Talk Beginner

FOSS maps, and why you should use them

Approved

Session Description

We start by talking about the āzād data project underpinning the maps we'll talk about - OpenStreetMap.

We discuss some vital questions - what is āzād data and āzād software? Why are they important for end users?

We then introduce three āzād applications (CoMaps, OsmAnd, and OsmAPP), which use OpenStreetMap data to provide privacy-respecting alternatives to proprietary maps like Google Maps.

(We also briefly mention some resources through which developers can use OpenStreetMap data in their own applications.)

We then discuss the advantages which OpenStreetMap has over Google Maps.

Finally, we discuss a few different ways of how the audience can make the OpenStreetMap data and software ecosystem better, and how they can participate in local OSM communities.

References

https://welcome.openstreetmap.org/

https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/

https://comaps.app/

https://osmand.net/

https://osmapp.org/

https://switch2osm.org/

https://streetcomplete.app/

https://mapcomplete.org/

https://community.osm.org

https://osmcal.org/?in=India

https://en.osm.town/@OSMIndia/

Session Categories

Introducing a FOSS project or a new version of a popular project

Tutorial about using a FOSS project

Knowledge Commons (Open Hardware, Open Science, Open Data etc.)

Speakers

Kashish (contrapunctus)

Software Freedom Activist and OpenStreetMap Surveyor

Kashish is a software freedom activist and OpenStreetMap surveyor. Per has been an OpenStreetMap contributor since 2016, motivated by the desire to improve freedom-respecting software ("FOSS") and privacy. Per regularly hosts OSM workshops in Delhi and wherever else per happens to go.

Reviews

Reviewer #1 Approved

I have attended this talk in Mumbai and can confirm it's a good one.

Reviewer #2 Approved