this post was submitted on 21 Dec 2025

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Openstreetmap

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Overview:

Discussion on the Openstreetmap service that has the most open map data that began in 2004.

Apps:

JOSM: Map editor

Comaps: Offline maps that's great for walking/hiking/cycling

Magic Earth: Great for driving

Related:

!comaps@sopuli.xyz

founded 1 year ago

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Easiest way to contribute? (lemmy.dbzer0.com)

submitted 3 weeks ago by ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com to c/osm@feddit.uk

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Oh neat an OSM community, and I find it organically two days after I decide I need to figure out how to contribute!

Well so my area needs some help, POI data can be spotty but moreso I have a few newly built apartment complexes nearby that (while they're visible on the map,) need their streets named and buildings numbered.

What is the easiest way for me to add this information to OSM? I'm aware of OSMAND+ and Everydoor apps for android through my searching yesterday and I've downloaded both (well I downloaded OSMAND+ when Magic Earth went shitty but just to use as a gps) but that's as far as I've gotten.

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[–] HereIAm@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

My local area didn't have any houses mapped, so I started out with the iD editor. It's extremely easy to get started with. It even has an interactive tutorial to get you going. After that I moved on to JOSM to edit more efficiently.

The OSM wiki has a lot of good resourced about all kinds of topics. Something I would suggest you look up is how you're region/country likes to format address data.

And finally whenever you commit a set of changes there's a check box you can tick to ask for someone to double check your changes.

[–] JASN_DE@feddit.org 3 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Do you have an OSM account? General question.

Overall, they might pop up in StreetComplete https://streetcomplete.app/ as issues.

You can also edit directly through openstreetmap.org. Personally I prefer a web browser because of the much bigger display.

[–] ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

No not yet, I figured I'd have to make one, I'm mostly wondering the easiest way to use it when I do. I couldn't find any obvious way to log in to an acct or edit streets with OSMAND+ and everydoor confused me on opening lol.

Hadn't heard about StreetComplete yet, thanks, I'll check it out!

I suppose I can use the browser, but I'd be doing so on my phone and the screen would stay the same size, so I was hoping for an android app.

[–] JASN_DE@feddit.org 2 points 2 weeks ago

For "on-the-go" edits I just use CoMaps. Don't forget to log in to your OSM profile, or the editing options won't be available.

[–] ColonelMustard@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

For browser editing, I recommend rapid.

It's OSM on steroids, night and day difference. Not sure it'd be much use on a phone screen though.

Street Complete is excellent although limited to confirming details of existing objects.

https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Rapid

[–] SpicyWizard@slrpnk.net 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I'm seeing this post so late, probably you already found a way to add this info, but just in case.. For me the easiest a way to contribute is just using iD editor in the browser, you just go to OSM, create an account, zoom on the area you want to contribute and then click edit. This editor has everything you need and is easy to use but it may be a bit daunting the first time. If you are very new to this just check how other users gave tags to the near buildings created.

For the apps, I only use them to contribute very small things like adding a missing restaurant, I'm not sure that you can even use them to draw buildings and name streets.

As a more advanced editor you have JOSM, but since you seem new and looking the easiest way, the iD is just fine.

[–] ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

You'd think that, but I'm notoriously slow to do things so I still haven't even tried all the suggestions yet hahaha. It's the ADHD I'm also finishing up 3 other projects and starting another 2 lol.

The buildings actually look to be on the map, just entirely unlabeled and on an unnamed street. I just need to name the street (let's call it) "Pine Street" and then designate the buildings "500 Pine St, 600 Pine St" and so on. I'd settle for just the street lmao.

Thanks I'll check out that method!

[–] SpicyWizard@slrpnk.net 2 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

I feel you on that hahah

If it's just an unnamed street then it is extremely easy, just click the road and put it a name. Then in the buildings, just click them and you'll see that you can fill the address, the number, zip code and whatever else you want to add.

But be careful, this shit is extremely addictive. First you just want to map your street, then when you're happy about it you go with your city block, then you go with the whole town and then you're screwed trying to map your whole country!

[–] ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 1 week ago

I'll be careful with nothing, it must be done! Someone's gotta do it so it may as well be me!

Haha nah I definitely already plan to do more, but tbh I don't get out much these days so either I'll just do it when I need it (like this one) or you're right and I'll do the whole town which will get me out more, so win/win!

Thanks for the help! That certainly sounds easy enough, this will be the next thing I try (once I get around to doing it. Just one more time of having to GPS to the next street over and I'll do it in my car before I leave lol.)