Is there a recommended way to contribute to OpenStreetMaps? There's so much stuff in Vancouver that could use updates, but I'm not sure where to start

3 years ago by Otter to c/openstreetmap_ca

It's a bit overwhelming. I see a lot of documentation, but it's a lot to read through for the average user.

Should I just download the surveyor app and start fixing things? Is there another community that's updating things?

A big issue I notice is that the building lines are all janky, which makes it annoying to use.

Coehill 2 points 2 years ago

I recommend starting with StreetComplete. It's a lot of fun.

For desktop, start with the standard ID editor which is user friendly.

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Showroom7561 1 point 3 years ago

Start with easy stuff if you feel overwhelmed: POIs like bike racks, garbage bins, benches, etc.

You can create simple buildings with relative ease in the standard editor, or you can use something like Rapid to make things easier. You don't have to worry about getting all the details entered for every POI or building, as long as it's accurately on the map, another user will likely fill in the blanks.

There are a ton of apps to make editing easier, including OSM Go!, Streetcomplete, Every Door, etc. Some are better at specific tasks, like adding details/addresses to buildings, while I find that others are great for adding quick POIs on the go.

On desktop, I stick mostly to Rapid or the OSM editor. I've never used an actual Windows editor, as I'm sure they have a steeper learning curve. Start with easy and work your way up :)

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otter 1 point 3 years ago

Thank you for the encouragement and the extra apps. I'll give these other ones a try too :)

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