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Local mapping is surprisingly difficult. I believe that the commercial products (i.e., Google Maps) are viable only because there are strong incentives for peop
by pacbard 2y ago
Local mapping is surprisingly difficult. I believe that the commercial products (i.e., Google Maps) are viable only because there are strong incentives for people (e.g., business owners, property owners) to submit edits as they are the main way that people search for them. Without that, you get into a limbo where you have data but it's not the most updated one.
By the way, not even government agencies have good geo data, even when they should. I needed up to date address information for work, so I bought a map from my local county assessor's office. In my mind, the assessor should have the most recent data on properties, as their main mission is to collect taxes annually. I was wrong. Their data is about 4 to 5 years wrong, with whole "new" subdivisions missing from their inventory. Google Maps kind of has them on the map; I believe that their geolocation data comes from real estate platforms when new houses are on the market. OSM is about 10 years behind in my area. I am submitting edits as I find them.
If someone has a better idea on where to find address data, please let me know.
- tacostakohashi 2y agoThe assessor's mission is all about parcels and tax lots though. For that purpose, it's not 4 to 5 years wrong, it is current, but they don't care what the "address" is. Not all parcels have an address, or are on a street. The only addresses they care about are where to send the bill.
- maxerickson 2y agoOpenStreetMap barely has any users in many areas. It seems likely enough that a modest amount of traction would lead to people noticing out of date information much more quickly.
- freyfogle 2y agobe the change you want. Start fixing your area.
- SideburnsOfDoom 2y agoThat's how I approach OSM: I can't fix the world, but I can keep my own local patch up to date. Other people do other things, and that's great too.
- maxerickson 2y agoI added all the shops and addresses once already. Seems fine to not be all over keeping them up to date if there aren't that many users. I have been focusing on adding POIs throughout the US. Probably only a few tens of thousands so far though.
- wcedmisten 2y agoMaybe try the National Address Database? https://www.transportation.gov/gis/national-address-database#map2 https://www.transportation.gov/gis/national-address-database...