OpenStreetMap contribution hints

[nrenner]

trafficstars

Currently we mention OSM as our data source in the About and Credits dialogs. We should should also mention that users can contribute to improve the map:

• general hint and link in About and probably also a short link more prominently on the map, e.g. "improve the map"
• specific hint to add missing ways / fix issues when using the straight line feature (#68)

@polyscias wrote:

Understood straight lines are a wanted feature but it means in think in most cases that the openstreetmap data does not have the paths that the user wants to take.

Looking at it from a system view, the preferred solution is to update the map so it is working in the future and others can also benefit. It is good not only to use openstreetmap but also to contribute.

So how about:

1. Popping up a indication when drawing straight line that it would be good to update the openstreetmap data if only by adding a OpenStreetMap Note.
2. Save all straight line somewhere on a server so openstreetmap volunteers can have a look and update the map

Point 2 has some privacy implications so a checkbox to untick this functionality?

@rkflx wrote:

There is another point I'd like to bring up. Looking at reactions in mailings list, issue trackers and forums to this feature, there is a common theme: Users are craving for the feature because they want to route around missing or broken OSM data.

Obviously this is only a workaround, and the much more sustainable solution (with a turnaround time of only a couple of hours for fast-updating instances) would be to actually fix the underlying data. I fear that by introducing the beeline feature, we remove an incentive to get involved in fixing the map.

This could be counteracted by encouraging users to contribute fixes or at least add notes to locations needing fixes:

• Provide a button to "Edit the map" (see https://cyclosm.org) and/or "Add a note" (as seen on https://osm.org), e.g. near the attribution notes in the bottom right. (More examples: https://plotaroute.com, https://komoot.com)
• In addition (since users might miss the button or forget about it in that moment), show a passive popup notice (with a "Do not show again" checkbox) with some hints or links once the beeline feature has been used repeatedly (on first use it would probably be too invasive).

Of course not everybody will make the jump, but at least we should lower the hurdle as much as possible. After all, why not contribute something back in exchange for a free of charge service.

Thoughts?

[rkflx]

Thanks @nrenner for splitting this out in a separate issue.

@polyscias Read your comment a while ago, but totally missed it when adding my remark, sorry!

Save all straight line somewhere on a server so openstreetmap volunteers can have a look and update the map Point 2 has some privacy implications so a checkbox to untick this functionality?

This would need to default to "off", I fear, and then nobody will find it somewhere hidden in a settings page. Maybe a compromise would be to add a third option next to "Fix map" and "Add note", namely "Mark location for review" (perhaps even with a "voting" counter as an incentive to click on it?). This would allow volunteers to have look a problem spots (and result in less work than sifting through every single straight line, which are hard to verify anyway), and still have a lower barrier to entry than a note (that requires to add text, which not everybody is comfortable with).

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One more thing which came to mind: Ideally this could be a standard feature across more OSM-based sites, so maybe it would make sense to develop this as a plugin of some sort or as a custom portal page to link to (vs. the user being dumped right to the osm.org login page). This would make it far less work for app authors (no more thinking about where to link to, which wording to use, ...) and more consistent for users (same experience across all sites), while emphasizing OSM as a brand.

Basic sketch:

• Triggered by button or event in web app.
• Open modal or new tab, with:
  • mini-map of the current location + name of the referring app (so it does not feel like a generic page)
  • heart-warming teaser why contributing matters and how it will help with the issues the user currently encountered
  • a friendly illustration
  • getting-started links
  • call-to-action button to add note (for beginners)
  • call-to-action button to change map (for advanced users)
• Translation/Hosting/Maintenance done by external team.
• Playful alternative idea: Adapt https://whatcanidoformozilla.org/ (source: https://github.com/jdm/asknot) to steer users towards "Add note", "Change map", "Give feedback" etc.

Not sure if something similar already exists. If not, maybe it would be a good opportunity to ask around in the wider OSM community to find someone willing to coordinate such a project, or to develop this as part of a GSoC project.

As a first iteration for BRouter-Web, a simple link to osm.org or a wiki page would do of course (although probably with a lower conversion rate).

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See also:

• https://apps.mapbox.com/feedback/
• https://komoot.de/plan/ (click on "!" icon)
• https://welcome.openstreetmap.org/

[rkflx]

I added some additional ideas in #694, key points:

2. Make users aware of the fact that they are allowed and even encouraged to contribute to OSM. Getting them hooked is an interesting challenge, so we could provide multiple links tailored to different audiences: - Link to a "Getting started with contributing" guide. - Provide an "Add a note to the map" button linking to osm.org. - Supply an "Edit the map" link, also forwarding to osm.org.

• Create a "Contribute to the map" link right next to the "OpenStreetMap" link, both styled the same. It would open a menu or a Bootstrap popup with links to contribute, i.e. it would essentially be an ad to gain new OSM contributors. It is expected to be used only once or twice per user, i.e. it is not meant to be used to edit the map regularly (for power users, we recommend the browser addon to start their preferred map editor instead).

Also, as a short-term improvement I'll put up a PR to add a simple "Edit" button next to the "OpenStreetMap" link.