In today’s tech landscape, some technologies like internet protocols and cloud services are so ubiquitous that they go unnoticed by many. Similarly, OpenStreetMap, a community-driven platform for geographic data, plays a crucial role for companies and software developers seeking an alternative to established players like Google.
The brainchild behind OpenStreetMap is Steve Coast (pictured above), a former University College London student who has held various map-centric roles in companies like Microsoft, TomTom, and Grab. Despite no longer being directly involved with the project on a daily basis, Coast reminisces in a recent blog post about the inspiration he drew from the success of Wikipedia and Linux two decades ago that led him to create OpenStreetMap.
OpenStreetMap, boasting over 10 million contributors, allows individuals to collaboratively map out various geographic features on a global scale. This crowd-sourced endeavor relies on donated aerial imagery, maps, and data sources from organizations like Microsoft. Contributors can modify and add data using OpenStreetMap’s editing tools or map new areas using GPS technology.
Founded by Coast in 2006, the U.K.-based non-profit OpenStreetMap Foundation oversees the project, relying on donations and memberships for support. Notably, the Foundation operates with minimal staffing, emphasizing a community-driven approach to decision-making and financial management.
OpenStreetMap’s Open Database License (ODbL) allows for third-party use of its data with proper attribution. Big players in the industry, including corporations like Apple and startups like MapBox, have leveraged OpenStreetMap data for their mapping services. Additionally, the Overture Maps Foundation, supported by tech giants like Microsoft and Amazon, heavily incorporates OpenStreetMap data in its alternative mapping solutions to challenge Google’s dominance.
Over the past two decades, OpenStreetMap has proven itself as a valuable and freely accessible mapping resource, defying expectations and contributing to a more democratized mapping ecosystem where ownership of location data is distributed rather than concentrated in a few hands.
As Coast reflects on OpenStreetMap’s journey, he highlights the project’s ability to democratize location data and empower users to shape their geographical surroundings. In a world where corporate interests often dictate mapping services, OpenStreetMap stands out as a platform owned by the collective, emphasizing the importance of shared, community-driven resources.
