Map Your Community with OpenStreetMap

Jessica Breen / MaptimeLEX

Follow along

//jessibreen.github.io/community-mapping-OSM/

Why is Community Mapping important?

Maps are Power

Maps are a form of power whose use has traditionally been limited to the State.

Tools for Community Mapping

• OpenStreetMap
• Field Papers
• Public Lab's Balloon Mapping
• geojson.io

There are tons of options available...

What is OpenStreetMap?

OpenStreetMap (OSM)

A free, open source, volunteer-generated map of the world that is editable by anyone, anywhere with a computer and a connection to the internet.

10 Years of OSM

What happens to OSM data?

Here's the most recent list of people that OSM knows uses their data...

Data added to OpenStreetMap has the potential to get used by a lot of people all over the world.

Getting Started with OSM

You’re going to need a login. Go to: //www.openstreetmap.org/user/new Fill out the form, confirm your email, et voilà!

Editing the map

We're going to do a little armchair mapping.Don't worry, this has nothing to do with armchairs...

Armchair mapping just means tracing items onto the map from aerial imagery without going out to ground-truth them.

Open the map: OpenStreetMap.org

Choose iD Editor from the Edit menu

From the Help menu on the right, select Start the Walkthrough

The walkthrough will show you all the basic information you need to be able to use iD editor.

There are essentially 3 things you can add to the map:

• points
• lines
• areas (polygons)

Points are used to add things like businesses, bus stops, murals. Things that you could stick a pin into the map and say "It's here!"

Lines are used for roads and trails.

Areas (polygons) are used for building footprints, parks, lakes, etc. Things that better described by their outline rather than a single point.

More help with iD Editor

Learn OSM: The iD Editor

Basic Rules of OSM

• Don't add things that aren't real.
• Don't add things that aren't permanent.
• Don't copy other maps.

Next steps...

• Find other mappers in your area: Who's Around Me?
• Join a Mapathon: US Mapathons
• Become a Humanitarian mapper: Missing Maps