Linked List: Simple Ways to Contribute to OpenStreetMap

Recently I completed 1000 edits on OpenStreetMap. It's a big deal for me :) It happened because I started making small but useful contributions from my phone. I usually map on the phone and then sometimes update them on the desktop, if required. On the phone, I use the following apps, which makes it super easy to edit.

OsmAnd+ - Offline Maps, Travel & Navigation

OsmAnd+ (OSM Automated Navigation Directions) is a map and navigation application with access to the free, worldwide, and high-quality OpenStreetMap (OSM) data. Enjoy voice and optical navigation, viewing POIs (points of interest), creating and managing GPX tracks, using contour lines visualization and altitude info, a choice between driving, cycling, pedestrian modes, OSM editing and much more.

OSMAnd is a FOSS app meant for travelers. I use it all the time for navigation. But you can use OSMAnd for editing OpenStreeMap. It's its secret power. I use it to add new Points Of Interest. Anywhere I am, I just open the App and add a PoI if it's missing. I have also used it extensively to map surveillance. You can download it from F-Droid or Playstore .

StreetComplete

StreetComplete is an easy to use editor of OpenStreetMap data available for Android. It can be used without any OpenStreetMap-specific knowledge. It asks simple questions, with answers directly used to edit and improve OpenStreetMap data. The app is aimed at users who do not know anything about OSM tagging schemes but still want to contribute to OpenStreetMap.

I love StreetComplete, because it's a game. You open the app, and it presents you with questions about surroundings that you can answer. These answers will enrich OpenStreetMap. It takes less than two minutes. You can do it while you are in a line for something. StreetComplete is FOSS and is available on F-Droid and Playstore.

GPS Logger for Android

GPSLogger is an Android app that logs GPS information to various formats (GPX, KML, CSV, NMEA, Custom URL) and has options for uploading (SFTP, OpenStreetMap, Dropbox, Email). This app aims to be as battery efficient as possible.

One could use OSMAnd for GPS logging. But I find GPS Logger more efficient and easy. I use it to log GPS tracks (Walks, Runs, and Drives) and upload it to OSM for tracing. It's battery efficient. It's a FOSS App and available on F-Droid.

Happy mapping. Let me know what's your favorite way to map in the comments.