I have been playing around with my GPS -a Garmin Etrex Legend HCX- quite a lot lately, especially since I have discovered the wonderful OpenStreetMap(OSM) project.
Very interesting project indeed. OSM is a collaborative project designed for the creation of free maps. Free to use, to edit, to print, to share... Anyone who wish can participate to the OSM project. You can contribute in diverse manners, the easiest way being by mapping your own area. Think of it! An ever growing community working on the same project to build a better cartographic image of our world. Some kind of "wikipedia" for maps!
Well... not exactly.
More of a "free" GoogleMaps (free as in freedom, ie "matter of liberty, not price")
More interesting is that these maps are actually useable and readable on diverse support.
For instance, it is possible upload OSM data to your computer or to certain GPS devices.
The project has started in the year 2004, and grew exponentially in the year 2007 after Yahoo and other parties donated to OSM the rights to use some of their data (aerial photography and diverse road data). OSM reached more than 100 000 registered members by early 2009.
Source: Stats page of OSM wiki
The project is focused on mapping geolocalised data of physical objects. Therefore, don't expect (yet?) to find data related to subjects as demography, tourism, etc. But the maps can be useful to plan your trips as they can be loaded on your GPS device.
My interest for these maps is at the moment mainly due to my need to find cheap source of information for my hikes, which is undoubtly my main hobby.
There is still a big lack of information in OSM concerning hiking routes, especially here in Finland. However, I have seen some more complete areas such as in the Alps. Therefore, I am trying to contribute to OSM in my way by uploading the GPS tracks I am recording each time I'm going out for a hike and then by mapping these routes by creating nodes, ways and waypoints in OSM. Hopefully, people around the world will do as such, and anyone will be able to use their contribution when visiting their country!
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