Map Making Overview
From OpenStreetMap Wiki
Mapping makes up the bulk of the workload of OpenStreetMap, and falls into two stages. First, and most fun, is getting out and about collecting geographic data. There are many ways to do so, for walkers, cyclists and drivers. When you've got some results, you need to add your results to the central OSM database using one of the editors. This is when you get to add paths, roadnames, postboxes - and pretty much anything else you like!
When that's done, you can sit back, relax, and view the results of your work. Or else head back outside, and go map some more!
Contents |
Preparation
There's a few things you need to do before starting mapping. For more details on signing up for accounts, joining up to the mailing lists, and some background on the project, see the Beginners' Guide page.
Mapping
- The main map - see what's already done around your area.
- Mapping techniques - a comprehensive guide to different ways of collecting data.
- Map Features - The most common tags are found on this page. Reading this before you go out gives you an idea of what things we currently map, but it's not compulsory to map everything on the list! Please also see the Feature Index!
- Upload - Uploading your GPS tracklogs to the server.
Getting Together to Map
- Current Events
- Mapping Weekend Howto
- Mapping projects - find projects in your region.
- OSM User Groups - Find an OSM group in your area.
- Meetings - agendas and summaries of meetings (old 2006)
Editing
- Before you start Editing, learn here about Copyright.
- Editing - a comprehensive guide to editing.
- Tagging - how to tag map data, for example specify a road name, road type or public right of way.
- Map Features - Again! Your reference to all the different tagging available.
- Change monitoring - Stay informed what other mappers do in your area of interest.
- Found a bug on some software tool? Add a ticket to the TRAC so developers get the word.
Uploading data from other sources
If you have public domain data from other sources (not a GPS device), you can use API v0.6 to upload data directly. Using curl to upload data (outdated) provides one such example.
- POI-Upload - Uploading your POIs to the server.
- Bulk Importing - See how to add shapefiles and more
Quality Assurance
The possibilities to improve and correct data in OSM are listed here: Quality Assurance.
Results!
I'm done now - I want to see my map!
Then go to the Map Usage page to see all the fun things you can do with the OSM map!!
Note: Map Usage is a first attempt to get more structure in the Using OpenStreetMap page.
Fun Stuff
- OSM purity self-test - Are you addicted to OSM?
- Mapping accidents - A few comical crashes. Take care!
