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[Jim]

I think it's worth having a thread specifically for those interested in contributing to the CHM replacement project (which might be called Map Your Travels, we'll see) to state or re-state that interest.  I know many have already done this in the old CHM forum or in our original thread here, but let's get it in one place.

If you're interested, what technical expertise do you have, which parts of the project are you interested in contributing to, and how often do you expect to have time available?

We'll need project management, general programming (likely in Unix environments), web development, database design, database implementation, algorithms to analyze the data, review and maintenance of existing highway systems, development and review of new systems, and I'm sure many other things.  On the web side, I think we're likely to have general HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, whatever tools interface with the database, Google Maps API, other tools to draw maps, and probably more.  I don't think it makes much sense to develop within a framework like Drupal or WordPress, but maybe others disagree.

[Jim]

For my part, I hope to contribute in all areas, but I hope to be able to contribute most in overall project management, the interaction with the Google Maps API, algorithms to analyze the data, and, once we have a working system in place, to help improve, maintain, and expand the highway data.  My database experience is fairly limited, but I think it's enough that I could help with the design and implementation of the databases that would underly the system. 

My time availability will vary greatly with my teaching and other work schedules, but summers are likely to be the best in terms of finding significant chunks of time to work on things.  I can justify some work time on the project as I continue to use its data in an academic setting for teaching graph data structures and algorithms.  I will also try to recruit a few students who would be interested in contributing in the context of an independent study course or other project.

[oscar]

As noted before, I'm interested but my talents don't match up with our immediate needs. My limited experience with HTML (I keep things really basic for my websites, with no JavaScript or PHP) is of no help. I know a little about domain management -- indeed two of my sites appear to be hosted by the same company CHM uses -- though Jim and perhaps also other team members also have their own domains.

Where I can help most is with new systems development and review, and training of new team members. I currently have on my plate two state route systems under development (one nearly ready for review, once we restart that process), and can also help with updates in other states/provinces as needed (such as Quebec, which needs a lot of catch-up work).

My time availability fluctuates a lot, mainly with my travel schedule. I'm planning a lot of time on the road between late May and late July. But since I'm retired, I have lots of time available when I'm not on the road, subject to some other interests which should not interfere.

[Thing 342]

I'd like to help with the project if possible. Though I mostly work with Java, I'm pretty familiar with JavaScript and HTML. Of course, my schedule may limit me somewhat from now until June.

[Zeffy]

I've got a lot of experience in HTML, PHP, Javascript, jQuery, MySQL, etc, but my main focuses are for AARoads, so I'm not entirely sure how much I could contribute, since AARoads work already tires me out a good deal at the end of the day.

[vdeane]

I'm good with HTML/CSS/PHP/MySQL.  I could probably help with the core website and database; I'd also be capable of highway system work.  My time varies each week, but my roadtrip load isn't as heavy as it was last year, and I'll be updating NYS Roads at a slower pace now that I got through my exit list backlog.

[froggie]

I have little programming/coding experience, so I won't be of much help there.  I could assist with project management (having been with the project since the get-go), but I think my main area of assistance would be with maintaining route data and developing new route systems.

[Mapmikey]

My only involvement has been to be a proofreader of sorts for the Virginia State Highways data that has not yet been added to CHM.  Not the behind the scenes coding but what the actual user sees - are the points labeled correctly?  Is a point missing?  those kinds of things.

The only state remaining to need adding (based on CHM availability) that I could be considered knowledgeable enough to do this with no problem is South Carolina.  If needed I could likely put together the actual data set for SC, based on an example in a previous post, it doesn't look super difficult to learn the desired format:

Code: [Select]

Start http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=54.168087&lon=-4.477819
A1/A2 http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=54.155687&lon=-4.501305
A5 http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=54.155976&lon=-4.501841
A6_E http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=54.161366&lon=-4.504952
A6_W http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=54.161881&lon=-4.506884
A26 http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=54.177105&lon=-4.554455
A23 http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=54.183836&lon=-4.565935
A1/A3 http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=54.202730&lon=-4.629149
A20 http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=54.210373&lon=-4.630373
+X01 http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=54.219331&lon=-4.630566
BraRd http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=54.260512&lon=-4.581513
+X02 http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=54.274146&lon=-4.579496
A4 http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=54.280986&lon=-4.588122
+X03 http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=54.301326&lon=-4.567909
A10 http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=54.309776&lon=-4.541345
A14_N http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=54.319452&lon=-4.491863
A17 http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=54.323031&lon=-4.472895
B14 http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=54.319978&lon=-4.446287
A3/A18 http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=54.322168&lon=-4.386742
A2_N http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=54.321054&lon=-4.385262
+X04 http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=54.312893&lon=-4.385004
+X05 http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=54.312893&lon=-4.376206
+X06 http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=54.305858&lon=-4.381614
+X07 http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=54.278080&lon=-4.443412
A14 http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=54.250847&lon=-4.463110
B10 http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=54.242660&lon=-4.471972
+X08 http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=54.213786&lon=-4.479547
B12 http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=54.207436&lon=-4.466522
+X09 http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=54.195738&lon=-4.477444
A21 http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=54.183108&lon=-4.475470
A2/A18 http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=54.171742&lon=-4.467809
Finish http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=54.168087&lon=-4.477819

Mapmikey

[rickmastfan67]

I'm still game to help out on the data end.  That, as well as with a forum (if we go the SMF route later).

[oscar]

The only state remaining to need adding (based on CHM availability) that I could be considered knowledgeable enough to do this with no problem is South Carolina.

What about Tim's states in the Mid-Atlantic, such as MD and PA, at least for maintenance and updates?  You seem to have been expanding your travels well beyond Virginia lately.

[froggie]

I think he was referring to states that don't have state systems online yet.  As for PA/MD, James is from Pennsylvania, so I would anticipate he'd cover PA for a reboot.  Not sure offhand for MD...perhaps we could bring Mike Pruett or Laura onboard?

[Mapmikey]

I'm not necessarily opposed to doing the updates for PA/MD as long as it wasn't particularly necessary that I have the ability to field check the information people provide.

I also have no idea if the person who started the SC set on CHM is among the folks still available going forward, but am willing to put together the data set if that position has been vacated...

Mapmikey

[SSOWorld]

Has anyone gotten a hold of Jeff Morrison?  He handles Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, (Michigan?), (Dakotas?), (Missouri?) and If I'm correct his online presence is not here.

EDIT: If no one's able to, I can handle these. (I'm sure Froggie still has Minnesota

As far as programming is concerned, I've got extensive development experience. However, given that's my day job, I am not going to volunteer my time to that except to test routing files.  Sorry, but 40-60 hours a week is enough

[english si]

review and maintenance of existing highway systems, development and review of new systems

I volunteer to do this.

I call all existing regions in Eurasia, as frankly I've done a lot of the work already!

I'm willing to offload all my lower-48 holdings when their state system is ready to go, but I believe MrMojave called dibs. AZ, CO, MT, NV, OR, UT and WY. (AZ and NV can be handed over now, though there's uningested updates that are (save exit numbers on US routes) the only changes I've made from Tim's work, and MrMojave can just pick up UT as he's done the state system).

I also have PR, but their territory roads network is crazy. I've made a (US) Virgin Islands territorial routes system, but I have no clue as to whether they are signed.

[Dr Frankenstein]

I code for a living (mostly .NET and JavaScript, although I have good experience in PHP from past jobs), but my availability will vary a lot.

[SD Mapman]

Has anyone gotten a hold of Jeff Morrison?  He handles Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, (Michigan?), (Dakotas?), (Missouri?) and If I'm correct his online presence is not here.

EDIT: If no one's able to, I can handle these. (I'm sure Froggie still has Minnesota

I can take the Dakotas, if someone will show me how to do waypoint files.

[NWI_Irish96]

I have a very high knowledge of Indiana's highways, but little/no technical experience in translating that knowledge to any sort of usable database, though I'm willing to learn.

[sipes23]

I've got a decent knowledge of Illinois highways in the northern 1/3 of the state and Wisconsin highways in the eastern 1/3 of that state (and a nice chunk of the NW 1/4 of the state). I can't program, but I'm willing to do data input (once I'm shown). I can't say that my availability will be good after mid-to-late summer, but until then I've got some time.

[Bickendan]

I should toss in my hat to get this off the ground, data gathering and maintenance. I can generally take care of west coast areas (including BC), prefer Oregon.

[Scott5114]

If you desperately need help with OK/MO/KS I might be able to help, but if someone else wants dibs I'll yield to them (I don't have a whole lot of time so I don't want to definitively lock it down).

[rschen7754]

I might be able to contribute here and there. I do know programming (Java/C/C++/C#), databases, and some back-end server stuff. As far as roads, I'm most familiar with Southern California. I also founded the U.S. Roads project on Wikipedia, and served as a Wikimedia steward for a year (user rights, dealing with spam and trolls and other sensitive/difficult issues).

However, my work on Wikipedia takes up a lot of my free time; I just had to cut back on some of my responsibilities there, so I'm reluctant to promise a regular commitment right now.

[ntallyn]

I've been doing software development for quite a while; most of my experience is C++/Java. My bigger interest in helping is with the data and/or discussing algorithms/efficiency, as my availability is somewhat limited until the first weekend in May. But I'm willing to work on the coding side, if my skills can be useful there.

Nick

[vdeane]

There's probably some use.  Our current .list file parser is in C++.

[yakra]

I haven't officially weighed in in this thread yet, so here goes...

 • Project management: Sure. I've been here since the beginning, and have a good solid understanding of what's involved.
 • General programming (likely in Unix environments): "general programming" sounds vague enough, so I'll tentatively raise my hand. Hey, I'm running two flavours of Linux!
 • Web development: other people's abilities surely exceed mine. But I may be able to offer some JavaScript / GMaps API / HB pointers & tweaks...
 • Algorithms to analyze the data: I anticipate things will likely be written in PHP, which I'm not fluent in. But it has been on my backburner of things I want to learn, and maybe this project can help in that. I can probably suss things out to some degree by looking at examples of code. I can also see myself contributing by discussing things in pseudocode -- although my pseudocode looks like C++.
 • Highway system maintenance and development: I've continued to maintain the systems in AR, CT, KS, ME, ND, NE, NH, OK, RI, TX, and VT in the USA, and AB, MB, NB, NL, NS, and PE in Canada. Some new systems are forthcoming in these regions as well.
I'll also volunteer for review of new and existing systems, and am open to discussion of potentially reworking the way we do things WRT Peer Review.
 • As Oscar noted, I could also help with training of new team members, but I'm hesitant: with less time availability on my plate as when I was at my previous job in/before 2013, I may not be able to keep up with the commitment very well.
 • On the web side, I know some basic HTML and have picked up some JavaScript recently. I've dabbled with the GMaps API over the years as well, and made some HB type applications for my own use. I may be able to assist in getting a new HB running.

Of particular interest, I developed a JavaScript map generator with some help from vdeane. I shared the code with SSOWorld and he made some improvements, but I haven't really done any work since January 2nd. Nonetheless, it's a solid proof of concept, and a good ways toward implementing maps in the final product.

[froggie]

Since I live here now, I would like to take over Vermont.