OpenStreetMap (OSM)

OpenStreetMap (OSM) is a collaborative project that creates a free, editable geographic database of the world. It was founded in London in 2004 by Steve Coast, inspired by the success of Wikipedia and fueled by the unavailability of free geographic data in the UK and elsewhere. Unlike proprietary maps, OpenStreetMap is built by a community of mappers that contribute and maintain data about roads, trails, cafés, railway stations, and much more from all over the world.

The project is supported by the OpenStreetMap Foundation, a UK-registered non-profit organization. Participation is truly global, with data being input by users across every continent. The data is available under the Open Database License (ODbL), allowing it to be used for both personal and commercial purposes, provided credit is given. This model ensures that the map remains a public good, independent of the commercial interests of any single technology giant.