everyone who intends to improve the map is capable of doing so. OpenStreetMap editors require a learning curve, as editing a map is not intuitive.

However, there seems to be a much broader willingness to improve the map through the feedback channel. The GPS turn-by-turn navigation skobbler receives up to 1.000 suggestions for improvement per day. We have seized this suggestion and extended the skobbler feedback channel to an independent bug tool for the OpenStreetMap community: MapDust.com – a state-of the art bug tool.

Bugs can be accessed through the Geo-RSS feed and the MapDust JOSM plug-in

The integration of the feedback channel has significantly simplified providing bug reports for the consumer. The number of incoming suggestions was overwhelming, even if not all of the reports have been helpful or relevant. To date, the feedback channel has been focused on the consumer, and that this why many of the bug reports “got stuck in the channel”.

We are now working on the other – the mapper’s part – to create a Geo-RSS feed and a JOSM plug-in to distribute the bug reports to the location where they can be processed.

Why create a new tool if similar solutions exist?

We have seen that OpenStreetMap editors are very advanced. However, the tools for consumers to provide input have been neglected. Great editors like JOSM and Potlatch (2) exist as well as tools like the OSM Inspector. We want to provide a system where more input and contributions are received from people who only contribute on an occasional basis.

Filter allows a selective approach towards bug types

We simply wanted to increase the number of contributions by designing a slick and lean user interface. We see enormous potential to improve the map in many different aspects such as bus stops and house numbers.

We have received comments that the skobbler feedback channel contained bugs that are only very selectively relevant. Therefore, with the integration of filters, one can hide bugs that are not of interest.

The Geo-RSS feed

You can submit suggestions and change requests for a specific region by selecting the desired map view, setting the filters and pressing the “subscribe RSS feed” button.

Once subscribed, you are provided all new bugs that match the selected region and filters. Each feed post contains a small map view and the corresponding data as well as links to open the bugs directly in the JOSM or Potlatch editors.

The wish list

Most of the MapDust features have been documented in the Wiki. We have also included a section entitled “wish list”. If there is anything you would like to see changed or added, please add your request to the wish list.

We wish you a happy 2011 and happy bug fixing!

Your skobbler Team

I had the chance to have a chat with all the board members during our Pisa meeting. See Henk about OpenStreetMap, SOTM and the community.

When you need to find a police station, you need to find it Right Now!
The Project of the Week is to map your local police station.

http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Project_of_the_week/2011/Jan_05

This is the first Project of the Week for 2011. Last week we
announced the first Project of the Month for January 2011, mapping
libraries.

http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Project_of_the_week/2010/Dec_29

This is your Project of the Week. Make suggestions. Inspire other
mappers. What is it about contributing to OpenStreetMap that
interests you? Postboxes? Bowing alleys? Share your OpenStreetMap
interests by contributing a Project of the Week.

http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Project_of_the_week/Proposals

Police station photo by Elliot Brown http://www.flickr.com/photos/ell-r-brown/
is licensed CC-By http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

Snowsports maps from openpistemap.org with contours and hillshading.
Hitting the slopes this winter? Check out WikiProject Piste Maps
http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/WikiProject_Piste_Maps

This is a Featured image, which means that it has been identified as
one of the best examples of OpenStreetMap mapping, or that it provides
a useful illustration of the OpenStreetMap project.

If you know another image of similar quality, you can nominate it at

http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Featured_image_proposals

I had the chance to have a chat with all the board members during our Pisa meeting. See Mikel about OpenStreetMap, humanitarian projects, HOT and Haiti.

Libraries are repositories of information, places of learning and of
research. One of the ancient libraries, the Library of Alexandria is
credited with comparing different versions of books with empirical
standards which became the beginnings of the scientific method.
Libraries are filled with adventures of discovery wrapped in layers of
shush.

The Project of the Month is to add your local library to the map.

http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Project_of_the_week/2010/Dec_29

This is the a Project of the Month. Project of the Week returns
next week, while PotM will continue until the end of January. These projects
inspire mappers to contribute data they might not have considered
previously, and allow us to be inspired by the projects of other
mappers.

This is your Project of the Month. Make suggestions. Inspire other
mappers. What is it about contributing to OpenStreetMap that
interests you? Postboxes? Bowing alleys? Share your OpenStreetMap
obession by contributing a Project of the Month.

http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Project_of_the_week/Proposals

New York Public Library photo by Gabriel Rodriguez
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chewie/
is licensed CC-By-SA http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en_CA

This is an extract of the printed paper map of urban accessibility of
Castelfiorentino. The printed paper map is a static view of urban
accessibility as the 30th of August 2010 and it is one of the outcomes
of the participatory process “Libero accesso…accesso libera
tutti!!”. The full printer map file is here The up-to-date
accessibility map is published on the web at accessoliberatutti.it
where participant and citizens can keep contributing. Further
information and several links are available on the project page:

http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Libero_Accesso…Accesso_Libera_Tutti!

This is a Featured image, which means that it has been identified as
one of the best examples of OpenStreetMap mapping, or that it provides
a useful illustration related to the OpenStreetMap project.

If you know another image of similar quality, you can nominate it at

http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Featured_image_proposals

I had the chance to have a chat with all the board members during our Pisa meeting. See Emilie on OpenStreetMap and the international community.