OpenStreetMap Interface

OpenStreetMap (OSM) offers a comprehensible web application with several capabilities and functionalities. When opening the website at https://www.openstreetmap.org/ the interface that is displayed in Fig. 4 will appear, showing the main OSM interface. For this tutorial, we will divide the elements of the interface into 2 categories:

Fig. 4: OSM interface

• In blue, are the platform functionalities and auxiliary links: Authentication buttons (1), Menu Bar (2), and the Editing and exporting bar (3).

• In red, map controls: The main map (4), Search bar (5), and Map Controls (6).

1. Authentication buttons

OSM is a crowd-sourced map that receives contributions from thousands of users worldwide. To use the map and request data from the database it is not necessary to have an account but to add new features and edit existing ones, it is necessary to be authenticated. The authentication buttons contain the “Log In” button to log in to an existing account, and the “Sign Up” button to create an account.

The “Log In” allows users to be authenticated using existing credentials. Logging in unlocks the Editing capabilities that are going to be explained in point 3.

The “Sign Up” button takes the user to the registration page. After setting your credentials, confirming your email, and accepting the terms of service, you should be ready to Log In and use the editing capabilities of OSM.

2. Menu bar

The menu bar contains links to different pages within OSM that provide additional functionalities outside of the mapping realm and information related to OSM activities.

• GPS Traces: Users can upload GPS traces to OSM from a GPS device. On this page, a list of all the public GPS traces uploaded by users can be found.

• User Diaries: Similar to a blog where users can post their user stories and interact with the community via comments.

• Communities: Information on the OSM local chapters and groups over the world.

• Copyright: Information about copyright and licensing, including information on how to credit OSM, links to the full licenses, and the list of contributors.

• Help: Page with links to several resources regarding the OSM functionalities and activities, such as forums, guides, discussions on mapping topics, and the Wiki.
• About: General information on what is OpenStreetMap.

3. Editing and exporting bar

This bar contains the editing and exporting functionalities of the OSM platform, as well as the editing history showing all the edits made by OSM users.

• Editing: The edition consists in adding or changing the features of the OSM map. This means that anyone can change the look of the OSM map, keeping it updated. The easier way to edit the map is through the in-browser editor directly on the platform map. The editing tool adds to the map a layer containing satellite imagery and activates the editing tools. This allows the user to draw features (points, lines, or polygons) that match real-life objects. Fig. 5 shows the map editing interface.

• History: Show the entire list of changes in the OSM database. It includes information on the user that made the edit, the date, and the comments of other users.

• Exporting: This tool allows the user to export OSM map features in an area set by the user. By default, OSM downloads data using their format, but it is possible to use other platforms such as Overpass Turbo or Planet OSM to filter and get data in other formats that could be used in different software or on a web page, or to download the whole database.

Fig. 5: The Editing Map

4. The main map

The main map displays a web map that shows what the user has selected using the map controls that will be shown in point 6.

5. Search bar

The Search bar allows users to search places in the OSM database. It works by typing a word and clicking on “Go” or pressing enter. The search then fetches the most similar features on the OSM database and shows them as a list.

The search tool also allows getting routes from one place to another, similar to Google Maps or Waze, using different providers for Foot, Car, or Bicycle such as GraphHopper, OSRM, and Valhalla.

6. Map Controls

Map controls contain several additional map functionalities to navigate and change the map visualization.

• Zoom controls: Zoom in and zoom out of the map;

• Show my location: Inserts a marker on the map in your position (provided by the device you are using), and centre the map to the position;

• Layers: Allow users to change the base map and add additional layers provided by OSM. The base maps provided are the Standard OSM map, CyclOSM and Cycle Map contain data on cycling paths all over the world, the Transport Map and ÖPNVKarte show public transport facilities and the Humanitarian focuses on resources useful for citizens and humanitarian organizations in emergencies. Other interesting layers include the “map notes” which show notes added by the community, and “map data”, which loads the map features as vectors;
• Map Key: Map legend. Only available for some map layers;

• Share: Options for exporting and sharing the map. The map can be exported as a link to the OSM map, an embedded web page, and an image;

• Add a note to the map: Allow users to insert map notes for pointing out mistakes in the map or report that something is missing;

• Query Features: Allows to obtain vector features from the OSM database. It queries the database looking for features near a selected point;