For those, who don't know: There is an app called StreetComplete.
StreetComplete is a mobile app that enhances OpenStreetMap (OSM) by allowing users to contribute to mapping efforts in their local areas. It gamifies the process of collecting and verifying geographic data through simple tasks.
Such simple tasks in StreetComplete could be providing information regarding:
-
Classifying streets (one-way or not)?
-
Is an object (e.g. a bench or a trash bin) still there, or was it removed by the city/state?
-
When does shop XY open and close?
-
Who is allowed to use the parking lot?
-
Does a bus station have lights?
-
Can people with disabilities use the crosswalk?
-
Is a way for bicycles?
It's getting warmer outside. Why not going out and playing it bit? It might feel a little bit like Pokemon GO (but compared to it, your location data won't be sold to Saudi Arabia).
If you usually don't go outside often or walk around outside often, maybe this could be a motivation/reason...
Official website of StreetComplete with download links: https://streetcomplete.app/
FAQ: https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/StreetComplete/FAQ
If you have already use/played it, what's your rank?
this looks like wonderful program to use, my only worry is that how well openstreetmap is safeguarded against any corporation wanting to buy it out? This kind of community effort could easily make it vastly superior to anything corporations even could create so obviously they will try to acquire it at some point. Is it safe from that?
But provided that it is safe, this is really nice. I like going to new places but not having any real reason for it makes it feel a bit trivial. With this there is real tangible benefit for doing it.
OpenStreetMap data is "open data", licensed under a copyleft license. If a company were to acquire the project, it legally couldn't add restrictions to its use, nor use it in a proprietary dataset.
Also, OpenStreetMap is governed by the non-profit OpenStreetMap Foundation, which any active mapper can become a voting member of. Corporate buyout of a democratic body like the Foundation seems unlikely.
Lastly, major companies like Meta, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, TomTom, Niantic etc already rely on this data. Most of them are corporate sponsors of the OSMF and help keep the servers running. ๐ https://osmfoundation.org/wiki/Corporate_Members