Featured tile layers/Guidelines for new tile layers

The following page outlines a policy for the process of adding of a new tile layer for the osm.org website. This content has evolved from guidelines recorded in a SWG meeting on 4 November 2010 and will be presented to the board once contributions from the SWG have been finallised. It is anticipated that this proposal be put to the community for comments before a final decision is made.

We, the Strategic Working Group have put together this proposal for a policy regarding the adding of new tile layer service to the openstreetmap.org website.

Acceptance of an additional layer for the main page is not automatic and must be assessed on a case-by-case basis using the following criteria as a guide.

The Strategic Working Group is not the body carrying out the individual assessment.

• Acceptance, if any, must be based on the following hard criteria.
  • Internally supported
     The service provider / author must be in favor of having their tiles on OSM.org
• Acceptance, if any, should be based on the following soft / arbitrary criteria.
  • Unique
     The proposed tile layer should offer something unique in approach or execution.
     This for example could be based on particular theme or created using a particular set of software/technology which is not currently represented.
  • Global scope and coverage
     Proposed tile layer should cover the globe.
  • Interesting
     This hugely arbitrary criteria includes pleasing aesthetics, social significance and benefit, humour, timeliness, newsworthiness, appeal to the community and many other arbitrary value judgments.
  • Capable of meeting traffic demands
     Proposed tile layer service should be capable of accepting traffic volume from OSM.
    
  • Reliable service
     Proposed tile layer service should be reliable.
     Reliable in terms of what is to be expected (e.g. styles, detail of map data rendering)
  • Non-commercial
     Non-commercial services would be preferred.
  • Free and Open
     Free and Open style and stacks preferred.
  • Up to date data
     Services maintaining minutely updates preferred.

Additional notes:

• Requests for new layers to go to the Technical Working Group who will use these guidelines & implement the change.
• There is no current limit on the number of layers (until this becomes a significant issue).
• Layers are not guaranteed a permanent place on the map, they may be removed at any time.
• If a large number of new layer requests is being made, the strategy will have to be re-evaluated at that time.