Japan/JP surveyact and OSM
This page summarizes the contents of the Survey Act in Japan and its operational implications, primarily concerning licenses for OSM.
Overview of the Survey Act
In Japan, the Survey Act is enforced as the law that regulates matters related to land surveying.
When using data created based on the Survey Act (survey results), there are cases where administrative procedures defined by the Survey Act are required. This page explains the precautions and procedures when using survey results in OpenStreetMap.
Survey result data requires applications to the organization that conducted the survey, depending on how it is used. There are two types of applications:
- Use Application: When processing the original data and converting it to an irreversible different format before publication
- Reproduction Application: When publishing the original data with modifications such as adding proprietary information
Additionally, there are cases where no application to the organization is required depending on the usage method. For details, please refer to the page about survey results.
"Basic Survey" and "Public Survey"
The Survey Act defines two types of survey operations: "Basic Survey" and "Public Survey."
Which type of survey it becomes depends on which organization is the entity conducting the survey (the client of the survey work):
- Basic Survey (基本測量, Kihon Sokuryo): Surveys conducted by the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan (GSI)
- Public Survey (公共測量, Koukyo Sokuryo): Surveys conducted by other organizations such as local governments
Applications for "use" or "reproduction" based on the Survey Act must be submitted to the survey planning organization (i.e., the client of the survey work).
That is, if the dataset is from a basic survey, the application is submitted to the "Geospatial Information Authority of Japan."
Conversely, if the dataset is from a public survey, it is submitted to the organization that commissioned the survey work.
The Public Survey Implementation Information page clearly states the survey planning organization for each survey project, so you can look up the contact information for that organization and submit your application there.
Main Survey Results Used in OSM
Basic Survey Results
- Fundamental Geospatial Data
- Residential Address Frontage Information
- GSI Map Tiles (Standard Map Tiles, Blank Map Tiles, etc.) (when using the tiles themselves, not just referencing them)
Public Survey Results
- Aerial photographs (e.g., for urban planning, property tax purposes, etc.)
- Urban planning maps (e.g., maps showing land use zones and urbanization control areas)
- Raw data from basic urban planning maps "Open Data Guidance" https://www.mlit.go.jp/toshi/city_plan/content/001618095.pdf
- Other data published on the Public Survey Implementation Information page
GSI Map Data Not Subject to the Survey Act
Not all data published by the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan is survey results.
For example, the following data is not survey results:
When using datasets that are not subject to the Survey Act, you should use them in accordance with the terms of use established by the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan, rather than following the application process under the Survey Act.
Permitted Uses in OSM
OSMF Japan has consulted with the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan and confirmed that the following uses are possible without submitting applications under the Survey Act:
- Tracing GSI Map Tiles (Standard Map Tiles, Seamless Aerial Photo Tiles, etc.)
- Tracing tile images after converting Fundamental Geospatial Data to tiles and hosting them on a server
About Tiling Aerial Photographs
When tiling aerial photographs taken as survey results, publishing them on the Internet, and tracing them in OpenStreetMap, it is necessary to submit a "use application" under the Survey Act and obtain approval from the surveying organization.
OSMF Japan submits use applications to each organization and publishes tile images after obtaining approval.
For details, please refer to the OSMFJ/ortho-tiles page.
OSM Usage Permission List
The following table shows common cases, whether they can be used, and what actions need to be taken.
| Data Type | Survey Act Classification | Usage Method | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Import to OSM | Tracing | |||
| Raw Fundamental Geospatial Data | Basic Survey | ✗ Not Permitted | ✓ Tracing possible after submitting use application and tiling | |
| Residential Address Frontage Information | Basic Survey | ✗ Not Permitted | △ Unverified | |
| GSI Map Tiles | Basic Survey | － Not Applicable | ✓ Permitted | |
| Aerial Photographs | Public Survey | － Not Applicable | ✓ Tracing possible after submitting use application and tiling | |
Application Methods
Basic Survey Application Method
Submit applications through the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan website.
Please fill out the forms specified on the application page and submit your application.
Public Survey Application Methods
There are two public survey application methods.
Proxy Application through the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan
The Survey Results One-Stop Service is available.
For local governments and organizations that have agreements with the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan, when you apply through the One-Stop Service, the GSI first checks the application content, and if the content is approved, the application is circulated from GSI to the local government.
You can submit applications through the following webpage:
Direct Application to Each Local Government/Organization
For local governments and organizations that have not concluded One-Stop Service agreements, applications must be submitted to the responsible department of each local government or organization.
Application destinations and methods vary by local government/organization. In some cases, dedicated application formats may be provided.
First, investigate the survey planning organization that is the application destination for that dataset, and it is effective to confirm the application method by email or phone.
Note that applications based on the Survey Act are very minor administrative procedures, and there are often cases where the person in charge at the application destination does not understand how to handle them or there are no precedents for application processing.
In such cases, please consult with OSMF Japan as described below.
Open Data and the Survey Act
Some local governments publish survey result datasets as open data.
When using these datasets in OSM or publishing them on the Internet, applications based on the Survey Act may be required.
A common case is tiling and using aerial photograph open data. (Conversely, POI datasets almost never become survey results, so there should be almost no cases of importing them.)
In this case, a Survey Act application to the municipality that created the dataset is required. For tiling aerial photographs, this would be a use application.
Please contact the municipal representative and submit the necessary application.
Survey Act Applications by OSMF Japan
OSMF Japan has been conducting consultations with the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan and submitting applications to various organizations based on the Survey Act.
Past achievements:
- Inquiry about the possibility of tracing GSI Maps
- Inquiry about the possibility of importing Fundamental Geospatial Data datasets
- Activities related to tiling and publication of public survey results and their use for tracing in OSM
If the data you want to use is designated as survey results and you have questions about how to use it, please contact OSMF Japan.
We will provide support to ensure that the dataset can be used appropriately.