LEARNING TO MAP IN OPENSTREETMAP
Introduction
The MapGive campaign gives you
an understanding of why open map data is
important to people all over the world,
and why you should invest your time to
help create map data online through
OpenStreetMap.org
and the OpenStreetMap Tasking Manager.
The places most in need of open map data
creation may be places that you've never
been to. That's okay! You can make
a big difference simply by tracing roads,
buildings, and other features that you
can spot easily from satellite imagery.
In this video tutorial, we'll show you
how to map in OpenStreetMap so
you can start creating open map data.
Pause this video whenever you need to
and practice what you've just learned.
You can also find written “how to”
instructions under “step 2” on the
MapGive “learn to map” page.
Before you begin learning how to map,
please make sure you have set up
an OpenStreetMap account.
You can find instructions on how to do
that in “Step 1” on the MapGive
“Learn to Map” page.
If you have not signed up
for an OpenStreetMap account yet,
please pause this video now and do so.
Then return here to continue the tutorial.
Once you've set up your OpenStreetMap
account, the fun can really begin.
You are about to learn the three main
things you can map in OpenStreetMap:
points (used to mark places),
lines (used to mark roads and paths), and
areas (used to mark outlines of buildings,
fields, or any other large area).
As you'll soon see, mapping is easy
and you can do it from anywhere in the
world, even in places
that you've never been to.
In our next steps, we'll look at
OpenStreetMap and become
more familiar with it.
You can pause this video at any point to
review and practice
what you learn along the way.
Overview of OpenStreetMap
To begin,
you will log in to OpenStreetMap.
Once logged in, you will see the map.
To the right of the map are the
map controls.
You can ZOOM IN, ZOOM OUT,
and VIEW your current location on the map.
You can also select between LAYERS,
view the MAP KEY,
SHARE the map,
or MAKE COMMENTS on a particular section.
Pause this video, log in, and take a
moment to locate these features
of OpenStreetMap.
Then return here to learn to search and
zoom in and out in OpenStreetMap.
Searching OpenStreetMap is easy.
On the left side of the screen
is a search area.
Search for any location
in the world that you like.
Simply type the location and a new
map of the area you selected will appear.
For now, you only need to know
how to zoom in and zoom out on the map.
Use the ZOOM IN button, on the right
of the screen, and examine the map.
You should be able to see
the three main elements of the map:
points, lines, and areas.
Pause this video and take a moment
to practice with the zoom in and zoom
out buttons, the search field, and the
3 main elementsof the map:
points, lines, and areas.
Come back to learn how to create
points, lines, and areas.
How to Edit OpenStreetMap
To create points, lines, and areas in
OpenstreetMap, click on the drop
down arrow next to the word EDIT.
The drop down arrow
will give you a few options.
Select “Edit with iD (in browser editor)”.
There are several ways to edit and
create map data in OpenStreetMap.
For now, the iD (in browser editor)
is the easiest to use because you will
not have to download anything to use it,
it simply opens up
in your Internet browser.
After selecting “Edit with iD” (in browser
editor) from the drop down menu,
the iD editor will open.
You will be able to create map data
by adding points, lines, and areas.
Please pause the video now,
open the iD (in browser editor)
from the drop down menu,
and then come back to continue.
At the top of the iD editor are the
main controls. You can select which
action you'd like to perform:
map a POINT, LINE, or an AREA. The buttons
to go BACK, FORWARD and SAVE are also
at the top. By clicking save after
making an edit to OpenStreetMap,
your changes go live to the entire world.
Please remember to hit “save” often.
There is also a dialogue box to the left
of the map. This dialogue box is where
you'll be able to input information about
the points, lines, and areas that you map.
It's OK if you do not know the name of
the place, road, or area. Just marking it
on the map so that the data exists is
very helpful for others
who can add in more detail.
Please pause this video for a moment
and get familiar with the various buttons
in the iD editor.
Walkthrough
To the right of the map, there is a help
button. You can click on it at any time
to see valuable information and answers
to questions that you might have about
the iD editor.
There is also a WALKTHROUGH,
which will guide you through the
process of editing in OpenStreetMap.
You can select the walkthrough
as many times as you like.
You may have completed the walkthrough
in OpenStreetMap when you signed up for
an account and logged in the first time.
If you haven't already,
we recommend that you pause this video
and go through the walkthrough.
Getting started
Once you complete the walkthrough,
the iD editor will still be open.
To continue with this video tutorial,
you'll need to pick an area
to continue to practice mapping in.
Any place in the world will work, and
you don't have to pick a place you have
been to or know well. An area with little
existing map data is best, so try
practicing in a place that is not a major
city or heavily developed area.
Of course, you're welcome to practice
mapping in an area that you already know.
This may be easier for you to start with
until you are comfortable mapping.
How to Map a Point in OpenStreetMap
To map a point in the OpenStreetMap iD
editor, simply click on the “point” button
in the top left of the map. It will turn
blue to let you know that it's been
selected. Then, simply click on a position
in the map where there is a building or
area that you'd like to define.
A NODE will appear. Also, a dialog box
with a series of descriptive options to
input will appear to the left of the map.
If you know the name of the building or
area, or additional details, you can enter
them here. When you map areas that you've
never been to before, you most likely
won't know the names of buildings,
roads, and areas. That is okay too.
Simply marking points is a huge help.
Once you've finished adding details
connected to the node, you can close the
dialog box by clicking on the “x” at the
top right of it. If you need to edit the
node, simply click on it again and the
dialog box will open.
To delete a node that is incorrect
or created by mistake, click on it.
A trash can icon will appear next to it.
Click on the trash can and the node will
be removed. Remember, if you ever need to
step back a few edits, click on the back
arrow icon at the top of the editor.
You can also step forward a few edits
with the forward arrow icon.
Remember to save often.
Please pause this video and take a
moment to practice mapping a point.
Return to this video when you are ready
to learn how to map a line.
How to Map a Line in OpenStreetMap
Just as you clicked on the point button
before, now click on the line button at
the top of the iD OpenStreetMap editor.
It will also turn blue to let you know
that it's been selected.
Now click on a position on the map.
A dot will appear connected to a line.
Click on another other point on the map
and another dot will appear and the line
will connect those two points.
You can either continue to draw more
points to establish the line or double
click on the last point to finish
drawing the line.
The line will glow red to let you know
that it has been created.
A dialog box will open up to the left
of the map editor.
You can specify whether the line is a
road or a path or a river, or any of
a number of options.
You can be very specific or general
depending on what you can determine
from the satellite imagery.
To modify a line that has already
been created, simply click on it.
The dialog box will open next to the
editor along with the trashcan icon
next to the line.
Click save to make sure your edits are
logged into the OpenStreetMap database.
Please pause this video and take a moment
to practice mapping a line.
Return to this video when you are ready
to learn to map an area.
How to Map an Area in OpenStreetMap
An area can either be a park, a building,
a lake, a forest, or any other number
of things. It's up to you to define on
the map. Just as with points and lines,
click on the area button at the top of
the editor. It will turn blue to let
you know that you've selected it.
Once you've done that, select the edges of
the building or feature you want to define
Just click on the corners and the editor
will fill in the space in between.
Once you've fully outlined what you want,
double click on the last created point to
complete the area. The area will turn red
to let you know that it's been created.
A dialog box will appear next to the map
editor and allow you to label the area
you've just defined.
There are numerous options and you can be
as specific or general as you like,
depending on what information you know.
Again, it is okay if you don't know the
specific name of the area, you can leave
this section blank as you will most likely
not know the exact names of the areas
being mapped. Just label what you can see
from the satellite imagery— such as a
“lake” or “building”. Also, always
remember to hit save at
the top of the editor.
Please pause this video
and take a moment to practice mapping.
Closing - That's it!
That's all it takes to
start mapping in OpenStreetMap.
Once you hit save your edits are live
and part of the OpenStreetMap data,
base which is immediately available
to anyone in the world.
Once you feel confident mapping, continue
to the next video to learn how to
select a task from the OpenStreetMap
Tasking Manager.