Automated edits/OSM Power Grid Tools

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OSM Power Grid Tools

OSM Power Grid Tools is a local-first tool for exploring, visualising, reviewing and improving electric power grid data in OpenStreetMap, with an initial focus on Turkey.

The main goal of the project is to support better OpenStreetMap power mapping in Turkey by providing a practical review environment for transmission lines, distribution networks, substations, transformers, power plants, generators, towers, poles, underground cables and related power infrastructure.

The tool is designed as a Chrome Manifest V3 extension. It uses Overpass API, MapLibre GL JS, IndexedDB snapshots, GeoJSON/KML import and export, and a unified PowerGridFeature data model to make OSM power grid data easier to inspect at country, region and local scale.

This page documents the tool, the intended Turkey-focused power grid review workflow, the proposed semi-automated tag consistency improvements, the consultation process, opt-out mechanism, data model, import/export rules, changeset management and contact information.

Purpose

This page describes the OSM Power Grid Tools project and its use for improving the OpenStreetMap power grid dataset in Turkey.

Main objectives:

  • provide a dedicated review environment for OSM power grid data in Turkey
  • make transmission-level power infrastructure easier to inspect
  • support review of 154 kV and 400 kV power grid corridors
  • visualise power lines, substations, transformers, power plants, generators, towers, poles and cables in a single interface
  • support review of wind, solar, hydro, thermal and industrial power connections
  • provide visual and statistical summaries for OSM power contributors
  • help contributors better understand the Turkish power grid structure in OpenStreetMap
  • improve consistency of selected power-grid-related tags such as name=* and operator=* where appropriate
  • support careful, human-reviewed, small-batch improvements to OSM power grid data

Communication and consultation

The project is discussed publicly with the OpenStreetMap community before performing any semi-automated or bulk tag consistency work.

Consultation records:

Comments, questions, opt-out requests and suggested improvements can be posted in the forum topic above or sent directly to the operator listed in the Documentation section.

Documentation

Item Description
Who Changes are performed by OSM user OSM_PGM_TR after community consultation. Contact: OSM user page.
Motivation The Turkish power grid is substantially mapped in OpenStreetMap. Some power-grid-related tags benefit from consistent spelling, casing and operator naming. Improving these values makes the data easier to read, easier to compare and easier to analyse.
Scope Existing OSM objects with power=* tags in Turkey. The initial focus is on selected name=* and operator=* values of power grid objects.
Geography Turkey. Work is grouped by province or district-sized areas where practical.
Object types Nodes, ways and relations tagged with power=*, including lines, cables, substations, transformers, plants, generators, towers, poles and related power infrastructure.
Algorithm For each node, way or relation with a power=* tag, candidate values in name=* and operator=* are reviewed for Turkish spelling and casing consistency. Example: NAZİLLİ TM may become Nazilli TM. No geometry is changed by this tag consistency workflow.
Human review Candidate changes are reviewed before upload. The tool is intended to support mapper review rather than fully unattended editing.
Tags changed Initial workflow: name=* and operator=* only. Other tags may be reviewed in the tool but are not part of the initial tag consistency workflow unless separately documented.
Tags not changed Geometry, object type, node membership, way structure, relation membership and unrelated tags are not changed by the initial tag consistency workflow.
Consultation Public discussion is available at the forum and talk-tr links listed in Communication and consultation.
Schedule Proposed first run: once, starting 2026-06-15, over a period of 7 days.
Batch size Maximum 200 features per changeset.
Opt-out Objects tagged with mechanical_edit=no are skipped. See Opt-out.
Changeset tags Each changeset is tagged with descriptive metadata as listed in Changeset management.

Opt-out

OpenStreetMap objects are community data and are not owned by individual users. However, this project provides a clear object-level and discussion-level opt-out mechanism for contributors who do not want specific objects to be modified by this workflow.

To opt out a specific object, add the following tag to the object before the edit is performed: 

mechanical_edit=no

Objects with this tag are skipped by the OSM Power Grid Tools workflow.

Additional opt-out options:

  • post a message in the Community Forum discussion
  • contact OSM_PGM_TR through OSM messaging
  • provide a list of objects or areas that should be skipped
  • add a clear note=* or fixme=* explaining why a value should not be normalised

The following cases are also treated conservatively:

  • objects with mechanical_edit=no
  • objects with unusual or ambiguous name=* or operator=* values
  • objects where Turkish proper-case conversion may change the meaning
  • objects with names containing acronyms, abbreviations or technical references
  • objects recently discussed by local mappers

Organised Editing Status

This activity is performed by a single individual using a local review tool. It is not currently organised by a company, institution or mapping team.

If the activity becomes part of a coordinated team, paid mapping programme or organisation-led mapping project in the future, this page will be updated accordingly and the relevant organised editing documentation will be added.

Changeset management

Changes are uploaded in small, reviewable batches.

Rule Value
Maximum features per changeset 200
Geographic grouping One administrative area where practical, usually province or district scale
Object scope Existing OSM power grid objects only
Initial tag scope name=* and operator=*
Geometry changes None in the initial tag consistency workflow
Upload style Human-reviewed, small-batch changesets
Review before upload Yes
Opt-out support Yes, via mechanical_edit=no and public discussion

Recommended changeset tags:

Changeset tag Example value
created_by OSM Power Grid Tools
comment Improve Turkish power grid name/operator consistency
source OpenStreetMap; existing OSM tags reviewed with OSM Power Grid Tools
mechanical yes
bot no
locale tr_TR
consultation https://community.openstreetmap.org/t/osm-enerji-sebekesi-araclari-osm-power-grid-tools/144237
project OSM Power Grid Tools

Project summary

OSM Power Grid Tools is a local-first Chrome extension for working with OpenStreetMap power data. It can download OSM power features through Overpass API, import GeoJSON and KML files, normalise all sources into a unified PowerGridFeature model and present the data through a map, data table, summary cards, audit view and export tools.

Core capabilities:

  • interactive MapLibre GL JS map
  • voltage-based styling
  • element-type filtering
  • Overpass API power data download
  • grid-based chunk processing for large bounding boxes
  • local IndexedDB snapshot storage
  • GeoJSON and KML import/export
  • searchable and sortable data table
  • quality indicators for fields such as voltage, name and operator
  • highlight and detail panel for selected features
  • OSM object links
  • Turkey-oriented voltage grouping
  • combined review of lines, cables, substations, power plants, towers and poles
  • local-first review workflow without a backend server

Turkey power grid context

Turkey has a multi-layered electric power system including an extra-high-voltage transmission backbone, regional substations, distribution networks, renewable power plants, thermal power plants, hydroelectric plants and industrial energy supply areas.

The following voltage levels are especially useful when reviewing OSM power data in Turkey:

Voltage class Turkey context Typical OSM use
400 kV / 380 kV National transmission backbone power=line, power=substation, power=tower
154 kV Regional transmission and major grid connections power=line, power=substation, power=transformer
66 kV and similar levels Regional or historical sub-transmission structures power=line, power=substation
34.5 kV / 33 kV Medium-voltage distribution and power plant connections power=minor_line, power=cable, power=substation, power=transformer
15 kV / 10 kV / 6.3 kV Urban and industrial distribution levels power=minor_line, power=cable, power=transformer
0.4 kV Low-voltage distribution power=pole, power=minor_line, power=transformer

Turkey OSM power grid statistics

According to OpenInfraMap statistics for Turkey, the following power infrastructure is mapped in OpenStreetMap:

Indicator Value Description
Power lines mapped in OSM 71,208 km Total visible power line length in Turkey
Power plants mapped in OSM 1,735 Power plants and generating facilities visible in OSM
Mapped power plant output 87,734 MW Total mapped output from OSM power plant data
132–219 kV power lines 33,536 km Strong indicator for the 154 kV voltage family
330–549 kV power lines 24,108 km Strong indicator for the 380/400 kV transmission backbone
25–51 kV power lines 3,573 km Indicator for the 34.5 kV / medium-voltage class
Power lines without voltage tag 9,762 km Review category for voltage tagging
Official transmission line length 76,805 km Reference size of the transmission system
Official transformer substation count 817 Reference count of transmission-level transformer substations
Official installed generation capacity 125,078.1 MW Reference total installed generation capacity

The 71,208 km of power lines mapped in OSM and the 76,805 km official transmission line length provide a useful country-scale comparison for Turkey. The mapped OSM power line length corresponds to approximately 92.7% of the official transmission line length reference.

[1] [2]

Power plants by source

OpenInfraMap shows the following OSM power plant data for Turkey:

Source Mapped output Mapped count
Hydro 26,364 MW 530
Gas 22,760 MW 56
Coal 21,236 MW 35
Wind 7,721 MW 183
Nuclear 4,800 MW 1
Solar 3,903 MW 777
Geothermal 414 MW 48
Biogas 188 MW 26
Waste 123 MW 40
Biomass 48.72 MW 3
Oil 5 MW 5
Total 87,734 MW 1,735

This shows a substantial amount of mapped power generation infrastructure in OpenStreetMap, especially for hydro, gas, coal, wind, solar and geothermal generation.

OSM power elements reviewed by the tool

The tool is designed to review the following OSM power elements in the Turkish power grid context:

OSM tag Turkey context Typical use
power=line High-voltage overhead transmission line 154 kV, 400 kV and major grid connections
power=minor_line Medium- and low-voltage overhead distribution line 34.5 kV, 15 kV, 10 kV and rural distribution
power=cable Underground, underwater or submarine power cable Urban MV cables, power plant connections, industrial supply lines
power=substation Substation or switchyard Transmission substations, distribution substations, plant switchyards
power=transformer Voltage transformation equipment Power transformers, distribution transformers, generator transformers
power=switch Switching equipment Circuit breakers, disconnectors and switching devices
power=switchgear Switchgear or group of switchgear equipment GIS/AIS switchyards and switchgear bays
power=converter AC/DC or special power conversion facility HVDC and industrial converter installations
power=compensator Reactive power or voltage support equipment Capacitor banks, compensation equipment, STATCOM, SVC
power=generator Individual generation unit Turbine, generator, solar array or generating equipment
power=plant Power generation facility Wind, solar, hydro, thermal, geothermal and nuclear plants
power=tower High-voltage line support tower 154 kV and 400 kV transmission towers
power=pole Utility pole carrying power lines MV/LV distribution poles
power=circuit Logical power circuit relation Circuit continuity and multi-circuit line review
power=terminal Line or cable termination point Substation connections and cable/line transitions
line=bay Substation bay connection Switchyard bay connections

Focus areas for Turkey

OSM Power Grid Tools is designed to support the following Turkey-focused power mapping review areas:

Focus area Description Main OSM elements
400 kV transmission backbone National extra-high-voltage interconnected grid power=line, power=tower, power=substation
154 kV transmission network Regional transmission, generation and large-consumer connections power=line, power=substation, power=transformer
Substations Connection points of the transmission and distribution systems power=substation, power=transformer, power=switchgear
Wind power connections Wind farms and collection substations power=plant, power=generator, power=substation, power=line
Solar power connections Solar plants and their grid connections power=plant, power=generator, power=cable, power=substation
Hydroelectric power connections Hydroelectric plants, switchyards and grid connections power=plant, power=generator, power=substation, power=line
Thermal power plants Large generation facilities and high-voltage connections power=plant, power=generator, power=substation, power=line
Industrial energy supply areas Energy supply points of organised industrial zones and large industrial consumers power=substation, power=cable, power=line, power=transformer
Distribution networks Medium- and low-voltage overhead and underground networks power=minor_line, power=cable, power=pole, power=transformer

Application architecture

OSM Power Grid Tools processes data through the following pipeline: 

Overpass API / GeoJSON / KML
        ↓
Normalizer / Importer
        ↓
PowerGridFeature
        ↓
IndexedDB Snapshot Store
        ↓
MapLibre map layers + data table + audit summary + export

This architecture allows power grid data to be stored locally, filtered quickly, reviewed through a unified model and exported for GIS or analysis workflows.

Main modules

Module Description Contribution
Overpass pipeline Downloads OSM power data by bounding box and filters Fast acquisition of power grid data for Turkey
Chunk system Splits large areas into smaller processing units Controlled processing of large bounding box queries
Voltage normalizer Normalises voltage values into visual voltage groups Supports review of 154 kV, 400 kV and medium-voltage classes
OSM normalizer Converts OSM nodes, ways and relations into PowerGridFeature objects Provides a unified data model
IndexedDB storage Stores snapshots and features locally Enables backend-free local use
Snapshot model Saves each download or import as a separate dataset Enables dataset comparison and reuse
Audit system Produces tag and geometry indicators Supports data review and quality control
Import/export Supports GeoJSON and KML data exchange Connects the tool to GIS and analysis workflows
MapLibre map layers Provides styling by voltage, source and element group Enables visual review and rapid exploration
PowerGridFeature model Represents power elements in a shared schema Base model for analysis, filtering, export and tables

PowerGridFeature data model

The PowerGridFeature model represents OSM power objects in a common schema. It allows OSM data, GeoJSON imports and KML imports to be reviewed in the same map and table interface.

Field Type / example Description
id way/12345 Unique local feature identifier.
type node, way, relation OSM element type or normalised source element type.
osmType line, substation Value of the power=* tag where available.
osmId numeric OSM ID Original OSM object ID.
elementType line, cable, plant Normalised element type used by the application.
elementGroup lines, cables, substations Higher-level display group used for filtering and map styling.
geometry GeoJSON geometry Point, LineString, Polygon or MultiGeometry used by the map.
bbox [minLon,minLat,maxLon,maxLat] Optional bounding box for map fitting and spatial filtering.
name text Value of name=* where available.
operator text Value of operator=* where available.
voltageRaw 154000, 380000 Original value of voltage=*.
voltagePrimary 400000 Value of voltage:primary=* for transformer-related objects.
voltageSecondary 154000 Value of voltage:secondary=* for transformer-related objects.
voltageGroup HV 154 kV, EHV 400 kV, Unknown Normalised voltage group used for styling, filtering and statistics.
frequency 50 Value of frequency=* where available.
cables numeric/text Value of cables=* for cable or line detail.
circuits numeric/text Value of circuits=* for multi-circuit line review.
wires numeric/text Value of wires=* for conductor or bundle information.
line text Value of line=* for line detail, such as bay or busbar structures.
substation text Value of substation=* for substation classification.
plantSource wind, solar, hydro Value of plant:source=*.
generatorSource wind, solar, gas Value of generator:source=*.
source osm-overpass, geojson-import, kml-import Source channel used to create the local feature.
countryCode TR ISO country code used by the project settings.
snapshotId UUID/text Local dataset snapshot identifier.
tags key-value map Full original OSM tag set or imported tag set.
quality.score 0–100 Local review score used by the tool.
quality.missingVoltage true/false Indicates whether voltage information is missing.
quality.missingName true/false Indicates whether name information is missing.
quality.missingOperator true/false Indicates whether operator information is missing.
quality.invalidGeometry true/false Indicates whether geometry could not be used reliably in the local tool.

This model makes it possible to review lines, cables, power plants, substations, towers, poles and substation equipment in the same map and table interface.

Voltage groups for Turkey

Suggested visual voltage groups for Turkey:

Group Turkey context Example voltage values
LV Low voltage 400, 230
MV Medium-voltage distribution 6300, 10000, 15000, 33000, 34500
Sub-transmission Regional intermediate voltage levels 66000
HV 154 kV Main transmission level 154000
EHV 400 kV National extra-high-voltage backbone 380000, 400000
Unknown Review category Empty or non-standard values

Import and export rules

OSM Power Grid Tools supports GeoJSON and KML import/export for local review and analysis workflows.

Format Direction Use Licence and attribution handling
GeoJSON Import User-provided local review layer The user is responsible for ensuring that any imported non-OSM data is compatible with OSM use before using it for OSM editing decisions.
GeoJSON Export Local GIS analysis, review and sharing Export metadata includes application name, export time, source, licence, attribution, filters and feature count. OSM-derived exports preserve OpenStreetMap attribution and ODbL context.
KML Import Local visual comparison and review layer Imported KML is treated as a local working layer. Non-OSM KML data must not be copied into OSM unless licence compatibility is confirmed.
KML Export Visual review in external GIS or mapping tools Exported KML includes OSM attribution in placemark descriptions and preserves source metadata where applicable.

Import/export principles:

  • OpenStreetMap data remains attributed to OpenStreetMap contributors.
  • OSM-derived exports keep OSM attribution and ODbL context.
  • Imported GeoJSON/KML files are stored locally as user-provided working data.
  • External datasets are used for visual comparison and local review unless their licence is confirmed to be OSM-compatible.
  • Exported files are intended for review, QA and analysis workflows.
  • OSM attribution is not removed from exported datasets.
  • The tool does not require external data sources for its main OSM review workflow.

Security and licence information

The project follows a local-first design.

Topic Description
Backend server No project backend server is required for normal local review use.
Local storage Snapshots, features, jobs and logs are stored locally in IndexedDB.
Settings storage Small settings such as endpoint, country and style preferences are stored locally in browser extension storage.
API keys No API key is required for Overpass-based OSM data review.
Secrets The tool does not require storing secrets for the read/review/export workflow.
Remote code The extension is designed without remote JavaScript execution.
OSM attribution OSM attribution is preserved in the map interface and export metadata.
Licence context OSM-derived data is handled with OpenStreetMap / ODbL attribution context.
OAuth If OSM upload functionality is used, authentication is handled through the OSM account authorisation flow.
User control Data download, import, review, export and upload actions are initiated by the user.

Topology and QA analyses

OSM Power Grid Tools can be extended to analyse Turkey power grid data not only as map features, but also as a topological network.

Suggested analysis types:

Analysis Purpose Turkey context
Dangling line detection Review whether a line end connects to a substation, terminal or continuing line 154 kV and 400 kV line continuity
Orphan tower detection Review relation between towers and line geometries Transmission corridor continuity
Disconnected substation detection Review line, cable and transformer connections of substations Transmission and distribution substations
Voltage consistency check Review voltage consistency between connected objects 154/400 kV and 34.5 kV connections
Circuit continuity check Review continuity of circuit relations Multi-circuit transmission lines
Transformer voltage validation Compare primary and secondary transformer voltages with connected network objects 400/154 kV, 154/34.5 kV and 34.5/0.4 kV transformations
Substation connectivity validation Review incoming and outgoing substation connections Transmission and distribution substations
Ring network detection Identify ring and mesh network structures Urban MV networks and regional transmission structures
Dead-end transmission line detection Review whether high-voltage lines reach expected connection points 154 kV and 400 kV lines
Voltage transition check Review voltage transitions through transformers or converters Substation and power plant connections

Example QA rules for Turkey

The following example rules can be used as review topics for improving Turkey power grid data in OpenStreetMap:

No. Rule Focus
1 400 kV / 380 kV lines should be reviewed together with transmission-class substations or large generation facilities. Transmission
2 154 kV lines should be reviewed together with regional substations, plant switchyards or large-consumer connections. Transmission
3 Lines at 154 kV and above are primarily reviewed as power=line objects. Tagging
4 34.5 kV and similar medium-voltage lines can be reviewed in the context of power=minor_line or power=cable. Distribution
5 Urban medium-voltage connections can be reviewed with power=cable and location=underground. Cable
6 Substation voltage values should be reviewed together with connected lines and cables. Substation
7 Transformer primary and secondary voltages should be reviewed against connected network objects. Transformer
8 400/154 kV substations can be reviewed as multi-voltage substations. Transmission
9 154/34.5 kV transformations can be reviewed as regional distribution connections. Transmission/distribution
10 Power plant areas and individual generators should be reviewed together. Generation
11 Wind farms can be reviewed together with turbines, plant areas and collection substations. Wind
12 Solar plants can be reviewed together with panel areas, plant/generator tags and grid connections. Solar
13 Hydroelectric plants can be reviewed together with generation units, water infrastructure and switchyards. Hydro
14 Thermal power plants can be reviewed together with plant output, source and transmission connection. Thermal
15 Industrial energy supply areas can be reviewed through substations, transformers, cables and line connections. Industrial
16 power=tower objects can be reviewed together with related power=line geometries. Supports
17 power=pole objects can be reviewed together with MV/LV distribution structures. Distribution
18 line=bay and busbar-like structures can support detailed switchyard modelling. Substation detail
19 power=circuit relations can support logical continuity of multi-circuit lines. Relation
20 power=terminal objects can be reviewed at cable-line and substation transitions. Terminal
21 Voltage groups can be separated into LV, MV, HV and EHV visual layers. Visualisation
22 operator=* values can be reviewed in the context of TSO, distribution company, plant operator or industrial operator. Metadata
23 name=* and ref=* values can be reviewed together for transmission lines and substations. Metadata
24 circuits=* and cables=* values can support review of multi-circuit lines. Line detail
25 wires=* values can be used to understand conductor and bundle arrangements. Line detail
26 Substation area geometries can be compared with point features. Geometry
27 Power plant areas, generator points and substation connections can be visualised together. Generation
28 Distribution transformers can be reviewed together with urban MV/LV transitions. Distribution
29 Rural MV networks can be reviewed through pole, minor_line and transformer relationships. Rural network
30 Large industrial connections can be reviewed with private substations and high-voltage supply lines. Industry
31 Ports, mines, railways and airports can be reviewed as large-consumer power connections. Large consumer
32 Lines with voltage tags can be automatically styled by voltage group. Visualisation
33 Lines without voltage tags can be filtered as a review layer. QA
34 Transformers, switchgear and compensators inside substations can be shown as a separate group. Substation detail
35 power=compensator objects can be analysed as voltage support equipment. Reactive power
36 power=converter objects can be classified as special conversion facilities. Converter
37 Interconnection lines can be reviewed in the context of international grid connections. Interconnection
38 154 kV and 400 kV plant connections can be visualised together with generation source. Generation connection
39 Wind and solar collection networks can be reviewed together with their outgoing substations. Renewables
40 Hydroelectric plants can be reviewed together with the connection between generation units and switchyards. Hydro
41 A topology graph can be built from line endpoints and substation connections. Graph
42 Each snapshot can show total features, lines, cables, substations, plants and generators. Statistics
43 Map layers can be separated by voltage group, element group and data source. Layers
44 Large-area reviews can be performed by province, region or bounding box. Area review
45 Turkey-specific voltage normalisation can recognise values such as 154000, 380000, 400000 and 34500. Voltage
46 power=plant objects can be themed by plant:source=*. Power plants
47 power=generator objects can be reviewed with generator:source=* and generator:method=*. Generation
48 Exported GeoJSON and KML files should preserve OSM attribution. Export
49 Local snapshot comparison can be used to track power grid data development over time. Snapshot
50 Turkey power grid review can combine visual, tabular and statistical workflows for OSM contributors. General

Data sources and comparison layers

OSM Power Grid Tools uses OpenStreetMap as the primary data source. External sources can be used as visual, statistical or contextual reference layers for review and comparison workflows.

Source Use Contribution
OpenStreetMap Primary data source Base map data for power grid objects
OpenInfraMap Visual and statistical comparison Country-scale view of OSM power data
TSO publications Reference statistics and transmission-system context Transmission line length, transformer substation count and installed capacity
Energy regulator and open public datasets Reference context for facilities and licences Classification of generation and energy assets
Copernicus / Sentinel / Landsat Satellite imagery and site footprint review Power plant sites, large corridors and land-use context
User-provided GeoJSON / KML Local working layer Analysis, comparison and export workflow

Suggested workflow

1. Download OSM power data for Turkey or a selected region
2. Normalise all objects into the PowerGridFeature model
3. Store the dataset as an IndexedDB snapshot
4. Display features by voltage and element group
5. Review name, operator, voltage, elementType and quality fields in the data table
6. Review summary statistics and audit indicators
7. Export selected datasets as GeoJSON or KML if needed
8. Use the local dataset for visual comparison and manual review
9. Review candidate name/operator consistency changes before upload
10. Upload small, documented changesets when appropriate

Roadmap

Phase Goal Description
Phase 1: MVP Turkey power QA tool Improve map, table, snapshot, voltage normalisation, audit and export workflows using Turkey data
Phase 2: Turkey expert system Turkey power mapping workbench Add review support for 154 kV, 400 kV, wind, solar, hydro, industrial supply areas, distribution transformers and substation-internal structures
Phase 3: Global platform Multi-country power grid QA platform Add country profiles, voltage catalogues, power topology graph, advanced QA rules and comparative statistics

Related OSM wiki pages

External links

References

  1. ↑ OpenInfraMap Turkey statistics, updated 2026-05-31.
  2. ↑ Transmission statistics for Turkey, accessed 2026-06-01.
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