Learn How To Map in OpenStreetMap

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.