OpenStreetMap (https://www.openstreetmap.org/) is like Wikipedia for maps: All of the map data can be edited by anyone, and it’s legally available to download. It’s also entirely open ended as to what sorts of data you can add, with standards emerging organically. This means that it can be used for specialty maps such as OpenCycleMap (https://www.opencyclemap.org/). The free license means nobody has ultimate control of the data, just like Free/Open Source Software. There are any number of apps that use the data for iOS and Android. For the moment, even Apple Maps uses some of the data!

If you look up Portsmouth on OSM, you’ll find that it’s _okay_. But we can do a lot better. This event will give an overview of OpenStreetMap, what the data format looks like, some example apps that use the data, and finally how to edit the data on your phone and laptop. We’ll then take a walk down Islington toward downtown and we’ll take turns adding stores and restaurants along our way. By the time we reach downtown we should be comfortable enough to split off and attack the town from multiple directions.

When we get back, we should _hopefully_ be able to see some of our contributions light up the map. (Though, sometimes it takes a while to show up).

NOTE: The instructor uses Android. Anybody with experience editing on iOS (particularly the “Go Map!!” app), your help would be greatly appreciated!

OSM introduction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Phwrgb16oEM

Attendees, please read:

Phone is required to participate. Laptop is also required unless you do the following prep work to save us time during the workshop:

1) Create an account on openstreetmap.org

2) Have your username and password handy for the meetup for setting up your phone app(s).

About the organizer:

Daniel Krol

Software developer from Minnesota by way of Chicago and California. Fan of free software and open data. No official affiliation with OpenStreetMap.