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Hi there,

Does anybody know if there will be an update of the GPX Planet file soon? (http://planet.openstreetmap.org/gps/)

Thanks for any Information.

Elke

asked 22 Oct '15, 13:19

ElkeErhardt's gravatar image

ElkeErhardt
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edited 23 Oct '15, 10:36

SomeoneElse's gravatar image

SomeoneElse ♦
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Since the arrival of free and good quality aerial images, the gathering of GPX data has become a lot less important. As such, mappers also don't add many traces to the DB anymore. Uploading traces mostly happens when the imagery is outdated or unclear (f.e. obscured by trees).

Next to that, OSM editors have access to Strava data. which offers a lot more points than our GPX database, so the Strava database can even be used to align imagery (something that would be hard with the our GPX database).

As a result, there's not a lot of people who really want that file to be updated. So it doesn't look very good for you.

If you really need that database, You could probably contact Firefishy as a start. He's the system admin who made the first wiki page about planet.gpx

permanent link

answered 22 Oct '15, 14:50

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Sanderd17
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1

Do you have any actual evidence for that? An entirely unscientific quick check today shows around 9 pages worth of public traces in the last 24 hours; going back a couple of years to http://www.openstreetmap.org/traces/page/9011 shows around 11 pages in 24 hours. Looking at http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Stats#Users_and_GPX_uploads shows a fairly flat accumulation of GPX trackpoints.

(22 Oct '15, 14:59) SomeoneElse ♦
1

Uploading GPX files stagnated (with a slow drop since 2009), while adding nodes keeps rising: http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/File:Osmdbstats4A.png

So relatively, GPX files have lost their attraction for the main public.

(22 Oct '15, 15:07) Sanderd17

Thank you for your answer :)

(23 Oct '15, 10:25) ElkeErhardt

@Sanderd17 I'd agree with "stagnating" but don't think that that quite equates to "mappers also don't add many traces to the DB anymore" :)

Back in 2009 there was much less aerial imagery available so people essentially didn't have a choice if they wanted to get something into OSM. My first interaction with one of the stalwarts of the local community here was contacting them saying "that railway you added from Yahoo is actually a hedge".

(23 Oct '15, 10:41) SomeoneElse ♦
2

@Sanderd17 GPS traces are still very valuable. Strava coverage is actually fairly localised, albeit better for image alignment. GPS traces are still essential for new developments, many footways in the countryside, developing countries etc. Just look at a recent blog post by a mapper in Lesotho https://maplesotho.wordpress.com/2015/10/21/use-of-apps-in-mapillary-phones-make-maplesotho-enjoyable/. I am particularly struck by how just as for many of us starting out with GPS traces aerial photos made mapping easier, the reverse is just as applicable.

(23 Oct '15, 12:02) SK53 ♦

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question asked: 22 Oct '15, 13:19

question was seen: 3,133 times

last updated: 23 Oct '15, 12:02

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