How To Make Changes to OpenStreetMap Maps

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• plotaroute admin   Friday 17 Mar 2017 11:12:07

  If you find that either:

  1. a path is not shown on one of the maps based on OpenStreetMap (OSM) data, or
     
     
  2. that the Auto-Plot feature does not recognise a path,

  you can report them problem to the OSM community or fix the map yourself.  OSM is an open-source project so relies on contributions from users to develop and improve the maps.

  To make changes to the map using the OpenStreetMap editor you'll first need to sign up for a free account on OpenStreetMap and then follow these instructions to edit the map:

  1. Login to OpenStreetMap.
     
     
  2. Click on the EDIT button to launch the Map Editor.
     
     
  3. Enter the approximate location you want to edit in the search box and select it from the list.
     
     
  4. Click the "Edit" button at the top of the page to launch the editor.  There is an option to see a walkthrough of how to use the Editor - this is highly recommended.
     
     
  5. If an existing Path is not recognised by the Auto-Plot feature, follow these instructions:
     
     
  1. Click on the path on the map to select it.
     
     
  2. In the panel on the left under "Allowed Access" change "Foot" to "Yes" (and/or change the "Bicycles" setting if appropriate).
     
     
  3. Click Save to save the changes.
     
     
  4. Enter a brief description of the changes when prompted and click Upload.
     
     
  6. If a path is missing from the map, follow these instructions to manually ploit the path:
     
     
  1. Click on the "Line" button.
     
     
  2. Plot the path on the map, clicking twice on the final point.  If it intersects with another path or road, be sure to click on this.
     
     
  3. Select Path Feature from the panel on the left and choose the appropriate type of path (e.g. Foot Path).
     
     
  4. Enter details about the path including its name, surface type and allowed access.
     
     
  5. Click Save to save the changes.
     
     
  6. Enter a brief description of the changes when prompted and click Upload.

  You can also upload missing paths from GPS recording by selecting the "GPS Traces" option from the menu at the top of the page.

  Changes to OpenStreetMap will take time to feed through to plotaroute.com - this can be up to 30 days but is usually much quicker.