Key:source

+/- source Description For indicating the source of information of anything added to the OSM database. Group Annotation Element help Useful combination Implies Used combinations in World Australia/Oceania Europe (list) Asia (list) Central America (list) South America (list) Africa (list)

The source tag is a meta-tag, used for categorising the source of information added to the database. It is not usually used for rendering, but it assists with the verification of data, and informs future editors about the origins of the data they are modifying.

More details about the source can be added using the source_ref tag.

The source tag can be used on all objects, and can also be used on changesets, to specify the source for a group of edits.

It can also be used as a namespace prefix to specify the source of a single attribute. For example, to attribute a source for a name tag, use source:name=photograph, or to indicate the reason for speedlimits (sign, roadmarkings, implicit speedlimits) use source:maxspeed=*.

If the tag already has a namespace prefix (e.g. mf:name=Broadway then use mf.source:name=photograph).

Use of the image tag implies source=photograph. It is not necessary to add a source tag in this case if this is the only source of information for the object. See also Geotagging Source Photos.

If a particular source is later found to infringe copyright (e.g. some source that was believed to be OK is later discovered or ruled to be copyrighted) then it would be possible to easily remove all OSM data originating from that source.

Reliability

The usefulness of the source tag is reduced in areas where data from many sources has been added. After many diverse edits the data may depend on so many sources that it can not be accurately attributed. Also, some editors fail to update the source tag when they edit objects, leaving the source tag reflecting only the original source of the object. Examining the history of the object to see when the tag was added and when it was changed may assist in ensuring the source is correctly understood.

Annotation

Providing further information about tag values for other mappers and in some cases also for users. See Annotations for more details.

Key	Value	Element	Comment	Rendering	Photo
attribution	User defined		Attribution to originator if required
description	User defined		Text that might be viewable to the end user (perhaps using a search system or a map with pop-ups)
email	User defined		E-Mail address associated with an object
fax	User defined		Fax number associated with an object
fixme	User defined		A description to yourself or to other mappers of a (possible) error in the map
image	URL		Reference to an image (use the "source_ref" key below when the image is referencing the source of the element)
note	User defined		A note to yourself or to other mappers.
phone	User defined		Telephone number associated with an object
source	extrapolation		Extension of information from a known source
source	historical		from out-of-copyright mapping or other historical document
source	image		photograph or video
source	knowledge		Local or common knowledge
source	survey		gpx track or other physical survey
source	User defined
source	voice		Voice recordings, eg dictaphone
source:name	User defined		Source used to gather name information eg. for street names
source:ref	User defined		Reference data source eg. for road numbers
source_ref	User defined		To record the URI, source reference (eg Landsat) or other link to physical sources
url	URL		URL associated with an object - Use more precise key like website, image or wikipedia where applicable!
website	URL		Website associated with an object
wikipedia	URL or article title		Wikipedia article associated with an object

This table is a wiki template with a default description in English. Editable here.

JOSM Annotation Presets

 <item name="Data Source">
   <label text="Way/Segment/Node Data Source"/>
   <combo key="source" 
          text="Source"
          values="landsat,photograph,local knowledge,common knowledge,dictaphone,extrapolation,<other - please specify>"/>
 </item>
 <item name="Street Name Source">
   <label text="Street Name Source"/>
   <combo key="source:name" 
          text="Source" 
          values="photograph,local knowledge,common knowledge,dictaphone,<other - please specify>"/>
 </item>
 <item name="Road Number Source">
   <label text="Road Number Source"/>
   <combo key="source:ref" 
          text="Source"
          values="photograph,local knowledge,common knowledge,dictaphone,<other - please specify>"/>
 </item>

Imports

Many bulk imports have their own unique source tag. Users doing imports are advised to give notice of their intended actions on the Import Mailing List.

Special source tags

• source=AND Data donated in 2007 by AND Automotive Navigation Data, see the AND Data wiki page.
• source=DOP_LVA
  • source=DOP_LVA_BY_01 - (pilot scheme from 2008-12-12 to 2009-03-31) extending osm by digital orthophotos provided by the land surveying office of Bavaria, Germany

When tracing from aerial or satellite imagery, the imagery provider is often given as the source, e.g. yahoo, bing, landsat, etc.

Source tags used by 'Bots

• Source=PGS - Almien coastlines (PGS)
• Source=GSHHS - Almien coastlines (GSHHS) (not used much)
• Source=waypoint - Waypoint upload tool [1]

See also

• Meanings for source tag values