"Marble offers several Map Themes already - some of them are based on OpenStreetMap Tile data. Many of them can be downloaded using KDE's Get Hot New Stuff feature. Have a look at the existing ones (Like "OpenStreetMap" (using Mapnik as well as OsmaRender), the "Hike and Bike" map, "OpenCycleMap", etc. Have a look at how map themes can be created using the wizard as well as by editing the dgml (xml) files.

There is a special map called TopOSM available based on OpenStreetMap which displays a nice topographic map of the US:

http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/TopOSM

http://toposm.com/us/index.html

Create a new map based on this service The new map needs to display the new map material and needs to have a proper icon (in the style of existing ones) including a name. The new map theme also needs to have a proper legend describing all the important colors and icons. The finished map theme needs to be ready for upload to the KDE GHNS service.

Since TopOSM only covers the US we should have some strategy to paint the rest of the world at least when zooming out: The suggestion is to take the 2 or 3 highest levels from the Natural Earth map and render it as a layer below the TopOSM layer. You can have a look at the "Hike & Bike" map in order to understand how this can be done (or just ask us on the mailing list or IRC).

Expected results: A new functional TopOSM map theme based on OpenStreetMap data.
Prerequisites: Knowledge of editing xml files, basic knowledge of Krita, Gimp or Photoshop for the legend."