On 2/3/20 9:57 AM, Mike Thompson wrote:
> The
> exception was a search and rescue group that used OSM to help locate
> missing people in the back country because OSM contains trails that no
> other source has.
I was just sitting down to discuss how I use OSM in wilderness search
and rescue when I saw this in your message; perfect timing!
For the record, my team(s) has many cartographic resources at our
fingertips that we can use for search and rescue including, but not
limited to: USGS 7.5' maps, National Park Service maps, OSM, Google
maps, state and local GIS data, and several options for aerial imagery.
(This is a USA-centric perspective.)
I encourage the use of OSM data, wherever possible, including
OSM-derivatives for several reasons including:
* generally provides the best on-the-ground data,
* can be updated quickly with GPS tracks and aerial imagery if the area
isn't complete,
* provides a good alternative to aerial imagery, which tend to be very
bandwidth-intensive, if the mapping is complete and thorough enough to
include ground cover and everything that can be seen in the imagery,
* works well with our tools for planning and operations,
* contains POIs that we are interested in, depending on the type of
person we're looking for (structures, water (pools and natural), etc).
If you consider an urban search and rescue team's mission, and a large
scale event, buildings on a map can be extremely helpful for planning
and operations where the accountability of many directed searches of
structures is imperative.
I say all this to really say to all those that go the extra mile to map
a trail (and determine if it's just a walking trail or maybe something
big enough to get an ATV, vehicle, or horse through), add a stream,
outline a dangerous cliff, add a building, align a roadway, mark the
bathrooms at your local park, and so many other tedious, small things
that seem to be totally innocuous... thank you! It really does help us
plan search missions and, operationally, helps us avoid hazards, search
more effectively, and know where to setup our base camps (near those
bathrooms!).
I've spent many hours updating the ares where we train so if you, by
chance, get lost in one of those areas I have full faith that our maps
will be good to go. Unfortunately, people seem to go missing in a
variety of areas, including in their own neighborhoods, so don't feel
like there are areas that shouldn't be mapped! :)
R,
Eric "Sparks"
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