We have a bunch of recorded workout traces from runners, as array of GPS coordinates. Now we want to know the surfaces the runners runned on (asphalt, forest way, etc). As I am very new to OSM, I want to ask how this would be possible? I found that the data should be available in some metadata (key:surface). Is there a service query call to get this information? And, as a next step, is it possible for self hosting an overpass instance for annotating a bigger amount of such traces, preferably directly without remote call for performance reasons? Thanks a lot asked 07 Apr '17, 13:39  GarrySnail |
2 Answers:
For the start: Some streets/paths in our data have a surface tag. Coverage of the surface meta data will vary very much across regions (some may have 0% and some nearly to 100%). Example querys with map visualization: https://overpass-turbo.eu/s/ocj or http://overpass-turbo.eu/s/ock . As far as I know you could query for the closest street (closest to your coordinate point) with overpass (I do not know the details) and get its surface value. Please have a look at https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Elements and https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Develop . Selfhosting overpass is possible (but not simple), see https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Overpass_API/Installation . Nearly everything is possible with OSM, because you have access to the raw data (which you do not have with, for example, google maps). answered 07 Apr '17, 21:14  aseerel4c26 ♦ |
Surface may have been mapped if you are lucky. If not Bing may give a good idea, at least grass dirt and tarmac may be recognisable, gravel may be harder to see. The surface images may be a little out of date. Of course you will only be able to see the aerial images as an editor background. answered 07 Apr '17, 19:21  andy mackey as far as I understand the question it is about data use, not OSM contribution. @GarrySnail: please could you comment? (07 Apr '17, 20:58) aseerel4c26 ♦ |
@aseerel4c26, this is exactly what I need. @andy-mackey, yes the question was about data use.
Thanks a lot guys!