The encyclopedia · Software & IT · Product decision · 2004–2015
OpenStreetMap built a world map from locals' knowledge instead of survey crews
OpenStreetMap lets anyone map their own neighborhood; local knowledge plus open data produced a free world map used by thousands of websites and apps.
OpenStreetMap Foundation
the move
OpenStreetMap set out to create a free digital map of the world, implemented through the engagement of participants in a mode similar to open-source software development: information collected by many contributors is collated on a central database and distributed through the web.
The project emphasizes local knowledge: contributors use aerial imagery, GPS devices and low-tech field maps to verify that OSM is accurate and up to date, and the community includes enthusiasts, GIS professionals and humanitarian mappers.
Haklay's 2010 study in Environment and Planning B compared OSM data with Ordnance Survey data and found volunteered geographic information surprisingly accurate, particularly where mapper density was higher; the open-data license lets thousands of websites and apps build on one free map.
why it works
- Locals know their streets better than any contractor.
- Edits are collated and refined like open-source code.
- Open data lets every app build on one free map.
- Volunteer density drives accuracy where it matters.
what transfers
Distribute the surveying to the people who live there: locals know their streets better than any contractor, and an open license lets the resulting asset grow through reuse.
what came after
OpenStreetMap grew into the world's largest volunteered map, powering navigation, humanitarian response and research, and its open-data model became the reference for community-built geographic information.
references
- How Good is Volunteered Geographical Information? A Comparative Study of OpenStreetMap and Ordnance Survey Datasets
- OpenStreetMap — About
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