Scott Lincoln
EF4
I posted this thread on the GR owners forum and thought it might be of interest here. The shapefiles mentioned can be downloaded and added to GR products.
OpenStreetMap Project
I wanted to bring everyone's attention to something new for road shapefiles - the OpenStreetMap project. The OpenStreetMap (OSM) project is a type of Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI). It is database of global road, trail, water, locations, and boundary features freely editable by registered users, just like Wikipedia. For areas in the United States, the OSM project uses the TIGER Census shapefiles as a starting point, but this data can be corrected or have new roads added much more frequently when open to the public. To view the interactive maps rendered weekly from this database in a manner similar to Google Maps, visit the OSM website: http://www.openstreetmap.org
You will notice right away some of the obvious inconsistencies in road types that come from using the TIGER Census shapefile data. I have already been working to correct some of these issues for the central Iowa region, especially around Ames. To make changes to the database, you must first register an account so they can track who makes what changes. After that, you simply have to go to the "Edit" tab and a flash editor pops up. Once you make a change to a line or point, it is saved automatically. Before making any changes, I suggest you use the sandbox editor because changes made are put into the database right after you make them.
CloudMade Downloads
A website called CloudMade uses data from the OpenStreetMap project for mapping projects and even includes a simple (with a some bugs) trip router. The most fascinating and useful product they produce, however, is a set of downloads rendered from the OSM database. They have downloads for handheld Garmin devices and for other mapping programs, as well as the ability to download a statewide shapefile of the roads. Here is the download page for the Iowa data:
http://downloads.cloudmade.com/north_america/united_states/iowa
In theory, map enthusiasts could keep the map database updated for everyone, and have the new results rendered each month.
The Shapefiles
Here within the next few weeks, I will be using ArcGIS to clip these state-wide road shapefiles (updated April 2009) to some of the local WFO boundaries or to the WSR-88d radar ranges. I have yet to decide which would be more useful. I also will be developing a style file that can display shapefiles from CloudMade's OpenStreetMap project renderings. When I get this done I will share it with people if there appears to be interest in this project.
For People Editing Maps
Since this project was started in Europe, they have slightly different ways of describing road types than we do here. These are the road types I have been using. We should try to be as consistent as possible.
Motorway - Interstate highways or highways that are four-laned with controlled access more than 1 mile at a time
Motorway link - Interchange ramps for a motorway
Trunk - Four lane highways that do not have controlled access
Trunk link - Interchange ramps for a trunk
Primary - Federal highways, 2-lane
Primary link - Interchange ramps for a primary, such as a super2
Secondary - State highways, 2-lane
Tertiary - County or other local, numbered highway. 2-lane
Residential - City street, county road, gravel road.
Service - Road that is not supported by government maintenance. A minimum maintenance county road. (I rarely use this)
OpenStreetMap Project
I wanted to bring everyone's attention to something new for road shapefiles - the OpenStreetMap project. The OpenStreetMap (OSM) project is a type of Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI). It is database of global road, trail, water, locations, and boundary features freely editable by registered users, just like Wikipedia. For areas in the United States, the OSM project uses the TIGER Census shapefiles as a starting point, but this data can be corrected or have new roads added much more frequently when open to the public. To view the interactive maps rendered weekly from this database in a manner similar to Google Maps, visit the OSM website: http://www.openstreetmap.org
You will notice right away some of the obvious inconsistencies in road types that come from using the TIGER Census shapefile data. I have already been working to correct some of these issues for the central Iowa region, especially around Ames. To make changes to the database, you must first register an account so they can track who makes what changes. After that, you simply have to go to the "Edit" tab and a flash editor pops up. Once you make a change to a line or point, it is saved automatically. Before making any changes, I suggest you use the sandbox editor because changes made are put into the database right after you make them.
CloudMade Downloads
A website called CloudMade uses data from the OpenStreetMap project for mapping projects and even includes a simple (with a some bugs) trip router. The most fascinating and useful product they produce, however, is a set of downloads rendered from the OSM database. They have downloads for handheld Garmin devices and for other mapping programs, as well as the ability to download a statewide shapefile of the roads. Here is the download page for the Iowa data:
http://downloads.cloudmade.com/north_america/united_states/iowa
In theory, map enthusiasts could keep the map database updated for everyone, and have the new results rendered each month.
The Shapefiles
Here within the next few weeks, I will be using ArcGIS to clip these state-wide road shapefiles (updated April 2009) to some of the local WFO boundaries or to the WSR-88d radar ranges. I have yet to decide which would be more useful. I also will be developing a style file that can display shapefiles from CloudMade's OpenStreetMap project renderings. When I get this done I will share it with people if there appears to be interest in this project.
For People Editing Maps
Since this project was started in Europe, they have slightly different ways of describing road types than we do here. These are the road types I have been using. We should try to be as consistent as possible.
Motorway - Interstate highways or highways that are four-laned with controlled access more than 1 mile at a time
Motorway link - Interchange ramps for a motorway
Trunk - Four lane highways that do not have controlled access
Trunk link - Interchange ramps for a trunk
Primary - Federal highways, 2-lane
Primary link - Interchange ramps for a primary, such as a super2
Secondary - State highways, 2-lane
Tertiary - County or other local, numbered highway. 2-lane
Residential - City street, county road, gravel road.
Service - Road that is not supported by government maintenance. A minimum maintenance county road. (I rarely use this)
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