When there is summer and Scandinavia closes down it is hard to be a geek. Everybody, including me, moves out to small cottages in the forrest where 3G coverage is bad which gives low bandwidth a new meaning.
I have found one way of still doing geeky things combined with vacation. That is update OpenStreetmap. Take a peak at my updates at:
- http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=56.4476895332336&lon=14.0158939361572&zoom=14
- http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=56.4213931560516&lon=14.0284895896912&zoom=14
- http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=60.1418289542198&lon=15.4323390126228&zoom=17
Openstreetmap is wikipedia for maps, and like wikipedia it is dependent of that people will update with correct data. One thing that fascinates me is that openstreetmap is extremly detailed in some areas. Probably a geek lives nearby.
When the earthquake hit Haiti, OpenStreetmaps was used by rescuers because all other maps was inaccurate. Alot of volunteers helped keeping the maps updated.
If you want to participate in the project, the process is simple:
- Get an GPS reciever that can generate gpx tracks, I use my Android
- Turn on the GPS and walk, run or bicycle around and gather GPS tracks
- Upload the gpx to openstreetmap.org
- Tag the roads, buildings and whatever you found
To get started, read the beginners guide at Openstreetmap.
