OpenStreetMap for the Beginner
Submitted by rw on Thu, 07/22/2010 - 17:17.
You shouldn't feel lost when you are getting started with OpenStreetMap.
OpenStreetMap is the wiki-style map of everything.
You probably already know this much about OpenStreetMap and now you want to get started by doing something with OpenStreetMap. ... and that's where you are stuck. You had a look at the wiki and found lots of reference material but you still feel lost.
Let's fix that.
Tutorials for the OpenStreetMap Beginner
These are tutorials for beginner, intermediate, advanced and expert OpenStreetMap users.
How do I get started with OpenStreetMap?
There are lots of ways to contribute to OpenStreetMap. Some people write software for themselves or others to use when participating in OpenStreetMap, others test the software, or maintain the computers or write documentation, others organize events. But
the very best thing that you can do to contribute to OpenStreetMap is to tell OpenStreetMap about your neighbourhood.
That's it. That is the secret. The raison d'être of OpenStreetMap. And that is where you can make the greatest impact in OpenStreetMap. But how do you start?
Add a Bridge to OpenStreetMap with Potlatch2
Add a bridge (or tunnel) to OpenStreetMap with the Potlatch2 editor.
- Difficulty: beginner
- Learn:
- Introduce the Potlatch2 Editor
- Add a node to a way
- Split a way into two ways
- Add bridge tag to a way
- Add layer tag to a way
- Duration: under one hour
- Equipment:
- log book or paper
- computer
Use a Preset Icon to add a Restaurant or other Point of Interest with Potlatch
Add a pizza place to OpenStreetMap this simple approach requires local knowledge, your computer, and no other special equipment. Use of a Preset Icon makes adding a point of interest really easy.
- Difficulty: beginner
- Learn:
- Add a point of interest with POI preset icon
- Introduce the Potlatch Editor
- Duration: under one hour
- Equipment:
- log book or paper
- computer
Recognizing the Name of a Company
Sometimes recognizing the name of a company can be a challenge. Here are some guidelines for adding the right name to OpenStreetMap.
Use Presets to add a Restaurant or other Point of Interest with JOSM
Add a pizza place to OpenStreetMap this simple approach requires local knowledge, your computer, and no other special equipment. Use of the Preset Menu makes adding a point of interest really easy.
- Difficulty: beginner
- Learn:
- Add a point of interest with POI preset menu
- Introduce the JOSM Editor
- Duration: under one hour
- Equipment:
- log book or paper
- computer
Use a Preset Theme to add a Bike Rack or other Point of Interest
Add a bike rack to OpenStreetMap this simple approach requires local knowledge, your computer and no other special equipment. Use of a Preset Theme makes adding a Point of Interest really easy.
- Difficulty: beginner
- Learn:
- Add a point of interest with Preset Theme
- Introduce the data layer on OSM.org
- Duration: under one hour
- Equipment:
- log book or paper
- computer
Select and Configure A GPS Receiver to Collect Data with OpenStreetMap
You'll be able to add more data of different types by adding a GPS Receiver to your OSM toolkit.
- Difficulty: beginner
- Learn:
- Select and Configure a GPS Receiver
- Collect and upload GPX track files
- Duration: one hour research and shopping, one hour survey
- Equipment:
- GPS receiver
- log book or paper
- computer
Add a Retail Plaza to OpenStreetMap
Add a retail plaza to OpenStreetMap with a building and multiple shops.
- Difficulty: beginner
- Learn:
- Collect and upload GPX track files
- Create simple buildings
- Add shops and services
- Duration: about one hour for survey and editing combined
- Equipment:
- GPS receiver
- log book or paper
- computer
Use a Log Book for OpenStreetMap Surveys
you should use a log book to organize your notes about data for OpenStreetMap. But what should your notebook look like? And how can you start?
You should start by looking at Frank's OSM Log Book.
Tips for new mappers
Dan O'Hara has helpfully compiled some pointers for new mappers that he calls OSM Mapping for Dummies.
Add a Multi-purpose Trail to OpenStreetMap
Do you have a trail in your neighbourhood for walking and cycling? A nice place to take a little outing with the family? Why not add that trail to OpenStreetMap? Here is how you can do that.
- Difficulty: beginner
- Learn:
- Create a trail
- Add barriers and surface information
- Cooperate with other mappers
- Duration: about one hour for survey and another hour for editing
- Equipment:
- GPS receiver
- log book or paper
- computer
Add a Park to OpenStreetMap
Put your local park on the map.
- Complexity: beginner
- Learn:
- Create a park
- Add amenities
- Add sport fields
- Cooperate with other mappers
- Duration: about one hour for survey and another hour for editing
- Equipment:
- GPS receiver
- log book or paper
- computer
Control the appearance of your business in OpenStreetMap
Control the appearance of your business in OpenStreetMap and put an OSM map on your web site.
- Complexity: beginner
- Learn:
- Add an OSM map to your web site
- Add your logo to the map
- Add details in a pop up window
- Duration: about one hour to edit html and css
- Prerequisites:
- Knolwledge of html and css
More tutorials to follow
More tutorials will follow. Beginner, intermediate, advanced and expert tutorials are expected. You can encourage this. Request a tutorial or topic with the comments below.
Definitions
What's a Mapnik
, What's an Osmarender?
What is a Planet File? When do I need it?
Lost photo is licensed CCBYSA by Ed Yourdon on Flickr
Articles © 2010 
Map images and data © 2010
Fantastic
These are really great Richard!
Thanks Thea
Thanks Thea
When I saw this just
When I saw this just now it reminded me of Thea's comments about documentation for beginners. Good to see she's picked up on it. I'll echo her comments. Really great!
I need to think of a way of linking to resources like this from the wiki, maybe from the beginner's guide, or the Help page, which all needs a little re-thinking.
Regarding topic headings for tutorials, there's an area which is difficult to cover in tutorials, because it's sort of unclean, and we'd prefer if people didn't have to know this stuff. I'm talking about all those awkward little data untangling problems which you tend to encounter when doing real editing (particularly with imported data) In my JOSM guide I described it in general terms as "Unglueing and untangling". Andy also wrote some HOWTO pages linked off TIGER fixup. This is the kind of editing skill which users, perhaps at an intermediate level, will need to get to grips with ...but actually rather difficult to describe. Maybe you have some ideas.
Difficulty level
I think the idea of these guides is very good. I do think the difficulty level may need a bit more refinement. It seems quite a step up from adding a POI with Potlatch to grabbing a GPS track and tracing it, but they both get 'beginner'. How about a scale of blocks: 1 to (say) 10, where a name change gets 1, POI edit gets 2, GPS trace based edits gets 4, linking audio or photos with a GPS trace gets 6. Inventing new tags gets 7 (just for the hassle). etc.
Do you need any help with this? I have a web site to host some of this if yours is still struggling.
Cheers, Chris
Hi Chris, I think that you
Hi Chris,
I think that you are right and that difficulty level does need some refinement. Initially I had configuring a GPS and collecting a track file as but moved them to . They could easily go back. I can be whimsical that way.
Initially I thought that the difficulty levels would be- Beginner
- Nodes
- Intermediate
- Ways
- Advanced
- Relations
- Expert
- er, I don't know, bus routes?
I decided on a change because adding a building with a central courtyard or a lake with an island (relation with inner and outer) shouldn't have to wait for an level of OSM understanding. The same material might be covered at both beginner and intermediate, but the beginner tutorial must include more background for the beginner audience.
Now I'm leaning towards this alignment.- Beginner
- Learn basic use of OSM tools and methods. Nodes, ways, simple relations, presets, tagging, GPS, GPX , log book. Beginner tutorials include enough background for a beginner to complete them without (many) external references. As an example, there should be separate beginner tutorials for each editor.
- Intermediate
- Continue learning OSM tools and methods. Intermediate tutorials may presume that the reader has basic familiarity with the OSM tools and their editor of choice. Guidance should be provided for different editors when introducing Intermediate topics.
- Advanced
- Solid understanding of the OSM tools and methods is presumed. Tutorials should include brief editor-specific guidance when introducing advanced topics.
- Expert
- Solid understanding of OSM tools and methods is presumed. Instructions will cover topics relevant to the tutorial but without editor-specific guidance.
Some topics are more advanced than others, but with a motivated OSM contributor, some advanced topics could be introduced to a beginner in a tutorial with enough background.
Thoughts?
Fantastic
When I saw this just now it reminded me of Thea's comments about documentation for beginners. Good to see she's picked up on it. I'll echo her comments. Really great!
I need to think of a way of linking to resources like this from the wiki, maybe from the beginner's guide, or the Help page, which all needs a little re-thinking.
Regarding topic headings for tutorials, there's an area which is difficult to cover in tutorials, because it's sort of unclean, and we'd prefer if people didn't have to know this stuff. I'm talking about all those awkward little data untangling problems which you tend to encounter when doing real editing (particularly with imported data) In my JOSM guide I described it in general terms as "Unglueing and untangling". Andy also wrote some HOWTO pages linked off TIGER fixup. This is the kind of editing skill which users, perhaps at an intermediate level, will need to get to grips with ...but actually rather difficult to describe. Maybe you have some ideas.
Crisis mapping?
Richard,
I love these tutorials, they are the perfect level for beginners to get involved & run through the system end to end.
Would you be able to do a simple demo for generic humanitarian mapping ,either from Yahoo imagery or a generic WMS in JOSM (roads, bridges, residential areas, infrastructure, waterway networks etc..)? I could then point my new crisis mappers to this & get some good feedback from beginners.
Keep it up ;)
Sam
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