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0 pointsBrakenshire11y ago0 comments

The easiest way to contribute is to trace roads and buildings that you know, from satellite images, using the iD editor at http://openstreetmap.org/edit . You can create GPX tracks using a variety of different apps (I use OSMAnd), but most of the time they aren't all that necessary.

As for knowing how to tag things, most of the time it is self-explanatory, and then you pick things up over time by looking at the wiki. I wouldn't worry about getting everything perfect from the start, for instance, you can add building outlines, and then in the future go back and add addresses if you choose.

0 pointsBrakenshire11y ago0 comments

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5 comments · 1 top-level

unicornporn11y ago· 4 in thread

There are also some forest paths that I'd like to track. For them I guess I need GPX tracks (they can't be seen from satelite). I've installed GPSLogger. I guess I could just upload those files to Open Street Map for use in the iD Editor.

BrakenshireOP11y ago

There is one other option for forest paths - Strava have made available their GPS heatmap for editing OpenStreetMap:

http://labs.strava.com/heatmap/

http://strava.github.io/iD/

So, depending on where you live, you may find local trails are on there (although you've still got to go in person to confirm they do actually exist, and to know exactly what they are - mountain bike trails, or narrow footpaths, or wide tracks for horses and 4x4s). In theory, it means you can shift effort away from sorting out gpx tracks, and more into getting the contextual information correct.

unicornporn11y ago

That's great! Thanks!

bhousel11y ago

I do a lot of this kind of mapping too. You can drag and drop a gpx file onto iD and it will show on the map to make tracing easy.

sashazykov11y ago

You can use OsmAnd to record a gps track and send it to OpenStreetMap. It will be available in most editors, including iD. Althought, you can use any gps tracker and upload a track here http://www.openstreetmap.org/trace/create

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