New user here I’ve started mapping while driving and understand how all that works but now I’d love to start walking.
Firstly I’d like any tips and best practices people have for a beginner to set up and where should be mapped and where is not best like is it best to stick to paths only or should we be doing paths along side roads or not.
And secondly I’ll be using an Android smartphone so wondered what would be best would it be a hand held tripod/gimble or a body worn mount which I’d prefer so hands free.
And lastly what overlay should i use as in terms of map?
Welcome! For a starter it’s the easiest way to get a chestmount, it’s the most comfortable way.
Every path/road is welcome, if you’re on foot than try to get all the narrow paths/streets you can find. Rural paths are also welcome, a lot of OpenStreetMap users/editors will be happy to see those. If you want to make yourself more easy, try to get a GoPro (with GPS like the 9 or 13) and use the video mode. You can upload it directly in the desktop App.
Thanks for the tips and advise but sadly the gopro is way out of my price range I know they are good and always see them everywhere but just can’t afford one yet I have smartphone and that’s the best I can do
Problem with a phone (and most cameras) is that they run out of battery, if you do any more then a short trip, and it’s tot that fun to realize that you are out of power halfway through the trip.
Thus I would suggest that you consider invest in a powerbank, either it connected to the “camera” as you while driving. (Or o bring with you as a backup - doing so has “saved” a few of my mapping walks…)
The chestmout harness is likely a good idea, as GPS accuracy tend to be very poor when using the phone in your hand. (Downside is that if you are now alone, you need insist to be first in line all the time, and that is not going to wing you an popularity contests
BTW, should you later be able to afford to get a GoPro, then I would suggest adding a helmet mounted 360-camera. e.g. a GoPro Max 2 as a compliant. While the 8K resolution of the 360 cameras my seem impressive, it has to cover a much larger area so the images won’t be as sharp - so signs tend to be more difficult to read in the pictures. The upside is that you get pictures allot things that you would otherwise not captures, so these can be quite useful when correcting the map after the walk.
When on foot, it can be useful to snap photos of various detail, perhaps even when not doing automatic captures. Opening hours, stores, benches… anything people map on OpenStreetMap is very useful.
