4 ms·

The idea is commendable, however I find it unfortunate that they did not choose to use already existing data on OpenStreetMap (perhaps because it's a competitor

by dhekir 9y ago

The idea is commendable, however I find it unfortunate that they did not choose to use already existing data on OpenStreetMap (perhaps because it's a competitor to Google Maps?), for instance reusing the weelchair routing efforts started in 2010: http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Wheelchair_routing http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Wheelchair_routing OpenStreetMap already has metadata that could not only help with tracing weelchair paths (pedestrian crossings have a "curb" field designed especially for weelchair accessible; POIs such as shops and buildings have a weelchair-accessible boolean; etc.), but also indicate which sidewalks contain, for instance, tactile pavings for the blind, besides lots of other useful metadata. Also, there is a lot of effort already invested in OpenStreetMap, and more contributors are always welcome. The overall utility of the maps should help ensure the data will remain used by the community at large, and hopefully up-to-date in the long term.

jonfroehlich 9y ago
Thanks for your comment. In short, we agree. We have recently been working with OpenSidewalks (https://www.opensidewalks.com/ https://www.opensidewalks.com/) on figuring out the best way to integrate our data into OSM. We have also been communicating with Wheelmap.org, which is complementary to our efforts as it focuses on POIs rather than sidewalks/streets. Our progress is slower than we'd like but we are purely an academic project and our team is comprised solely of students and faculty. We are quite resource constrained and so must manage our goals carefully. Plus, we are OSM neophytes and so we are slowly learning about the community and possibilities. Oh, and though Google provided some initial funding for our project--via a Google Faculty Research Award--they have never, at any point, restricted what we do or aim to do or how we do it. Thanks again for your feedback. I hope that in 2018 we can focus more of our efforts on OSM integration. If you're connected to that community, would love additional pointers. Thanks. -Jon Froehlich (PI on Project Sidewalk)

by dhekir 9y ago

jonfroehlich 9y ago

Thanks for your comment. In short, we agree. We have recently been working with OpenSidewalks (https://www.opensidewalks.com/ https://www.opensidewalks.com/) on figuring out the best way to integrate our data into OSM. We have also been communicating with Wheelmap.org, which is complementary to our efforts as it focuses on POIs rather than sidewalks/streets. Our progress is slower than we'd like but we are purely an academic project and our team is comprised solely of students and faculty. We are quite resource constrained and so must manage our goals carefully. Plus, we are OSM neophytes and so we are slowly learning about the community and possibilities. Oh, and though Google provided some initial funding for our project--via a Google Faculty Research Award--they have never, at any point, restricted what we do or aim to do or how we do it. Thanks again for your feedback. I hope that in 2018 we can focus more of our efforts on OSM integration. If you're connected to that community, would love additional pointers. Thanks. -Jon Froehlich (PI on Project Sidewalk)