Hello everyone,
I guess many of you will be aware of the OpenStreetMap project,
www.openstreetmap.org, which aims to produce free global mapping data
from GPS tracks. So far the focus has been rather more on street
mapping but there has also been a significant amount done in the
countryside, notably in Hampshire (New Forest and South Downs) and
parts of the Midlands.
I would like to organise an OpenStreetMap event in the Lake District,
with the idea of introducing walkers to free mapping, with a
particular emphasis on the issues specific to creating free
countryside maps, such as those at Freemap (free-map.org.uk) which now
uses OpenStreetMap data. The aim will be to try and map as many of the
main footpaths and summit ascent routes in the Grasmere-Langdale area,
possibly extending to Rosthwaite and Coniston, in a week. There will
be a choice of doing high or low level routes depending on weather and
personal preferences.
People will survey the footpaths and other well-used routes with GPS
devices and then upload them to the web. The week will also cover how
to survey landscape features such as crags.
I'm proposing to hold the mapping week during the week of the 3rd -
8th July. People can either stay the whole time or drop in and out as
they feel like it. No firm plans on venues yet - I'd first of all like
to get an idea of the level of interest.
If this sounds interesting then do sign up at
http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/index.php/Lake_District_Mapping_Week
Nick