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OpenStreetMap

For the semi-uninitiated

Fraser Kirkpatrick

Technical Project Manager

27th September 2018

1Scotsoft 2018

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Agenda• Introduction to OpenStreetMap

• Summary of OSM data model

• Live Edit

• Data Maturity

• Consuming OSM data

• Tools for Improving OSM data

• Validating OSM data

• OpenStreetMap in Scotland

• Summary

• Questions

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Introduction to OpenStreetMap

• Project started in 2004

• “Wikipedia of Maps” – anyone can edit information

• Focus on building a global database of geospatial data

• All data published in an open format under a CC BY-SA license

• Why?

• Traditional commercial mapping datasets are expensive to purchase, and often specific to individual

countries

• Any data captured on top of commercial datasets can be subject to derived data copyright law – OSM

contributions therefore need to be based on knowledge or surveys and cannot copy other maps

• Devices for capturing location-based information are ubiquitous – lower barrier to entry

• Active contributors growing steadily – passed 1M March 2018

• http://www.openstreetmap.org a window into underlying database

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Summary of OSM Data Model

• Topological data model

• Nodes (points)

• Ways (lines)

• Closed Ways (areas)

• Relations (groups of Nodes / Ways)

• Each item is tagged with list of key value pairs

• Tagging conventions well documented in OSM Wiki:

• https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Tag:building%3Dhouse

• Number of ways to edit data, mostly commonly:

• ID – browser based

• JOSM – desktop application

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Live Edit

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Data Maturity - 2007

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Data Maturity - 2018

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Data Maturity - 2018

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Consuming OSM data

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• Traditionally consuming the data has been complex:

• Need to build tile server to host data

• Building customised maps possible, but complex to achieve

• Now a number of hosting services for OSM data promoting easy integration and customisation

of data. Companies like Mapbox serve a large number of customers themselves

• Data moving from Raster-based static map tiles to Vector-based rendering

• https://www.maptiler.com/maps/#streets/en/vector/9.09/-4.132/57.5097

• Routing APIs:

• FOSS tools e.g. GraphHopper

• Mapbox

• CycleStreets: https://www.cyclestreets.net/journey/63277152/#balanced

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Mapbox Demo

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Tools for Improving OSM data

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• Lots of big players contributing tools to improve data (Mapbox, Microsoft, Apple, Facebook

spoke at the OSM State of the Map annual conference)

• Strava (Mapbox customer) reciprocating with heat map of anonymised data:

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Validating OSM data

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• Wikipedia optimistic editing model – emphasis is on allowing people to easily edit data and

encourage new contributors

• Number of tools for generating RSS feeds of areas – locally mappers tend to monitor activity

• Mapbox tool OSMCha which flags edits based on criteria:

• Suspect names / tags

• New user

• Significant object altered

• Large number of data deleted

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Validating OSM data

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OpenStreetMap in Scotland

• Lots of active contributors, pub meetups, mapping parties

• Detailed data for main cities in Scotland

• Good track record on major construction projects e.g. Queensferry Crossing

• Some high profile contributions – Edinburgh University Mapping Edinburgh’s Social History

(MESH)

• Always more to do, rural areas tend to have good street coverage but less in terms of buildings

/ addresses. New contributors welcome

• Other Scottish resources:

• Page on OSM Wiki

• Mailing list

• Twitter account @OSMScotland

• github page for posting issues

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Summary

• Exciting time for OpenStreetMap

• Data is becoming mature in a global way

• Number of high profile users of the data

• Big players investing in tools to more easily consume / improve / validate the data

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Questions

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