San Francisco Address Import
SFAddresses is the shape file of address nodes released into the public domain by the City of San Francisco.
Contents |
Location of File
Right to Use
The data is PD. There is a hold harmless style clickthrough. This needs to be sent to talk-legal pre-upload but I really think it is okay. The city changed the clauses that caused the data to not be usable previously and have stated they'd love to see the data get used by projects like OSM.
Data Quality
The data is of excellent quality overall.
There are some small issues. The data in the file comes the voter registration project, the Department of Building Inspections Address Verification System and the city's parcel map. The DBIAVS and the parcel map place the node in the center of the building. The VRP puts it at the street. Neither is wrong but when combined it "looks messy."
Importer
Gregory Arenius:
- User Page: Gregory Arenius
- Wiki Page: Gregory Arenius
An account specifically for this import will also be created. When it is it will be listed here.
Pros and Cons of Import
Pros:
- Makes door to door routing a possibility which is a huge win!
Cons:
- Large increase in size of San Francisco in the database.
- Lots of nodes decreases the area that can be downloaded using JOSM's "Download from OSM tool."
- Lots of nodes could make editing more difficult because it can clutter the map.
All three of the cons aren't specific to this import or imports in general. Any thorough and accurate mapping of addresses is going to run into the same issues.
The only viable alternative to mapping individual address nodes is to use address ways. Address ways aren't as accurate as individual nodes and also clutter the map although they do take up less space in the database.
The size increase is most notable in uncompressed XML as many of the tags are repetitive and are highly compressible.
To Do
- Run clickthrough agreement by talk-legal.
- Talk with other local community members at next Mappy Hour and at next mapping party.
- There aren't many address nodes or address ways in SF at the moment but talk to the people who have put the few we have.
- Run import by the import mailing list and see what advice people have.
- Decide exactly which tags to use.
- Lots of testing to make sure everything goes smoothly.
- Probably a whole bunch of other stuff but this is a start.
- Create an account for the import
Status
Still in planning stages.
