Introduction to
OpenStreetMap
What is OpenStreetMap
- Planet wide digital map
- Built and maintained by a worldwide community
- Open Data (can be freely used, modified, and shared by anyone for any purpose)
You may have already used OpenStreetMap
- KFC
- Craigslist
- FourSquare
- Probably many more..
OpenStreetMap
is a dataset
Changing OpenStreetMap
To change what you see, you need to edit the underlying data.
To change the data, you need to use an editor.
The iD Editor
Use on openstreetmap.org
JOSM
Another popular editor is JOSM, it is an extensible editor for OpenStreetMap.
It is more complicated than iD, and does not work from a web browser.
However, JOSM can be faster to use than iD, and has more capabilities (mutiple data layers, filters, ...).
Legal Details
You hold the copyright for the data which you add to OpenStreetMap.
OpenStreetMap is licenced under the
Open
Database License (ODbL).
You are free:
- To Share the database
- To Create works from the database
- To Adapt the database
As long as you:
- Attribute any public use of the database.
- Share-Alike, you must offer derived works and adapted databases under the ODbL.
- Keep open, you must distribute the database without technical restrictions.
An OpenStreetMap Map
One option is the map on OpenStreetMap.org
Other applications like OSMAND provide offline maps for Android,
and iOS devices
Haiti Earthquake in 2010
OpenStreetMap contributors provided essential maps to Search and Rescue and Relief teams responding to the Haiti earthquake.