Home this dashain? Here is how you can help : OSM

Nepal मा one of the main problems is that we do not have enough map data. Maps are really freakin important because they give out necessary information required for development, planning, disaster preparedness and rescue/relief operations. One of the conclusions after the devastating earthquake of 2015 in Nepal was that we had not enough map data.

Although much efforts have been carried out and many places in the valley have already been mapped, there is a lot of work that needs to be done when in comes to rural Nepal's mapping status. This is where you come in. :) If you are out of the valley and elsewhere, probably the lands you are in are uncharted and are invisible in the map. Hence you can contribute to the map by tracing it down.

Why OpenStreetMap?

Geographical data (geo data) is not free in many parts of the world. Generally these places have given the task of mapping to various government agencies who in return get to make money by selling the data back to you and me. If you live in one of these countries, then you pay taxes for the mapping and then you have to pay again to get a copy of it. The government of Nepal has maps that are as old and 19 years of age, and they still charge for public to use it. :D

Ready to contribute.. let's roll!!

1. Take a look at the map at http://www.openstreetmap.org/. So many things might be missing.. there may not be the street you or on.. or even there may not be anything where you are.. (that's the case with most rural Nepal.. its like a barren land when seen on maps.. blank empty canvas) anyways.. that's why we are here! :)

2. Now the exciting part create an account and start editing!

Mobile OpenStreetMap

Now to the point of why I actually wrote this post. :)

I think that you can help using your phone and these apps here are here to help you contribute. Click on the name of the app to get to the respective google play store and download the app. If you are an apple user or windows phone user and want to contribute, do let me know.

1. OSM Contributor Mapping Tool

OSM Contributor Mapping Tool is an OpenSource Android Application to use anywhere by contributors, and during Mapping parties. The application is either configurable for a dedicated region, and specific Data Types (useful for Mapping Parties), or globally.

The app allows each contributor to add/edit the OpenStreetMap database.

It also allows beginners to participate in an easy way, thanks to its user-friendly material interface.

Their job is to reduce the entry cost of OpenStreetMap and make it simpler!

2. Vespucci

This is the first ever OpenStreetMap editor for android. Vespucci is an advanced tool for editing OpenStreetMap data, it is not a map viewer or a navigation app. You will need an OpenStreetMap account to use it .

You can download the map data for a specific area and edit the map. After editing, you can upload it directly to the OSM servers.

Any accidental change can be undone and all changes are listed for review before upload. Tag-autocompletion, JOSM compatible presets, links to the translated map-features pages and even autocompleting nearby street names help to find the right tags to use.

3. OSMTracker 

OSMTracker  allows you to track your journeys, mark waypoints with tags, voice record, and photos.

GPS traces can then be exported in GPX format for later use with OpenStreetMap tools like JOSM, or uploaded directly to OpenStreetMap.

Tracks can be displayed over an OpenStreetMap background or with no background if you don't have a data plan.

Hope to see you around in the OSM world, do contribute the data from and of your locality, because if you won't nobody will.. and honestly.. no one else can. :)