Adding roads and buildings to OpenStreetMap (indoor workshop)

Duration: 2-3 hours

OpenStreetMap is the Wikipedia of maps - a geographic database that is freely licensed for everyone to use, study, share, and modify.

OpenStreetMap can be used to replace Big Tech maps for search and navigation, with the added bonus that users can fix errors and add missing data immediately.

It's also used for urban planning, humanitarian missions, and games - anything that requires a machine-readable 2D/3D model of the world.

In this workshop, you will learn to use satellite imagery to add roads, buildings, etc to OpenStreetMap from the comfort of your laptop.

New participants will learn to use iD (the beginner-friendly web editor) to add roads, buildings, and other features.

Experienced participants can opt to learn about more advanced topics like JOSM, 3D buildings, indoor maps, and public transport routes 🙂

Required: laptop
Recommended: a mouse
(You can make do with a trackpoint or trackpad, but it's less fun...)

End-users can use OSM through applications like Cartes.app, CoMaps.app, OsmAnd.net, and MapComplete.org.

Adding data to OSM is fun and addictive. It can be done from a laptop ("remote/armchair mapping") using the iD web editor on the OSM website, or on-ground ("mobile mapping") using mobile apps like StreetComplete, MapComplete, and Every Door.

OSM data takes the form of points, lines, and areas. Textual key-value pairs called tags are used to add define semantics and details.

The OSM India community has virtual and in-person events each month. Communities exist in cities like Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai; more city communities are needed.

OSM is complemented by other open data projects like Mangrove Reviews, Panoramax, and Wikimedia Commons.