Revolutionizing the world of maps and geographic data, OpenStreetMap (OSM) has emerged as a community-driven platform that provides an alternative to proprietary mapping systems dominated by giants like Google. Created by Steve Coast, a former dropout from University College London, OSM has seen remarkable success over the past two decades.
Coast drew inspiration from the success of Wikipedia and Linux, which led him to believe that a collaborative mapping project like OSM could also thrive. However, he admits that he wasn’t certain of its potential until later. While OSM shares similarities with Wikipedia in terms of being a collaborative endeavor, the scope and complexity of mapping global geographic features sets it apart.
With more than 10 million contributors, OSM has become a comprehensive database of streets, buildings, rivers, canyons, and other natural and built environments. The project relies on a combination of data sources, including aerial imagery and maps from governments and private organizations like Microsoft. Contributors can manually add and edit data using OSM’s editing tools, and even venture into uncharted territories to map new areas using GPS.
Coast’s early efforts were instrumental in OSM’s development, leading to the establishment of the non-profit OpenStreetMap Foundation in 2006. The Foundation, supported by donations and memberships, is managed by a volunteer board and a small team of employees and contractors. OSM’s Open Database License allows third parties, including tech giants like Apple and MapBox, to utilize the data with appropriate attribution.
Recently, the Overture Maps Foundation, backed by Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and TomTom, has turned to OSM data to create a viable alternative to Google’s mapping monopoly. OSM’s success is attributed to its ability to provide free, valuable data to the world, while avoiding the challenges faced by Wikipedia by focusing solely on factual information.
Beyond affordability and accessibility, the existence of an open map dataset challenges the notion of who should control location information. Allowing corporate entities like Google to monopolize location data raises concerns about their power to shape and control our understanding of the world. OSM contributor Serge Wroclawski emphasizes that location should be a shared resource, not solely controlled by a single entity.
In conclusion, OpenStreetMap has achieved remarkable success in the past two decades by providing a collaborative platform for mapping the world. It challenges the dominance of proprietary mapping systems and offers a valuable alternative that is accessible to all. As the world becomes increasingly reliant on location data, OSM’s open approach ensures that this essential resource remains in the hands of the people rather than a few powerful corporations.
