OpenStreetMap page

content/osm.md

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+---
+title: OpenStreetMap contributions
+---
+
+As the OpenStreetMap community is pretty active here, the local map is quite
+good and it is very useful to me when doing urban geocaching or just to walk
+around, especially with OsmAnd, a very good map app.
+
+I had contributed to OSM a while ago while I was in a different region, mainly
+by posting notes and telling other contributors to fix the map for me.  Now I
+want to do something a bit better and actually contribute myself.
+
+I added a public bookcase and tried to look a little deeper into how traffic
+signals are mapped because there was one right new to the bookcase.  That got
+me to [start a discussion][traffic-sound] on traffic signals having audio
+signals for blind people being activated using remotes in France.
+
+I also started looking into two particular things: mapping public drinking
+fountains, which are commonly found in the city center here, and addings tags
+on public places with Wi-Fi access, as there are free Wi-Fi hotspots provided
+by the city among other things.
+
+## Tagging drinking fountains
+
+* General tag: `amenity=drinking_water`  
+  Shown as "Potable water" in OsmAnd
+* Specific tag: `man_made=water_tap`  
+  Shown as "Water fountain" in OsmAnd
+* Potable water: `drinking_water=yes/no`
+* Drinking is forbidden: `drinking_water:legal=no`
+* Can refill bottles: `bottle=yes/no`
+* Hot/cold water: `cold_water=yes/no`, `hot_water=yes/no`
+* Has a fee: `fee=yes/no`
+* Wheelchair accessible: `wheelchair=yes/no`
+* Operator: `operator=…`
+
+## Tagging internet access
+
+* `internet_access`
+  * `yes`: Available, not more specific
+  * `no`: Not available
+  * `wlan`: Wireless hotpost (Wi-Fi)
+  * `terminal`: Computers available with Internet access
+  * `wired`: Ethernet plugs available
+  * `service`: People are available to troubleshoot your connection
+  * Specific values can be combined: `wlan;terminal` for example if there are
+    both computers and WLAN.
+* `internet_access:fee`
+  * `yes`: A fee is required to get access
+  * `no`: Free for all
+  * `customers`: Only the customers get free access
+* `internet_access:operator`: Operator of the service, if not the operator
+  of the building itself (aka the general `operator` key)
+* `internet_access:ssid`: ESSID of the Wi-Fi network.
+
+Note that hotspots that are strictly restricted to a set of persons, even after
+paying a fee (e.g. Eduroam, company networks, etc.) should not be mapped.
+
+## Wi-Fi scanning
+
+Ideally, we need a way to log both the current GPS position and the found
+networks with their signal strength, which would allow us to later do some
+triangulation and guess at where the network is.  We also need to see the
+currently detected networks while on the go, as we might be able to guess
+where they are without having to do a mess of triangulation.
+
+We tried to use an Android app, [WiFi Tracker][wifitracker], but it does
+not work on my phone and is quite power-hungry.  Additionally, on Android
+9, Wi-Fi scanning is limited and lifting the restriction is only possible
+in the developer options in Android 10+.
+
+We might have an ESP32-based scanner soon.
+
+[wifitracker]: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.prowl.wifiscanner
+[traffic-sound]: https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Talk:Key:traffic_signals:sound#Remote-operated_signal_sound