Import

Imports and automated edits should only be carried out by those with experience and understanding of the way the OpenStreetMap community creates maps, and only with careful planning and consultation with the local community.
See Import/Guidelines and Automated Edits code of conduct for more information. Imports/automated edits which do not follow these guidelines might be reverted!

Importing is the process of uploading external data to OSM.

Bulk imports are occasionally undertaken to supplement data collected by individual volunteers, and the ability to work in an area always has priority. Many free potential datasources have been uploaded into OSM in the past, like AND Data in the Netherlands, TIGER in the United States, Canvec in Canada, and MassGIS in the US state of Massachusetts.

Unlike editing the map or uploading GPX traces, importing combines an existing dataset with the OSM dataset and thus typically includes a complex merging process.

More information

Import Guidelines

The ground rules. Read this before planning and executing an import.

Import Catalogue

A list of imported data. Document imports here to facilitate sharing of expertise and troubleshooting.

Software

Description of software and import processes.

Handling bad imports

What to do if you discovered a bad import.

Getting permission

Letter templates to request permission to use data sources.

See also

• Potential Datasources - List of data sources that could be imported, with descriptions of licensing status/investigation.
• Import/Secondary data imports with no or bad coordinates
• Lessons learned from Swedish landcover import
• Data Imports In OpenStreetMap – Love ‘Em Or Loathe ‘Em? - web article, Martijn van Exel
• Imports and the Community - web article, Matt Amos
• Imports and the Community II - follow up to the prior article, Matt Amos
• Permissions Document your communication with (potential) donators of data and their (dis)allowance of using their data
• Import/Catalogue Document your imports and the data license and waivers associated with the data imported

Deprecated Activities

• Foundation/Import Support Working Group - a group formed by the foundation to facilitate investigation and potential import of datasets.