This is probably a pretty niche topic for a post, but it’s my blog so deal with it.
I have on occasion gone on “mapping streaks” by contributing to the OpenStreetMap. OpenStreetMap, or OSM, is basically the map version of Wikipedia, a community-sourced open-source editable map of the world. OSM is basically a giant database of information, and that information can be used by anyone. The underlying data is used in many different map apps and websites, and for generating reports for whatever reason, and is also used as supplementary information in bigger private apps like Google/Apple/Bing/etc Maps.
There is a ton of in-depth information that can be filtered to give you only geographic information for specific purposes, like a cycling map, or fire maps, hiking maps, boating maps, etc.
My big foray into editing the map came as I was curious about playgrounds in Minneapolis back when the school district wanted to tear out the old playground at Cooper Elementary. I mapped every playground and tagged them with correct information, going so far as to note whether it was mulch or sand or rubber, if it was lit, if it was property of the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board or the Minneapolis Public Schools, and more. I think could use that information to draw a map with “10 minute walk” zones around each playground to see where the dead zones might be.
I became more familiar with the editing tools, and they are actually pretty easy to use. The difficult part is understanding the changes you want to make, and taking care to not contribute sloppy or wrong information. It’s very tempting to map things using only satellite images or street view from Google Maps or similar, but that can be hazardous. Satellite imagery is not always accurate– the images could be out of date, or slightly misaligned against the correct GPS coordinates of a building or road. You might think you’ve drawn a garage in the right spot, but it’s off by 5 feet, and then things just keep worse.
Of course, you have to weigh this accuracy against convenience. Are you going to walk through peoples yards with phone in hand in order to get perfect GPS coordinates for their garage? Probably not. But you could do that for streets, sidewalks, public garbage cans, benches, trees, playgrounds, etc. You should personally check the hours a business is open rather than rely on what Google Maps says (or at the very least, check the businesses website).
OSM, like Wikipedia, can also be a contentious place, where different contributors will have differing perspectives about what counts as what. Is this path a pedestrian sidewalk only, or is it a shared path? Many small differences in how to tag items, or whether data is accurate enough to be included or if it should be omitted entirely until a later date. Expect some contributions to be revised or reverted.
I’m writing this post because there is an app that is finally coming to iOS after only having been available on Android for a long time: StreetComplete (iOS, Android). StreetComplete integrates with OSM, using your OSM account, but makes contributing much easier. It provides a simplified editor that presents you with a map with simple point-of-interest pins that indicate some “unknown” that you can easily answer. What material is this sidewalk made of (asphalt, concrete, etc)? Is this Little Free Library still here? Are there traffic signals at this intersection? What are the open hours of this business?
You can quickly get contributing for your immediate community without much fuss after you sign up. It narrows your editing area to only your immediate surroundings, and you can filter the type of tags you want to update. It automatically uploads your changes to the official OSM as well. Unfortunately, it can also feel a little like an inconsequential slog, as many of the quick tags to contribute are things like “is there a street crossing here? It it marked? Is there a pedestrian island? Are there tactile surfaces at both ends?” Or adding house numbers to whole blocks of houses.
More exciting types of contributions come from the things that interest you. Like the playgrounds for me, you might have your own interest like nail salons, or bookstores, or public restrooms. With those in mind, think about what kind of information about those things would fit onto a map. Obviously location, but open hours, accessibility, websites, and more can be mapped and possibly be useful for someone down the road. You might find areas where whole buildings are missing, and start adding your own polygon shapes to the map.
If you get deeper into editing, you can use the official OSM iD editor. The iD editor offers more options and is easy to use, though I suggest using a desktop for it rather than mobile. Other editors exist as well, for Android and iOS and other devices, some focused on specific aspects of a map and some that are very powerful though more complicated, like JOSM.
OpenStreetMap has a “Maptober” event this month, with a different challenge for each day. There is no prize, but it gives ideas for what kind of editing to try each day and links to documentation to help you do that, with the hope that it’s a gentle introduction to mapping.
If you join OSM, you can find me as “TinyMapper”, let me know if you sign up.