Dear all,
We've recently released ImageInOsm [1], a mobile application designed to
help OpenStreetMap contributors to better document OSM object using
pictures.
The process is currently very simple:
- a user is nearby a real-life "object",
- using his smartphone, he picks the corresponding OSM object on a map
- he takes a picture of that object
- this picture is then shared on an online repository (Flickr at the
moment) with the OSM object id in the metadata
Have a look at the screenshots on the app website [1] to get an idea. I
can also play with the Android test package [2].
The main advantage of ImageInOsm over a classic camera application is
the attached OSM object id. It will allow other contributors to find and
use these pictures.
For some reasons, the unique supported picture repository is Flickr at
the moment. We would like to offer an alternative and we think that
Wikimedia Commons might be a good one for the following reasons:
- the process of taking a picture to document this object [3] is quite
close to documenting this object [4]
- we feel like the philosophy of both Wikimedia projects and
OpenStreetMap are compatible (and indeed, there is already some
collaboration)
Since I'm new to the Wikimedia ecosystem, I have many questions on how
to do that:
- first of all, is it acceptable to associate one (or several) external
links to a file/picture stored on Commons?
- is there any existing format to point an OpenStreetMap resource?
Should I create a template for that? and/or use other_fields in the
Information template?
- apart Title and Description, is there any required or strongly
encouraged fields that the user should enter?
Technically speaking, I'm planning to use the Mediawiki API to send the
picture and related data. If you know about a JavaScript wrapper for
this API, I would be happy to try it.
Another request, a little embarassing... Yesterday, I've tried to send a
dummy picture to Commons [5], just to see how it works, but now I'm not
sure how to undo this... I've found the {{speedydelete}} tag, is it the
way to go? By the way, is there any dev instance of Commons where I can
play safely with the API? If not, is there a procedure somewhere to set
up a similar instance (we already have a mediawiki instance but I
believe the instance configuration has an impact)?
[1]
http://naturalsolutions.github.io/ImageInOsm/
[2]
http://depot.natural-solutions.eu/ImageInOsm/ImageInOsm-0.1.apk
[3]
http://www.openstreetmap.org/browse/way/69137913
[4]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notre-Dame_de_la_Garde
[5]
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Black_gbassiere_1.jpg
Please also note that I've already had a discussion with Kolossos about
that matter on the OSM Talk list, the thread is available at:
http://lists.openstreetmap.org/pipermail/talk/2013-August/068079.html
Best regards
Gilles Bassière
NATURAL SOLUTIONS
http://www.natural-solutions.eu