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OpenStreetMap
open-in-new
<p>OpenStreetMap (abbreviated OSM) is a free, <a href="/facts/Open_Database_License/oyb1Tmlu">open</a> <a href="/facts/Geographic_database/wzPAetLd">map database</a> updated and maintained by a community of <a href="/facts/Volunteers/U0V4Nj1z">volunteers</a> via <a href="/facts/Open_collaboration/VE0Lk03C">open collaboration</a>. Contributors collect data from <a href="/facts/Surveying/qchGcnRC">surveys</a>, trace from <a href="/facts/Aerial_photography/Sp9D0crM">aerial photo imagery</a> or <a href="/facts/Satellite_imagery/V8LQh7jI">satellite imagery</a>, and import from other freely licensed <a href="/facts/Geodata/FUSjSQ71">geodata</a> sources. OpenStreetMap is <a href="/facts/Free_content/jHYHARSN">freely licensed</a> under the <a href="/facts/Open_Database_License/oyb1Tmlu">Open Database License</a> and is commonly used to make electronic <a href="/facts/Map/KxQX4B2U">maps</a>, inform <a href="/facts/Turn-by-turn_navigation/qKUyVcna">turn-by-turn navigation</a>, and assist in <a href="/facts/Humanitarian_aid/KKYF2X7X">humanitarian aid</a> and <a href="/facts/Data_and_information_visualization/ET1lSjFa">data visualisation</a>. OpenStreetMap uses its own data model to store <a href="/facts/Geographical_feature/MRbCqBmW">geographical features</a> which can then be exported into other <a href="/facts/GIS_file_format/nfG1rVIP">GIS file formats</a>. The OpenStreetMap website itself is an <a href="/facts/Web_mapping/NLCTRoQm">online map</a>, geodata <a href="/facts/Search_engine/SRntsbz2">search engine</a>, and editor. </p><p>OpenStreetMap was created by <a href="/facts/Steve_Coast/b7adUp3K">Steve Coast</a> in response to the <a href="/facts/Ordnance_Survey/syLosef7">Ordnance Survey</a>, the United Kingdom's national mapping agency, failing to release its data to the public under free licences in 2004. Initially, maps in OSM were created only via <a href="/facts/GPS_tracking_unit/7E082t8Y">GPS traces</a>, but it was quickly populated by importing <a href="/facts/Public_domain/YWKMDKw4">public domain</a> geographical data such as the U.S. <a href="/facts/Topologically_Integrated_Geographic_Encoding_and_Referencing/d2Ln1yoG">TIGER</a> and by tracing imagery as permitted by source. OpenStreetMap's adoption was accelerated by <a href="/facts/Google_Maps/cKQ0jaFg">Google Maps</a>'s introduction of pricing in 2012 and the development of supporting software and applications. </p><p>The database is hosted by the <a href="/facts/OpenStreetMap_Foundation/xaYgJBxG">OpenStreetMap Foundation</a>, a non-profit organisation registered in <a href="/facts/England_and_Wales/nRu8tsxR">England and Wales</a> and is funded mostly via donations. </p>