Release Date:
USGS crowd-sourcing project volunteers have updated more than 1,200 Post Office locations and data in Illinois
Volunteer citizen mappers continue to make significant contributions to the USGS ability to provide accurate mapping information to the public. Recently, active participants of The National Map Corps (TNM Corps) were asked to update all of the post office structure points in Illinois. The volunteers answered the call and added, verified, edited, or deleted more than 1,200 points!
In addition, all of the points were quality checked by either a peer reviewer or an advanced editor, so the data was ready to go into The National Map at the conclusion of the challenge. The majority of the volunteer additions and edits will be reflected updated US Topo maps just in time for the upcoming revision of Illinois quadrangles.
More than 1,200 Post Offices in Illinois were reviewed, edited and updated to complete the Mapping Challenge.(Public domain.)
This effort was part of an exciting addition to TNM Corps mapping project called Mapping Challenges. The Challenges asks volunteers to concentrate on specific areas and structure types that need updating. In addition, Challenges encourage volunteers to remain engaged, and incentivizes participation. Once a need is determined, a call to action goes out to the volunteer corps with information on the geographic location and the type of structures that needs updating. Volunteers who participate can earn a series of virtual recognition badges and are recognized on the TNMCorps project site and USGS mapping social media sites (pending participant’s permission).
Special thanks to the volunteers who participated in this challenge:
- mmmbekka,
- rjerrard,
- geo163,
- nina.frohling,
- superlemur,
- rea1961,
- RagingSeas,
- Lapunta8,
- TSDNAV,
- LTPZ,
- jdanfora,
- Lilitleet,
- AndrewMuniz,
- robwills77,
- ChrisColeman
And a special shout out to HGeisler, who completed his 10th challenge.
Using crowd-sourcing techniques, the USGS Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI) project, known as The National Map Corps (TNMCorps), encourages volunteers to collect manmade structures data in an effort to provide accurate and authoritative spatial map data for the National Geospatial Program’s web-based mapping products. Structures being updated include schools, hospitals, post offices, police stations and other important public buildings.
Tools on TNMCorps project site explain how a volunteer can edit any area, regardless of their familiarity with the selected structures, and becoming a volunteer for TNMCorps is easy; register by going to The National Map Corps Editor . Each new volunteer is asked to create a screen name or “handle” and if you want, you can use your Twitter name. We hope you will consider joining us and help to map the Nation.
