OpenStreetMap

OpenStreetMap (OSM) is a free, editable map of the world, created and maintained by a vast international community. Launched in 2004 in the United Kingdom, OSM encompasses data about roads, buildings, addresses, shops, and various points of interest. The project is supported by the OpenStreetMap Foundation, a UK-registered not-for-profit organization that acts as the legal entity for OSM, manages its servers, and organizes events like the annual State of the Map conference. The foundation is incorporated as a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales, with its registered office located at St John’s Innovation Centre, Cowley Road, Cambridge, CB4 0WS, United Kingdom. The OpenStreetMap Foundation is governed by a board of directors elected by its members, who are volunteers from around the world. The foundation's mission is to support the OpenStreetMap Project by providing infrastructure, organizing events, and fostering a global community of mappers. As of mid-2020, OSM had over 100 million changesets and nearly 1 billion features globally, with approximately 50,000 contributors participating each month. The data is freely licensed under the Open Database License, allowing anyone to use it for various purposes, including creating electronic maps, navigation, and data visualization. The OpenStreetMap Foundation also accepts corporate memberships to support the project's sustainability, with members contributing both time and money to help ensure site stability, maintain and improve technical infrastructure, and support its volunteer community.