{"id":17353,"key":"Openstreetmap","title":"Openstreetmap","latest":{"id":1220521,"timestamp":"2025-12-29T15:06:13Z"},"content_model":"wikitext","license":{"url":"https://www.appropedia.org/Appropedia:Copyrights","title":"CC-BY-SA-4.0"},"source":"== ABSTRACT ==\n\n<center>''Openstreetmap can be thought of as a wikipedia for maps, The aim of the project is to create a copyright free map of the entire world. Anyone can edit the maps. This is usually done through a web browser by tracing satellite images from Yahoo maps. More detailed maps can be made with traces from handheld Global Positioning systems GPS ''</center>\n\nYou can view the map [http://www.openstreetmap.org/ Openstreetmap]\n\nAt first glance Openstreetmap looks very similar to [http://maps.google.co.uk/ Google Maps], [http://www.multimap.com/maps/ Multimap], or [http://maps.yahoo.com/ Yahoo maps]. When looking at your area in openstreetmap you may also notice there are large areas that don't seem to be complete. There is one very large difference between these previous mapping services and that is that the Openstreetmap map is copyright free. You can download (Export) the map and legally use it to make your own map or add the picture to your posters, flyers, or webpages.\n\nAlthough there are areas which do not have much information there are places on the map which are very detailed.\n\nFor example [http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=51.457142&lon=-0.20971&zoom=18&layers=B000FTF here] we can see in East Putney in London all the house numbers are shown\n\nA second [http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=55.95756&lon=-3.32338&zoom=17&layers=0B00FTF example] shows how the information can be displayed in a different (Osmarender) style.\n\nIn the UK there is also information about topography in the [http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=56.8139&lon=-5.065&zoom=14&layers=00B0FTF Cyclemap]\n\nThere are many reasons that volunteers are mapping their local area, first it is fun, discovering a lot of places that you didn't know that was there. For development projects, Aid agencies, maps can be invaluable to help pinpoint local resources and start effective local planning.\n\nTo Edit the map is fairly straight forward and has proved very popular. To see a video of the mapping contributions to the world see [http://www.vimeo.com/2598878 OSM 2008: A Year of Edits]\n\n== Using the main Openstreetmap page ==\n\nWhen you first use Openstreetmap, it is very similar to other mapping sites. There is a zooming bar on the left hand side to zoom into an area of interest or if your mouse has a mouse wheel then you can use that. To move around the map click with the right hand mouse button and drag the map to your area.\n\nNotice the '+' sign on the top right hand corner - click on that and it will give you a choice of displaying the map in a different style. Mapnik is the standard way the map is presented. Osmarender is slightly more colourful and shows different details. The cycle map will show topographical detail but not at the greatest zoom levels. Osmarender has a few bugs in certain parts of the world. So if you see 'unknown type' just keep zooming in.\nThe other options are for the people that are editing the maps.\n\nIf you find you find an area that you like then you can click on the permalink link on the bottom right hand corner. This will change the URL in your search bar to that exact location. It will also include the type of style that you have chosen. You can then copy that link to send to other people.\n\n== Editing the map ==\n\nIn this section I will only briefly talk about editing the map. Editing is fairly straightforward and can be done in any web browser preferably [http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/ Firefox]. You will need an account which can be set up as easily as the account you use for this website.\n\nWhen you click edit on the map page in openstreetmap you will be using a program called Potlatch. You can select lines(Ways) or points (nodes) or areas. You can then add tags to tell the map what they are.\n\nThe easiest way to learn is to watch and then to do.\n\nGo to the [http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Beginners%27_Guide Beginners Guide], watch the [http://web.archive.org/web/20090204153206/http://showmedo.com:80/videos/video?name=1800000&fromSeriesID=180 Introduction Video] then learn how to use [http://web.archive.org/web/20100329212305/http://showmedo.com:80/videos/video?name=1800010&fromSeriesID=180 Potlatch]. After watching the videos it is best to start by tracing an area that hasn't been done in developing countries. This is because there are less people there with access to fast computers and broad band. The editing of the map is fairly straightforward the difficult bit is to know what tags to use. There is a [http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Map_Features Map Features Guide here] and it is probably more beneficial to see what other people have done and copy them.\n\nMore advanced mappers use a program called [http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Josm JOSM] which stands for Java Openstreetmap\n\nIf you get to this stage you will know that this is much more fun than Minesweeper or Solitaire and you can join their mailing list or forums\n\n== External links ==\n\n[http://wikimapia.org/ Wikimapia]: an online editable map, based on satellite photos. You can describe any place on Earth, or surf maps.The information that you put on this website is copyright and you cannot use it to create your own maps.\n\n{{Page data\n| license = CC-BY-SA-3.0\n| description = Explore OpenStreetMap, a collaborative project for creating copyright-free global maps. Learn how to edit and contribute to this valuable mapping resource.\n}}\n\n[[Category:Community informatics]]\n[[Category:Design and presentation tools]]\n[[Category:Economic geography]]\n[[Category:Open source software]]\n[[Category:Free licenses]]\n[[Category:Free websites]]\n[[Category:Maps]]\n[[Category:Internet resources]]\n[[Category:Transport]]\n[[Category:Transport informatics]]"}