The Virtual Emergency Operations Center or VEOC is the central location for managing the national Waze response to massive crisis events. (These include hurricanes, typhoons, mud and landslides, floods, tsunamis, winter storms, earthquakes, and large fires.) The VEOC is designed to complement and enhance a state or region's ability to handle the map changes required including the addition of road closures and emergency shelters. It is designed to allow editors from the community at large, regardless of rank or experience, the opportunity to help those in the affected area(s). The more severe the event, the more map changes are needed and, unfortunately, the more likely that locals would have no power or would have evacuated.
Mission & Benefits
VEOC's primary mission is to coordinate national efforts to assist local editors in responding to a major event when they are overwhelmed or incapacitated (either for safety reasons or otherwise) and unable to respond appropriately. It is critical that the map reflect the current conditions before, during, and after the crisis event to support the affected community. Wazers require accurate routing when evacuating (and when returning home afterwards). Activated emergency shelters are highlighted on the map to assist those who choose to remain in the area. First responders need to know the current status of roads to provide services to the community during and after the event.
- Opportunity to learn from new local communities and experienced editors.
- Strengthen relationships inside the community.
- Getting more people together and making the community stronger.
- Data is available after the event for analysis and reports
Communication
We have a dedicated server in Discord, Waze USA VEOC for communication. There are several channels created for each event: chat, closures, open, feeds, places.
This server is for
Due to the current flooding occurring in TN, the VEOC is going to WazeCon . Currently, local editors have the situation under control and are handling it within their channel on the SAT region server.
Admin Team
This dedicated team was created as a national team, independent of any particular region. This composition allows greater flexibility in the creation and maintenance of feeds, channels, etc needed for effective VEOC management.
- Head Event Coordinator: DrDisaster (NOR); Assisted by spedracr (SER)
- Closure Form & Sheet: crazycaveman (SAT ARC) owner; Maintenance assisted by dbsooner (SCR/SER), spedracr (SER)
- Form Filler Script: crazycaveman (SAT ARC) owner; Maintenance of closure form
- Additional editors with process knowledge include
- Driving79 (SER RC)
- karlcr9911 (SCR RC)
- Jakflash(SEC LC)
- spankdog (SER LC)
- itzwolf (SER ARC)
- grsmhiker (SAT MSM)
- jwe252 (SAT CM)
- LostRiver2008 (SER)
Tools
Scripts
It is highly recommended that all editors have the following installed
- Tampermonkey is needed for the installation of some scripts.
- Form Filler Script when activated, transfers information from the editor into related forms. It greatly Improves productivity and reduces the opportunity for errors.
- WME Government Boundaries superimposes county boundaries on the map and places the county name in the upper left corner with the city/state. This is very important to use to verify that you are locating and/or closing the correct road segment in the correct county. (Some road names are used in more than one county.)
Forms & Sheets
- VEOC - Closures Entry Form can be used by all editors. The data entered into this form is transferred to the closure sheet for action.
- VEOC Authorization Form for Closure Sheet Access (below) is used to request instant access to the sheet currently being used to track closures for events. Used by editors who have the ability to close segments.
- VEOC - Closures Tracking Sheet]is the google sheet currently being used to track closures for events.
Activating VEOC Response
A global or local Champ can request VEOC be activated for a region or areas of their country. I
Step 1 - Identify an area in need
Step 2 - Get the community involved
- (The high level editors can ensure the maps are being raided correctly and offer mentorship. Less experienced editors have a chance to gain knowledge and get to know the local community.)
Step 3 - Contact Waze
- As a local champ, you will contact Waze by submitting the MapRaid Request Form and share the following information which you have prepared, including Location, Dates and Editors involved.
Step 4 - Identify an area in need
It is suggested to have a users involve who span a range of editing levels. (The high level editors can ensure the maps are being edited correctly and offer mentorship.) (Less experienced editors have a chance to gain knowledge and get to know the local community.)
Step 5 - Get the community involved
- If you are not a Waze champ, contact your local champ to get things started. If you are a Waze Champ, begin by identifying people in your community who will want to raid with you.
Step 6 - Contact Waze
- As a local champ, you will contact Waze by submitting the MapRaid Request Form and share the following information which you have prepared, including Location, Dates and Editors involved.
Important Guidelines
(The organizers have not secured a publicly available source map that can be used as a reference tool. If one is located that can be helpful, your group leaders will pass it on through the Discord channels.
Please read the entire VEOC wiki. If you are still uncertain what to do about something you see on the map, please ask your group leader.
Remember: All commercial maps, including Google Maps, are prohibited as Waze sources. Privately owned data can not be used for Waze mapping. This is critical: Data found to have come from a non-approved source can cause Waze to lose all the contributed data in a large area."
Thank you for your help with the map.
The focus: adding segments
There are numerous challenges that limit what can be done for those who don't speak or read Chinese. Google Street View is not available in China, which removes one usable source of data for labeling street segments and Places.
As a result, raiders should focus on adding roads to enable routing in more areas. The GPS layer can help confirm streets as drivable if vehicles are not visible in the satellite imagery.
Connectivity
There are many aspects when we deal with connectivity. In the end, we all want the fastest drive to our destination. Therefore, we need to map roads. No road means no navigation. These roads need to be connected, so there is a route possible from one to the other. The more experienced you get, the more you can do to improve connectivity such as using road type, naming, geometry, and angles to improve routing and navigation instructions.
The first sub goal of connectivity is adding drivable roads. Roads are build up from segments, which need to be connected to function correctly. Always check if a junction is working correctly. Check the angles to ensure the driver gets appropriate (turn/keep) instructions.
A rough guideline to using road types
In some cases, there are brand new roads that do not yet have a name visible to drivers. Or the person who used the pave option did not leave a note for the name of the new road. In these cases, it is OK to leave the name of the road blank by marking "none" for the Street and City fields in the editor. But please make sure to choose the proper road type and confirm any other details you can to ensure the road appears correctly on the client app and enable routing.
- The main roads in a district or town should at least be set to PS (Primary Street).
- If segments will be used for through traffic or for longer distances connecting districts or towns, they should at least be mH (Minor Highway)
- Main interconnecting roads with fast traffic should at least be MH (Major Highway)
Always make sure a road is at least connected to the same level of road type or higher. Thus, Waze should be able to route from primary to primary (or higher), from minor to minor (or higher), from major to major (or higher), and from Freeway to Freeway. In other words, you should be able to continuously drive on the same or higher type of segments for the routing engine to use that road type in the calculations.
This means we need to sometimes make small roads a mH, for the possibility of calculating long distance routing. Please post a question if anything is unclear.
Adding Roads
If you notice any roads on the satellite layer that have not been added to the WME map, please first confirm that they exist before adding them. Make sure the road is complete, drivable, and is connected to the rest of the road network. Some clues you can use are:
- GPS layer showing Wazers are driving on the road.
- Satellite View on the road, showing it is in use
- Information from local drivers who have been there (this can be you if you have been there).
Some roads are partially completed. Before extending the road, make sure the "new" section is completed, drivable, and connected. If you are unsure about roads that were created by another editor before the MapRaid, DO NOT delete them without instructions from a local host.
It can help to do a visual check to ensure roads are suitable for driving rather than for pedestrians or bicycles only. You can turn off the Roads layer to have a proper view of the Satellite Imagery. If the roads appear too narrow for vehicles and if GPS shows no activity, you should reconsider adding the new roads.
NOTE: Freeways must be split into two one-way roads for best routing and navigation instructions results. Please see the image below for example.
Toll Roads
We add the Toll attribute ONLY at the Toll Booths. We do not mark it on every segment of the freeways. See this section for more information.
Road Locks
Places and Update Requests
Responding to URs and Place Update Requests will help provide more feedback on possible errors. There are not too many in this area — we want them to increase, because that means more people will be using Waze!
Any PURs also can be addressed. Language may be an issue, but they can be at least moderated for appropriate photos. Unless a local host advises otherwise, you can leave them unlocked for future action by another editor.
For any URs you do find on the map, a list of simple bilingual (Chinese/English) responses for the common categories appear below. It is wise to provide both because the reporter could be a tourist and would be at least able to get a translation more easily. Thanks to leocylau for providing them.
The protocol will be to wait four days for a response, post a reminder message, then close after four more days. If possible, solve the UR based on reports, GPS and navigation data. Any replies can be saved to a sheet for possible translation and action later.
The responses:
For General Error: In English: Volunteer responding - Waze did not send us enough information to fix your request. Would you please let us know what went wrong? Would you tell us your destination as you entered it into Waze? Thanks!
In Chinese: 志愿者回应 - Waze 没有提供足够资料来解决你的报告， 请具体描述出了什么问题， 并告诉我们你所输入的目的地。 谢谢！
For Turn not allowed:
In English:
Volunteer responding - Would you please let us know which turn was or should not be allowed and why? Please specify the street names at the intersection. Thanks!
In Chinese: 志愿者回应 - 请你告诉我们哪个转向是允许或不允许吗？请指出哪个交叉路口的街道名称。谢谢！
For Wrong driving direction:
In English:
Volunteer responding - Waze did not send us enough information to fix your request. Would you please let us know what went wrong with the route Waze gave you? Would you tell us your destination as you entered it into Waze? Thanks!
In Chinese: 志愿者回应 - Waze 没有提供足够资料来解决你的报告，请具体描述 Waze 给你的路线出了什么问题，并告诉我们你所输入的目的地。谢谢！
For Incorrect junction:
In English:
Volunteer responding - Waze did not send us enough information to fix your request. Would you please let us know which junction is incorrect and the street names of the intersection? Thanks!
In Chinese: 志愿者回应 - Waze 没有提供足够资料来解决你的报告，请指出哪个路口不正确及其连接的街道名称。谢谢！
Naming segments
If you know the city and Chinese language ability, the City field is entered in the Chinese/English format. A known street name is entered in Chinese for the Primary name field and English as the Alternate.
Chinese speakers should refer to the China wiki for further instructions and road types.
However, for most raiders who do not write or read Chinese, the None box can be checked on all fields other than Country.
If the street name is known, its English spelling can be entered as an Alternate with a blank Primary field. To do this, enter any word in the Primary name field and "apply." Then enter the English name in the Alt field and apply. Then edit the Primary name again and click the "None" box for the street field and apply. The Alternative name will remain on the segment while "No name" is set for the Primary field.
Mapping resources
Reference Links
The Basics
- New Editor Welcome Page
- Waze Map Editor
- Best Map Editing Practice
- Editing Manual
- How to make a Permalink
- All about the WME Chat
- Community Scripts and Tools
Recommended Tools for MapRaid
- Mapraid Overlay (Tampermonkey/Greasemonkey required). Many thanks to Glodenox for creating this tool.
Here is a guide to installation of the overlay.
- UR Comments - a tremendous time and labor saving tool with automation and integration with URO+, to help with working URs. Read the documentation. Tampermonkey / Greasemonkey required
- The WME Reference Sheet[PDF] is a printable double-sided tri-fold quick reference guide to some of the common topics used in WME.
- WME Magic is a plugin based framework to enhance editors, so they can be more productive.
- Chrome Installation Link -- Tampermonkey Required
- Other browsers are not supported
- WME Chat Addon is a script that improves the WME chat GUI. For a list of all the features check the thread here -- Tampermonkey/Greasemonkey required
Mapraid problem tracking
Spreadsheets and forms are being developed to help local editors track important map issues that can't be solved during the raid. These will be made available in the Discord communication channels.
Results
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Check back here after the raid is completed to see the results and achievements. |