GeoBus

The vehicle for OpenStreetMap Community Building

Origins

• Discussions– Idea brought up at Where 2.0 2010– First presentation at SotM US in 2010– Teleconference started in 2010

• Why? Because we need a way to…– Promote mapping across America– Focus on smaller communities & community events– Work with youth & education groups to teach

geography, cartography, & mapping.– Live like hippies!

Vaporware?

No!

GeoBus 2011

• Making Mapping Parties Easier

• Focus on special projects– Community Development

– Rural Areas

– Addressing

– Education Outreach

GeoBus 2011 - Website

• One Stop Shopping

• Website– http://geobus.mapsarecool.com

– Consolidated Mapping Party Documentation• Mapping Party Announcements

• Blog

– “Add water & stir” mapping parties information coming soon!

GeoBus Mapping Parties

• Initial Mapping Parties– Colorado Mountain Towns• Nederland (Sept 18th)

• Black Hawk (Oct 8th)

• Lyons (Oct 22nd)

– Indianapolis• Downtown (Nov 3rd)

Colorado Mapping Parties

Goals

• Improving Rural Area Mapping– Tourist destinations where many people just don’t

live

– Small towns that people just need to pass through

– Small towns that people just need better maps

• Community Involvement– Broaden base of mappers from youth

organizations & students.

What will be mapped?

– Short trips to parks & small towns to map• Colorado Examples

– Ski trips!

– National Parks

» Rocky Mountain, Badlands

– Hyper-local features• Bike racks, benches, Restrooms, Signage, Parking Meters

– Unstructured Features (Rural & Urban)• Unofficial trails

• Safe Routes to school initiative

• Trail Markers

Get on the Bus!

• The GeoBus!– There are definitely unmapped things that need to

be mapped near you.

– Anyone can contribute to the project.

– Educators, Students, Anyone!

• GeoBus is a project of OpenStreetMap US Marketing & Communications working group

Yay GeoBus!

• Did I run out of time?

• Questions?