Tessera

Sharing good stuff in the OSM US August newsletter: ⛱ The team is traveling to SotM in Paris ⛱ September Mappy Hour ⛱ New Charter Project: OldInsuranceMaps.net Read all about it: openstreetmap.app.neoncrm.com/np/viewEmail... #OpenStreetMap #MappyHour #SOTM2026 #OSM #opendata #geospatial

This #SOTMUS2026 presentation shows how #OpenSidewalks (OSW) data has been published as reference layers and surfaced directly inside the Rapid editor, so mappers can use it today as part of their workflow while mapping pedestrian infrastructure in #OSM. 🔗 youtu.be/aqfywDMOekw?...

OpenSidewalks in OpenStreetMap: Using OS-CONNECT as a Reference Layer in Rapid ~ Amy Bordenave

OpenSidewalks (OSW) is an open data standard for mapping connected pedestrian networks, developed by the Taskar Center for Accessible Technology (TCAT) at the UW. In Washington State, a legislative…

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On June 29, 2025, the Metrobus network in the Washington, DC area was radically altered overnight. This #SOTMUS2026 session explores how a few mappers quickly incorporated new data into #OpenStreetMap & inspired others to update bus networks in the surrounding area. 🔗 youtu.be/xlWNapXvBks?...

(Re)Mapping DC's Bus Network ~ Andrew Heare

On June 29, 2025, the Metrobus network in the Washington, DC area was radically altered overnight. Every route number was changed, bus stops were closed, and some routes were entirely different than…

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GrabMaps' KartaDashCam transforms ride-hailing trips in Southeast Asia into a passive mapping fleet. This #SOTMUS2026 talk shares the architecture, results from thousands of deployed units, & the technical & operational challenges of scaling edge-first map-making. 🔗 youtu.be/RynmZd0zgyw?...

Reinventing Map-Making with Edge AI Dashcams: KartaDashCam at Scale ~ Adrian Margin

GrabMaps' KartaDashCam transforms everyday ride-hailing trips in Southeast Asia into a passive mapping fleet. Using Edge AI, it detects traffic signs and POIs on-device to drastically reduce mapping…

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This #SOTMUS2026 talk describes the OSM US & Mapillary Camera Grant Program's impact from the perspective of one local mapper. It also discusses scaling street-level imagery collection in the US on Panoramax, a federated, free, and open-source platform. 🔗 youtu.be/AQh5C2xv09M?...

Impact of Mapillary Camera Grant and Scaling Open Street-Level Imagery Across US ~ Harald Kliems

In 2025, the Mapillary Camera Grant Program distributed 40 cameras to the OpenStreetMap US community. Over 5 million fresh 360 degree images and comprehensive coverage of cities from Lansing,…

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This #SOTMUS2026 presentation covers using official government datasets from the Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service, and the U.S. Forest Service, and processing the data to update OSM with useful information, such as trail names or road reference numbers. 🔗 youtu.be/Y_ETv5hEWPY

Using Official Datasets for Roads and Trails ~ Rob Savoye

This talk covers the details of using official government datasets from the BLM, NPS, and USFS, and processing the data to update OSM with anything useful, like a trail name or road reference number.

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OSM is the basis for several transportation network datasets (think SharedStreets, etc). This #SOTMUS2026 talk explores how road network owners and transportation specialists can benefit from well-structured networks, making OSM the true worldwide datum for transportation. 🔗 youtu.be/SJI0RBd5gbw

The Usefulness of Road Networks in OSM ~ Mike Migurski

What good can you do with an OpenStreetMap road network? OSM has been the basis of several transportation network datasets like SharedStreets, OSMnx, and most recently Overture. Road network owners…

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#OSM is more than data: it's a community. This #SOTMUS2026 talk explores how relationships, shared purpose, & collaboration strengthen the geospatial fabric across the U.S. 🦩 🔗 youtu.be/xxxFGBMR2Cw 🦩

Coordinates of Connection: Mapping the People, Places, and Purpose That Bind Us ~ Lindsey Peña

OpenStreetMap is more than data: it's a community. Coordinates of Connection explores how relationships, shared purpose, and collaboration strengthen the geospatial fabric across the U.S. From…

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#OSM data quality evaluations focus on measuring the data's accuracy & usability. But how do diverse contributors collectively decide what "good quality" data actually looks like? This #SOTMUS2026 explores this question. 🦩 🔗 youtu.be/0LhPW8KqsB0 🦩

The Social Life of Data Quality in OSM ~ Gopi Malathi

OSM data quality evaluations typically focus on measuring the accuracy and usability of the data. But how do contributors with diverse backgrounds, skills, and interests collectively decide what…

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Gareth Baldrica-Franklin shared a fascinating project, Mapping Teejop, in his #SOTMUS2026 keynote presentation. It's well worth the watch: youtu.be/nmC7O4V3A-8?... #OpenStreetMap #MadisonWisconsin

Keynote: Engaging with the Local Landscape: The Story of Mapping Teejop ~ Gareth Baldrica-Franklin

Hear the story of Mapping Teejop, a digital mapping project centering Indigenous history and presence in and around Madison, Wisconsin. Mapping Teejop is an educational project for classroom use - a…

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Abe Rubenstein shares his story of creating a software project and the generous help he received from the Madison tech community in this #SOTMUS2026 talk. 🦩 🔗 youtu.be/CcDxH4QQ8aE 🦩

How Madison civic tech gave me a map to navigate my early career ~ Abe Rubenstein

"Are you a developer interested in building your own bus app?" In 2013, this question appeared on the SMSMyBus website - an ad for a real-time Madison Metro bus arrival API. Despite being a recent…

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Emma Farahay explores the history of Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps in Sandusky, Ohio, in this #SOTMUS2026 presentation. youtu.be/OX1jrLJzgoQ #OpenHistoricalMap #OHM #OpenStreetMap

State of the Map US 2026

Sanborn in Sandusky - A Search for Local Stories

Emma Farahay

Emma Farahay explores the history of Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps in Sandusky, Ohio, in this #SOTMUS2026 presentation. youtu.be/OX1jrLJzgoQ #OpenHistoricalMap #OHM #OpenStreetMap

Sanborn in Sandusky - A Search for Local Stories

After being inspired during Mapping USA by OpenHistoricalMap and OldInsuranceMaps.net, explore the history of Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps in Sandusky, Ohio. How might these maps be used by local…

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Learn about the history of the Eastern Turnpike in this #SOTMUS2026 talk. Sources discussed in the talk include NYS lidar data, highway department records, old topo maps, and NYS State Archive records. youtu.be/cDtGexVarpQ?... #OpenHistoricalMap #OHM #OpenStreetMap #OSM

OHM: In Search of the Eastern Turnpike ~ Richard Welty

The Eastern Turnpike operated between the areas of Albany NY and Williamstown MA from 1799 into the late 19th century. A private toll road, it was typical of the period, and there were many such…

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This #SOTMUS2026 session explores Mergin Maps, an open-source platform built on the power and familiarity of QGIS that simplifies field data collection. Learn more: youtu.be/uJ2NOfGoj1g?... #MerginMaps #OpenData #OpenSource #OpenStreetMap

Mergin Maps: an open source platform based on QGIS for data collection ~ Vitor Vieira

Mergin Maps simplifies field data collection, offering an open-source platform built on the power and familiarity of QGIS. Capture, share and publish geospatial data seamlessly with an intuitive…

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This #SOTMUS2026 session demonstrates a #Python program used to identify #urbanheatislands by utilizing #LANDSAT thermal band imagery and #OSM ways exported through #Overpass. The program calculates the land surface temperature exposure for each way. 🦩 🔗 youtu.be/En2dNw2K3SQ?... 🦩

Using LANDSAT and OSM to Map Urban Heat Impact ~ Luke Everhart

This session covers a class project developed over the course of a semester: a Python program that takes both LANDSAT thermal band imagery and OSM ways exported via Overpass and calculates the Land…

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After recent Texas floods and LA wildfires, KABOOM! needed to quickly support communities by identifying damaged playgrounds. In this #SOTMUS2026 talk, learn about a GIS workflow that helps prioritize sites by using transparent, replicable criteria. 🔗 youtu.be/SpbD1vEow1o?...

Rapid Disaster Mapping for Playgrounds: Turning Geospatial Data into Recovery Priorities ~ Alice Lee

After the 2025 Kerrville, TX floods and Los Angeles wildfires, KABOOM! needed to quickly support communities by identifying damaged playgrounds. In this 15-minute talk, learn about a GIS workflow:…

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#OSM contains a vast amount of data, and sorting through it all can be challenging! In this #SOTMUS2026 presentation, Quincy Morgan demonstrates how TheMap.is lets you easily browse OSM data by theme so you can focus on the specific data you're seeking. 🦩 🔗 youtu.be/F5TNxp0vPx4?... 🦩

Thematic OpenStreetMap with TheMap.is ~ Quincy Morgan

OSM has a LOT of data, and it can be hard to sift through it all! TheMap.is lets you easily browse OSM data by theme so you can focus on just the data you care about. Choose from thousands of…

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Boundary disputes are a major but little-known challenge in mapping. This talk at #SOTMUS2026 illustrates the process of displaying disputed borders and the development of a legal multiview boundary set using #OSMdata and its connections to #Wikidata. 🔗 youtu.be/yOs_Avj5ZgE?...

Can you make a legal map with OpenStreetMap? ~ Mike Migurski

Boundary disputes are a major but little-known challenge in mapping: how can you show disputed borders between neighboring countries that claim the same territory? Here in the U.S. we're used to…

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This #SOTMUS2026 talk previews HIFLD Next, a new community-driven data-stewardship initiative with the Public Environmental Data Partners. 🔗 youtu.be/RLe1ZxTVnKg?...

Safeguarding America's Open Infrastructure Data: OSM As An Ecosystem Enabler ~ Puneet Kollipara

The federal open-data portal HIFLD Open long curated geospatial data layers on critical infrastructure from across agencies. But its 2025 shutdown by DHS wiped out a common reference point for…

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This #SOTMUS2026 talk proposes vector map embedding tiles: a data format that augments open map data with semantic and visual embeddings, as well as lightweight visual-language descriptions derived from imagery. 🔗 youtu.be/BR6J2sMi7xI?...

Embedding Tiles: Should We Be Structuring Open Map Data for AI? ~ Sean Gorman

AI models are increasingly integrating open map data into their data corpus. Should the community leave AI labs to their own devices or help intermediate this interaction? To this end, this talk…

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When HIFLD Open was taken offline, a community effort launched to restore its 400+ critical data layers. This #SOTMUS2026 talk explores how HIFLD was prepared for this agent-driven future by minimizing entropy, formalizing interfaces, and leveraging #OSM as a foundation. 🔗 youtu.be/2TuLgsIf1p8?...

How We Prepared HIFLD for the Singularity ~ Jeremy Herzog

When HIFLD Open was taken offline in 2025, a community-driven effort launched to restore its 400+ critical data layers. As automata increasingly navigate systems for users, they prioritize what is…

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