Intro to OpenStreetmap

Abstract

Have you heard of OpenStreetMap (OSM), the “Wikipedia of maps”? Do you know how to:

  • Get offline maps on your phone that work outside mobile range?
  • Contribute minor corrections, and script major updates?
  • Record a GPS trace of an unmapped area, and upload it so you or someone else can map out that area?
  • Create a map-driven website using OSM data with clickable data points on top?
  • Create your own custom basemap using your choice of OSM features and colour scheme?

If you answered “no” to any or all of these questions, this talk is for you! This technical discussion will cover all that and more, including demonstrations and examples. You’ll learn what’s possible with OpenStreetMap, how to contribute, and best of all, how to make amazing stuff with the data. Having picked up OSM after Kate Chapman’s talk at LCA2014, I’ve learned there’s so much stuff you can do with it that you can’t easily do with other closed-source map services like Google Maps. Not only that, but there are many places where the OSM data is actually better than Google’s!

Description

This talk will briefly outline how to use OpenStretmap to get offline maps on your phone, contribute map corrections, record a GPS trace of an unmapped area to facilitate mapping by others, create an interactive map-driven website using OSM data, and create your own custom basemap using your choice of OSM features and colour scheme

Video

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Slides

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