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Why does CoMaps seem to not understand addresses? (lemmy.zip)
submitted 5 days ago by to c/CoMaps@sopuli.xyz
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There is a frustrating issue with the CoMaps work flow. If I copy an address from Google maps into the CoMaps search bar, the application cannot find it.

For example, if I copy the address listed for the Portland Art Museum into CoMaps search:

1219 SW Park Ave, Portland, OR 97205

The search result varies. Sometimes it is:

Southwest 18th Avenue, 1219

Sometimes it is for the entire road:

Southwest Park Avenue

Is there a syntax issue here? You would think this would be a very easy find.

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[–] 37 points 5 days ago (8 children)

comaps uses openstreetmap data. you can help improve that data, including by filling in missing addresses. check this to start: https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Addresses

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  • [–] 11 points 5 days ago (6 children)

    The address info for my street is missing from OpenStreetMap too. I've considered fixing it multiple times, but every time I think about it my next thought is "there's got to be some way to import it in bulk instead of doing it lot-by-lot" and then I get stuck because (a) the complexity of the process goes way up and (b) I have no idea where to look for that data.

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  • [–] 16 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

    Imports also generally require proposals, an additional hurdle. For my unmapped area, over the course of a couple of years, I surveyed and used a 360 camera to map these. Most of my area now has address data :D

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  • [–] 4 points 4 days ago (2 children)

    That's only possible i n areas with open data

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  • [–] 3 points 4 days ago (1 child)

    And even then, you gotta look at licenses and attribution. You can't just add data to OSM that you got from somewhere else with an incompatible license, because OSM data is open source and needs proper attribution.

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  • [–] 7 points 5 days ago

    This should be the top reply. CoMaps is actually very good at interpreting addresses, but if the data isn't there it isn't there.

    Some editors are beginning to label address blocks so that users can at least locate the correct street block instead of just the street. It's a lot of volunteer hours to do it.

    If users want to improve it, CoMaps makes it extremely easy to add points or leave a note for editors. That's about the best you can ask for.

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