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Allow commenting on maps
I'd like to use uMap as a tool to get feedback from the general public.
For example, I create a map about city street pavement. People who visit the map could be allowed to leave comments on the map, or directly on the objects, about street conditions/smoothness or to report potholes.
I as map author could create a standard form with a few options for the visitors to use.
(EDIT: Continues here https://github.com/umap-project/umap/issues/768#issuecomment-602221749)
Hi @IgorEliezer, by experience I know that people won't use their computer to report pavement issues or write about road condition.... just because when they use their computer, they are not outside walking on the road. I encourage you to think about a 'mobile' solution that people can use on their phone. So a "form" or a "simple map" seems not to be a good idea for me.
I recommend you to give a try to StreetComplete. This is an Android app, with simply 2 tap on your phone, you can set the pavement of the street you are walking on. This app is a must have, it have many 'quests' to improve OSM data. Please give it a try in real condition (on a road :wink:) and think again about your real application need :wink:
Have a nice day. I hope that you will enjoy my advises :+1:
And about "Allow commenting on maps", we will need to consider it technically. Note that people can already add note directly on OSM.
I recommend you to give a try to StreetComplete. This is an Android app, with simply 2 tap on your phone, you can set the pavement of the street you are walking on. This app is a must have, it have many 'quests' to improve OSM data. Please give it a try in real condition (on a road wink) and think again about your real application need
I know the StreetComplete, but the map is not for OSM mappers or for OSM mapping, but for people, say, who know how to use Facebook, Whatsapp and Google Maps only, people who are over 50 year old, have no desire to learn mapping or cartography and have 5th grade. That is, regular citizens with mundane needs.
If I show them a thematic map -- such as, pavement, street lighting, bus route, land use, where the schools or public clinics are located, where the sewage is discharged --, the best approach would be to allow them to comment on the very map they are interacting with. If I ask them to install an app, I lose 50% of the potential feedback. If I ask them to open another site and have to teach them how to use osm.org, 90% feedback loss. Because regular people can't afford to go to the townhall for a public meeting, let alone volunteer to mapping in the open or have patience to install an app or being taught.
I think open maps could be an aid to get people involved with city planning and public discussions over Internet and social media. People prefer to shout at and curse the mayor on Facebook rather than to use a specialized app. I want to put an interactive map where people are shouting and cursing, that is, where the discussion is taking place.
I've posted uMap on Facebook twice, all people can do is to post "nice", "the map is missing a speed bump somewhere near the street X" in the comment box and give likes. But I'd like to let them comment on the map not for the sake of openstreetmap but for public interest discussions.
Aside from the whole RFE for comments, I think one issue could be, for uMap people need some account. The provider list does not have Facebook, so would that even work? I mean, people would have to leave anonymous comments.
Also, OSM notes are an existing place to put comments for "make the map better this way". That's not necessarily a problem as such, just pointing out this exists...
Finally... wow, it's been a long time @IgorEliezer!
Hello @VladimirSlavik :)
I think one issue could be, for uMap people need some account. (...) I mean, people would have to leave anonymous comments.
Pretty much like what OSM does, I don't think it is necessary to require an account to leave comment/feedback on the maps I maintain.
I could post the link with "Comments allowed" feature, and people through that link would leave comments which can be geopositioned boxes with plain texts with max length and a "Name" field. Actually, it would be more restrict than OSM since the map author can review and remove unwanted feedbacks from their own maps, while OSM depends on the whole community to report them in a huge needle-in-a-haystack type situation.
To avoid storing too much data, these comments would expire after a default period of time or sooner set by the map author.
I agree it would be great to allow comments on the spatial objects (not just the whole map).
For the whole map, or possibly for each spatial object in some way, maybe it could be possible to use Remark42:
Remark42 is a self-hosted, lightweight, and simple (yet functional) comment engine, which doesn't spy on users. It can be embedded into blogs, articles or any other place where readers add comments.
That's a good idea, and I feel the need for that, too. For me a form in umap to submit a note on OSM is also appropriate. Which contains a link to the umap map, so the author can track comments related to the map. Something like onosm.org. Currently on the map I created for wholemeal bread bakeries, I linked to create new note in description of the elements on the map and for items that are not on the map I've directed users to add note on osm.
Edit: For now I changed this feedback method to a mailto: template. (See this)
