Beginners Guide 1.3
From OpenStreetMap Wiki
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Creating/Editing OSM data
OSM's data is made up from the following elements:
- Nodes: The dots that are used to mark specific locations (such as a post box) or for drawing segments between.
- Ways: An ordered list of nodes, displayed as connected by line segments. They are used to describe roads, paths etc.
- Closed Ways: Closed ways are ways which go in a complete loop. They are used to describe areas like parks, lakes, islands or buildings.
- Relations: When different ways are linked to each other, but do not represent the same physical thing, a relation is used to describe the role of each way. They are used to describe things like cycling routes, turn restrictions and areas with holes.
- Beginners Guide 1.3.1 - General tips about converting a GPS trace into a normal curved section of road
All these elements can carry tags, describing name, type of road etc.
You have a choice of two main editors:
- Potlatch This is the easiest editor to get started with and is available directly from the 'edit' tab.
- JOSM This one is more powerful that Potlatch and is preferred by many experienced contributors but needs to be downloaded separately and takes a bit more effort to get started with.
