http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenStreetMap OpenStreetMap (OSM) is a collaborative project to create a free editable map of the world. The maps are created using data from portable GPS devices, aerial photography, other free sources or simply from local knowledge. Both rendered images and the vector graphics are available for download under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 licence.[2] OpenStreetMap was inspired by sites such as Wikipedia; the map display features a prominent 'Edit' tab and a full revision history is maintained. Registered users can upload GPS track logs and edit the vector data using the given editing tools. In December 2006, Yahoo! confirmed that OpenStreetMap was able to make use of their vertical aerial imagery and this photography is now available within the editing software as an overlay. OpenStreetMap (OSM) was founded in July 2004 by Steve Coast. In April 2006, a foundation was established to encourage the growth, development and distribution of free geospatial data and provide geospatial data for anybody to use and share. In December 2006, Yahoo confirmed that OpenStreetMap could use its aerial photography as a backdrop for map production.[4] open data open content LICENSES OpenStreetMap data can be used freely under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 license. OpenStreetMap's "Rails port" core software, including the API code, is licensed under the GNU GPL. Consult documentation or source code for the licences of other software. What this means to you (and this isn't legal advice) is basically you can do what you like with the data, so long as you mention the original creator and the licence and anyone else can do the same with anything you produce based on it. Attribution If you want to use OpenStreetMap, you will have to give credit to both OpenStreetMap and the license (CC-by-SA). See Legal FAQ on information how to do this properly. ********************* Open content, a neologism coined by analogy with open source, describes any kind of creative work, or content, published under a license that explicitly allows copying and modifying of its information by anyone, not exclusively by a closed organization, firm or individual. Open content is an alternative paradigm to the use of copyright to create monopolies; rather than leading to monopoly, open content facilitates the democratization of knowledge.[1] The term open content has an ambiguity. It means that anyone can get copies of the content (e.g. source code) but it can also mean that it gives the user certain copyright freedoms.[2] The largest open content project is Wikipedia.[3] "Open access" refers to toll-free access to a special category of material, consisting mainly of published peer-reviewed scholarly journal articles, along with a set of use (or reuse) rights, such as those included in Creative Commons licenses, which may make the material open content. ***************************** http://www.openstreetmap.org/stats/data_stats.html OpenStreetMap stats report run at Wed Dec 01 00:00:12 +0000 2010 Number of users 330393 Number of uploaded GPS points 2068731121 Number of nodes 857713464 Number of ways 71781915 Number of relations 781143 ********************************* http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Map_Features OpenStreetMap does not have any content restrictions on tags that can be assigned to OSM-Elements (Nodes Node, Ways Way or Relations Relation). You can use any tags you like as long as the values are verifiable. However, there is a benefit in agreeing to a recommended set of features and corresponding tags in order to create, interpret and display a common basemap. This page contains a core recommended feature set and corresponding tags. If you don't see an appropriate tag for what you would like to map see Proposed features or for grouping ways and nodes together into a higher level component, see Relations. From there you can see what features may be added (and maybe get them in sooner), or propose your own. * Some mapping features are explained in detail, see Feature Index. * To propose a new icon, use the page of the Proposed Icons. * To see a list of features that were once valid but should no longer be used, see Deprecated features. * recent Map Features changes * See also Editing Standards and Conventions. ****************************** Documenting tags not in Map Features So you've followed good practice and searched the Map Features, Proposed features, Rejected features, Proposed Relations and mailing lists' archives and still can't find a tag for what you'd like to map? Tagwatch is probably the most useful repository of tagging suggestions. It lists tags actually used in the database, and how often they have been used. It also lists other tags which have been used in combination with any particular tag on a single object. Remember that OpenStreetMap does not have any content restrictions on tags that can be assigned to nodes, ways or areas. You can use any tags you like, but please document them here on the OpenStreetMap wiki, even if self explanatory. (See New Features.) Documenting allows others to find your features or even to correct mapping errors they encounter near you. Documenting is especially useful later on, if someone proposes a tagging for the superset of the feature you've been adding. Then your experiences and features can be incorporated into that proposal process, and in the far out case even be converted to the new scheme, if accepted. Choosing tags to use For example, if you wanted to map all nests of the endangered Siberian_Flying_Squirrel you'd just create a page endangered_nest=Siberian_flying_squirrel and document on that page what it's for. Just be prepared that someone else might later propose a different and more structured scheme for documenting other aspects of endangered species lives, a tagging that allows to document findings of their droppings, too - a case used to protect areas from any construction - and you'd end up converting your old entries. You can consult, for example, the IOF Standards for classification standards used in orienteering maps, to see if those are of any help and if your new tag could be compatible with (those) users' needs. Other similar documents are likely to exist. ********************* Mapping projects The OpenStreetMap community are working on the following mapping projects. The projects are collaborative efforts by one or more people who have a common interests or goals. By working together effort can be focused and formidable milestones become achievable. Please help by getting involved. Africa Asia Europe North America South America Oceania Others many countries. each country has a mapping project going on Regional Mapping Subjects bicicle route system railways waterways Other projects * WikiProject Pictograms - icon designs for maps * WikiProject Cleanup - Project to tidy up this wiki * Collaboration with Wikipedia * Collaboration with geonames * Humanitarian OSM Team * Environmental OSM * WikiProject France/Cadastre - Project to use the french cadastre data * WikiProject_Spain/toopath - Project for real-time tracking of mobile devices * WikiProject_FLOSS - For developers and users that value Free Libre and Open Source Software while contributing to free geodata ********** Feautures non commercial. different modes of production of data>> entering data > contributing to the project: -gps -tracing of public domain maps -areal photography through collaboration with Yahoo! -local knowledge tracks and gps >> uploading gps tracks :: using tracks to add streets, routes, paths, etc. >> kind of breac crumb traces gps devices also allow to add marks >>> users can add information about specific places. interchange standard (GPX) > for sharing information was a complicated task that required computing and data manipulation knowledge. ‘crowd-sourcing’ >>> p2p mode of production :voluntary, non-monetary, content is created for free, for the development of the community data can be edited online wiki-like interface users who are register can see and edit the data users who are not register can just see the map -local workshops :: "mapping parties" localized geoographical areas :: community organizes. -servers in London >> UCL core group -participants, collaborators need to understand computer technology and also gps tech. >>> collect and edit information requires skills. >> download gpx files and then edit them in their computers, and then upload them -the API for downloading the data is very simple – all that is required is latitude and longitude coordinates. -fresh and novel datasets -new participatory practices emerging with the support of new technologies > how do they influence the relationship the people and places -effort of the enthusiastic amateurs : invest time and effort -problem of trust ******************** Potlatch is a Flash-based OpenStreetMap editor, found on the 'Edit' tab of the main site. Potlatch 2 has been released and is now accessible on the OpenStreetMap.org homepage. This is a radically different editing experience, hopefully much improved. When you first sign on to Open Street Map, typically you will see the Potlatch screen with Yahoo! aerial photography and, possibly, some mapped roads. At the bottom are some grey icons that are mapping tools and colored icons used to "tag" nodes on a map. More about that later.