is about OpenStreetMap. I browsed on over to openstreetmap.org signed
up for an account started "playing" with their editor.
It's totally great; you don't even have to have a GPS device to
contribute, you can trace roads and such from Yahoo Aerial View (who
have given permission for this) to increase the accuracy of the maps
in areas that you know, and add things that the public domain info
that covers most of our area just doesn't (like walking trails, etc.).
So far I've just been playing in "Practice Mode", but I think I'm
about ready to start making actual edits after a few minutes of
playing with the interface (with the primer[2] page opened in another
tab for reference)
If you've got a GPS they have even fancier ways of contributing.
You can then export the data in all kinds of image and
printer-friendly formats, in pure XML, not to mention they have data
for GPS devices and such.
Apparently over in England they have a HUGE amount of detail, and
people just keep adding stuff. The U.S. is still sorely in need of
attention.
Anyhow, I found it really interesting and thought some of you guys
might be interested as well. Hope you're having a lovely weekend!
Simón
[1] http://www.tllts.org/audio/tllts_272-11-05-08.ogg
[2] http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Potlatch/Primer
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