Sergey Sinitsyn is a candidate of biological sciences, who graduated from the psychology department of Moscow State University, but eventually connected his life with video art and works with the famous art group AES + F and artist Irina Nakhova. At the same time, he corrects the map in OpenStreetMap. Why do you need to draw tracks, is it worth it to come to the community, and how is OSM connected with interesting life stories - he told all this in an interview.
- How and when did you meet the OpenStreetMap project?
- The first acquaintance happened in 2010, when I went to Lake Baikal. Then I had an iPhone 3GS. For navigation, I used the MotionX GPS application, where OSM was also present as a substrate. I remember even trying to record a GPS track of the trail from the village of Arshan to the mountain lake Khobok , then to put it on a map, but failed - the phone sat down and still this track is hanging on my conscience.
The second - a couple of years ago, when my daughter was two years old, and she and I began to walk around our area. She had a wonderful time - she played on the playground, but I did not know what to do with myself at this time. At first I wanted to install the Pokemon Go game on my phone, but it was not installed. Then I remembered OSM and thought that I could take part in this project: walk the streets, look at the surrounding objects, add them to the map and be useful to someone. In an extreme case, my edits would be useful to me myself to lay a short route and get somewhere faster. So I began to mapit and gradually got involved. I even got a specific habit - now when I walk down the street I look at everything around: urns, benches and everything else, so that later I can put it on the map. This is especially fascinating when you go somewhere where you have never been before.
By the way, I edit the map in the iD online editor. And the first time he made mistakes, because he did not know what a “shift” was: he opened a map and transferred the houses so that they were like on a satellite. Then corrected. I don’t go to JOSM, because I want mapping to remain a hobby for me. iD promotes leisurely work. I'm afraid that if I master JOSM, then it, as a more professional tool, will affect my involvement. Then I’ll be completely drawn in :)
- What fascinated you with the mapping process?
- It is hard to say. Once I read one scientific work in which the author came to the conclusion that the craving for drawing maps is caused by a genetic predisposition. What it is characterized by - I do not know. I think this is a coincidence of personality traits: the style of thinking, observation, the desire to do everything accurately and accurately, so that it later benefits someone. In addition, you can map in OSM almost everywhere and always: I saw something new, took out my phone and marked it on the map.
And I perfectly understand that it will never be possible to describe the terrain perfectly. Something is always not enough: tags, time, knowledge and something else. To delve into the detailing of tags, objects, micromapping can be infinite. Therefore, for me personally, drawing a map in OSM is a pleasure.
- What do you like about OSM? I do not like?
- I like to introduce various transformer substations and fire hydrants. I once read that their numbers help orient fans of some night races or something similar. As a result, now in the Airport area (Moscow) one of the most complete maps of these substations if you look at Overpass. It is curious that in Moscow there are few ground fire hydrants. Abroad, I constantly celebrate them. I don’t know why I like them, perhaps because they are visible from afar, and it seems that they can be useful in an emergency. I hope they come in handy for someone.
- Is it worth it to come to the community if you started drawing a map in OSM?
- Many mappers communicate exclusively with tags and satellite images. But, as it seems to me, in any case, sooner or later, you will run into the community: either you will have questions, how to mark this or that object, or “watchmen” will have questions for you if you “broke” something.
The question is different - what is a community? These are those who are sitting in the RU-OSM chat on Telegram? Or on the forum? For example, I rarely visit the latter and have absolutely no idea what is going on there. Although there is also a community that is interested in OSM. We are all located in different cities, and because of the distances it’s hard to meet everyone together. Perhaps because of this, someone also does not feel involved.
The main thing is to draw a map and have fun. I think it’s worth going into the chat in Telegram when there is a specific question that needs an answer. In most cases, the community responds to your request and helps. True, it is often possible to get two opposing opinions when asked, and then think again. Or you can just go into your free time and see what is interesting. Understand that not only are you mapping, but also your comrades, “feel” the community.
- Do you use OSM for work or in your personal life?
- No work required. But in life ... I’m joking to myself that I don’t need to be afraid to use OSM, because I myself make corrections to it. Of course, in 2GIS Moscow is rendered much better, but when you go on the OSM map, you immediately see where it is not drawn and you can make corrections to make it more accurate. From the sofa, this is not always visible. OSM is also very convenient to use when hiking. Before I go somewhere, I open the OSM, compare the map with a satellite image, and if something is missing, I finish it, and put “fix me” somewhere, so as not to forget to clarify this on the ground. As a result, I usually get the most complete map of all that you can navigate. But here a conflict arises. If I painted everything beautifully and well, roads and various objects appeared, it means that much more people will know about these wonderful corners of nature, and the smallest of them will occupy the parking lot. Sometimes you want to “tear down” all these roads.
- Why do I need to draw tracks in OSM?
- I repeat - for pleasure. You don’t get paid for it. You are wasting your time. Somehow you have to justify yourself. How? That we still haven’t drawn millions of roads and I don’t have to get up from my computer until the card is perfect? Not. The card will never be perfect.
Based on the OSM drawing, it seems to me that you can build some kind of scientific work from the series “Why do people do ...”. Someone collects stamps, someone plays games, and someone draws a map. Some basic things for this are one - getting pleasure, spending leisure time, switching attention.
Why are these cards interesting for these particular people? This requires more serious scientific research. If it also includes physiology, to compare the reaction of the body with other pleasures, then this is absolutely cool. Please note that the following thing often slips in a chat room: the mapper shares what he told about his hobby to friends, but they were not interested, so for some reason this did not fit them.
By the way, another interesting question - what does the mapper like more: the mapping process itself, when you sit and draw a map, or the feeling when you clicked on the “Send” button and saw your edits in OSM?
- What do you like?
- Probably the mapping process itself. Because as soon as you clicked the “Send” button, you understand that everything is already - it’s time to return to other matters.
- You took part in a cart meeting this year, during which you went around and painted the village of Kommunarka in Moscow. Why did you decide to take part?
- If you sit at home and draw a map by satellite, you can skip a lot of interesting things. You can always gather strength, get up and go outside. But I was not only at this meeting: I visited "Circuitry", the 15th anniversary of OSM, I’m talking to you right now. I understand that it’s hard to get up and go somewhere, but it's worth it. As a result, you will only be glad that you somehow expanded your horizons, and did not limit yourself to the picture on the screen.
At a meeting, you see exactly the same people as you who draw tracks and enjoy it. It is always more fun to do this together, feeling that somewhere else people are sitting and drawing, it supports.
- How do loved ones react to your hobby?
“Perhaps you wanted to ask how I explain to them why I need to run away for a couple of minutes to see what is there?” With understanding. My family only encounters cards when hiking. Last year, OsmAnd added navigation along the rivers (perhaps at my request), it became very convenient to estimate the distance and time when traveling by kayak, which everyone is happy about.
- What would you say to a beginner?
- Perhaps you shouldn’t strongly motivate yourself with thoughts “I help others”, because you are unlikely to receive personal gratitude, and maybe you will be disappointed because of this.
- Maybe there is some interesting story related to OSM?
- There is a sad story: so many own GPS tracks and notes have not yet been made ... When will all this be processed? Where to get so much time?
But seriously, sometimes I mapple based on books. I read something, then I climb onto the map and start drawing. In particular, for example, mapil according to the book "Sannikov Land". Our northern islands are described there. The names indicated in the book, of course, do not include. I draw only what is visible from the satellite. Fortunately, these islands are almost deserted.
Studying the history of these islands, I found information that in the 20s of the last century there was a meteorological station. Then I came across the digitized diaries of a polar explorer of those years and pictures of this station. Sometimes I look at a photo of Artemy Lebedev from his travels. By the way, I wrote to him and asked: can I use his pictures to refine the data in OSM. He allowed.
OSM is more than just drawing houses or tracks. These are more stories! For crumbs, you collect data. Let's say a closed island, where only scientists, look at what they have there and how it is located. I understand that no one will ever need this, because there are only three buildings and two gatehouses, but I'm curious. Along the way, I come across some memories, interesting stories and human destinies.
Somehow I accidentally came across a specific photo of the city of Egvekinot in Chukotka. I decided to save a little this city. I saw that there is a ski lift, I began to look for information to contribute. On the forum of this city, I found touching memories of a friend who described how people started skiing in this place in the 70s when the Armenian coach Galimulin Hasan Zalimovich arrived there, who encouraged the boys to practice this sport. Gradually, new people appear on the forum who write that the trainer still lives in this city. After a few more pages, the author of the post reports: he found the trainer's phone number and called him.
Thanks to some random photograph of the city, I started to map, and then a beautiful life story was revealed to me through a ski lift in a distant Chukchi city. Isn't that cool?
Communication of Russian OpenStreetMap participants is in the Telegram chat room and on the forum .
There are also groups on social networks VKontakte , Facebook , but they mainly publish news.
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Previous interviews: Natalia Kozlovskaya , Victor Vyalichkin , Ivan aka BANO.notIT , Anton Belichkov , Elena Balashova , Ilya Zverev , Timofey Subbotin , Sergey Golubev .