Organised Editing/Activities/TomTom

About TomTom

TomTom has been making edits in OpenStreetMap through Organised Editing since 2021. More information about the company can be found on this page.

Project Creation

When we create new organized editing projects, we consider several factors:

• Is there a similar project or activity already in existence that might duplicate or conflict with what we are considering?
• Are there appropriate sources, such as recent clear imagery, available for the relevant region?
• Is the project a reasonable size with tasks logically grouped?
• Do the tasks align with local capturing rules?

Prior to creating tasks for our editing projects, we analyze the OSM data to pinpoint possible gaps, inconsistencies, or other potential issues. For some projects, we use sampling to manually validate a selection of tasks within a new project to help maintain accuracy and quality.

Editing Requirements

Our organised editors are careful to ensure that their edits are accurate and compliant with all relevant OSM guidelines.

• Sources such as recent aerial or street level imagery or other community recommended local sources are checked to ensure accuracy of edits, and only edits that are clearly supported by these sources are uploaded to OSM.
• The OSM wiki is checked to ensure an edit follows both general guidelines and local conventions.
• Each changeset references the sources used and is accompanied by a comment that explains the edit made in clear, simple language following OSM changeset guidelines.
• When members of the community comment on our changesets, someone on our team (usually the original editor) responds in a timely manner.

Editing Projects

Below is an overview of all editing projects launched in OSM by TomTom. Apart from that, TomTom regularly contributes to other MapRoulette challenges, Tasking Manager projects and Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT) projects.

Map Data Improvements

To improve the map quality, we propose to make edits by sharing and editing several types of projects (see Types of Activity) for most countries in the world (see Geographical Scope) using both MapRoulette and Tasking Manager tools.

If the community deems a challenge more suitable to be solved without organised help, we will leave it for local users interested in completing the tasks.

Geographical Scope

Data improvements are made in the following countries. Occasionally, editing challenges may be targeted at specific states, districts or metropolitan areas.

Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Curaçao, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Ghana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kosovo, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, North Macedonia, Oman, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal , Qatar, Republic of the Congo, Réunion,Romania , Rwanda, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, São Tomé and Príncipe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore , Sint Maarten, Slovakia, Slovenia , Solomon Islands, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Türkiye, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Types of Activity

MapRoulette Challenges

We are using MapRoulette to share challenges focused on capturing missing features; modifying already existing ones or fixing data errors as listed below. We in part get inspired by Atlas checks, overpass queries and osmose output. The types of activities depend on the country (see Geographical Scope).

• Add Highways
• Connect Isolated Highways
• Add Surface to Highway
• Add Land Use
• Add Buildings
• Fix Building and Highway Intersections
• Fix Highway and Water Intersections
• Add Water Features
• Fix Inconsistent Bridge and Tunnel Tagging
• Fix Inconsistent Highway Intersections
• Add Access Tag
• Inconsistencies in Exits and Signposts

• Route Numbers Inconsistencies
• Fix Incorrect Highway Junctions
• Fix Intersecting Buildings
• Fix Incorrect Junctions on Roundabouts
• Check Small Area Features
• Add/Check Crossing Between Railway and Highway
• Fix Building and Water Intersections
• Fix Spiky Buildings
• Fix Isolated Pedestrians’ network
• Fix Pedestrians’ Areas network
• Updating Junctions and Improving Highway Network
• Advanced Map Editing: Correct Too Short Highways
• Advanced Map Editing: Fix building self-intersections
• Advanced Map Editing: Validate and Fix Water Objects
• Fix objects without tags
• Update deprecated landuse=reservoir tags  
• Fix trams’ railways and highways
• Update Speed Limits

Tasking Managers Projects

Since 2023, TomTom has been using Tasking Manager tool (e.g. OpenStreetMap US Tasking Manager) to launch projects consisting of grids with task squares to be mapped. The scope of those edits includes roads, buildings and other features.

TomTom Map Feedback  

Since 2023 TomTom is validating map feedback from end users for potential updates to OSM which is explained in further detail on the following page: Organised Editing/Activities/TomTom Map Feedback  

Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT)

TomTom participates in HOTOSM’s Disaster and Humanitarian response as a way to be aware of response activities, communicate support capacity, and promote engagement and participation within TomTom in areas of priority and need.

Automated Edits  

Our activity includes mechanical updates where appropriate and in such a way that avoids any risk of data regression. For this purpose, TomTom is using the TTmechanicalupdates bot account. All automated actions are announced in the respective communication channels while reasoning and algorithms are documented in detail on corresponding pages prior to update execution. Details about mechanical updates done by TomTom can be found here: Automated edits/TTmechanicalupdates.

Virtual Projects

Virtual Projects offer a flexible way to organize diverse challenges into ad-hoc project groupings. In the future, we may create Virtual Projects to take advantage of this, based on dedicated feature improvements, error resolution, or any other reasons leading to enhanced OSM data.

• Unusual and missing buildings challenges

We gather challenges related to missing and unusual buildings – their size and shape are doubtful, hence we see value in solving related issues and improving rendering and display experience of buildings in OSM data.

Cultural and Sporting Events

This collaborative mapping project, introduced by TomTom, aims to ensure the correctness and completeness of OpenStreetMap data worldwide for countries hosting international, national and regional cultural and sports events.

For your reference and review: if you want to participate in this project, you can find it here

Tools

JOSM and iD Editor. Standard tools within the editor and public information.

Data Sources

Our team always starts with searching for the latest local sources, however, if up-to-date local imagery is not available, we may make use of other sources. See examples below:  

• Esri World Imagery
• Bing Maps Aerial
• Other ESRI World Clarity (Beta)
• Mapbox Imagery

Local Sources

Austria	basemap.at Orthofoto Geoimage.at MaxRes Steiermark Orthophoto Tiris: orthophoto infrared Tiris: orthophoto imagico.de: Eastern Alps autumn colors 2019
Switzerland	swisstopo SWISSIMAGE
France	BDOrtho IGN Ortho HR IGN Ortho HR IGN 2019
Hungary	FÖMI orthophoto 2007-2010
Italy	PCN 2012 - Italy orthofoto Imagery PCN 2006 - Italy
Norway	Norway Orthophoto Norway Orthophoto (more recent, less zoom) Kartverket Kartverket Matrikkelen
Argentina	National Geographic Institute Orthophotos (WMS) - valle_del_rio_negro_2014_2.5 National Geographic Institute Orthophotos Mosaic
Brazil	Jaraguá do Sul Orthomosaic 2020
South Africa	South Africa CD:NGI Aerial
Sweden	Trafikverket Road Network(Overlay)
The Netherlands	PDOK aerial imagery Beeldmateriaal.nl 7,5cm (WMS) latest PDOK aerial imagery Beeldmateriaal.nl 7,5cm (WMS) imagico.de: North Sea Coast spring 2018
Germany	Saxony latest aerial imagery Saxony latest aerial imagery infrared Saxony unprocessed aerial imagery NRW Orthophoto North Rhine-Westphalia aerial photograph            Bavaria (80 cm) Geoportal Berlin / Berlin Zoom / DOP 2017 Geoportal TrueDOP20RGB (2020) North Rhine-Westphalia ALKIS and aerial photos
Finland	MML Orthophoto NLS.fi Topographic Database ( Not found in imagery section ) Helsinki region orthophoto
Slovakia	Orthophoto mosaic Slovakia
Slovenia	GURS: Slovenia orthophoto 25cm (DOF025)
New Zealand	LINZ NZ Aerial Imagery
Croatia	dgu.hr: Croatia 2019-2020 aerial imagery
Uruguay	IDE.uy Ortophotos 2019
Lithuania	ORT10LT (Lithuania)
Latvia	Latvia - LVM GEO orthophoto Latvia - Orthophoto (2016–2018), 1:5000
USA	VBMP Most Recent Imagery USGS Imagery NYSDOP Orthoimagery IndianaMap Orthoimagery 2017 MassGIS 2019 Orthos
Belgium	Available for few cities: Brüssel - URBIS(Most recent Imagery) Flanders - AIV Flanders most recent arial imagery Wallonia - SPW most recent aerial imagery
Czech Republic	ScanEx IRS

For some OSM map edits TomTom editors will use proprietary sources for support. This will typically be the case in situations where there is not sufficient evidence using the available sources in OSM editors themselves. The proprietary sources will be ground-level imagery and GPS traces, both collected by TomTom's mobile mapping vans. On occasion, we will also use sources collected from a field survey by one of TomTom's sourcing specialists who have visited the location and collected data to support the required map updates. We will gladly share screenshots of those sources for viewing by anyone interested.

Editing Team

Apart from a small dedicated editing team, many other TomTom team members do personal mapping in OpenStreetMap as a hobby. They are not listed here. In addition, some of the mappers listed here do not edit exclusively for TomTom; some of their edits will be in pursuit of their own mapping interests.

Active Users

username	role
sbaido	project manager
Syed_N	coordinator
Mapiate	coordinator
changio	coordinator
Hajar-El	project manager
CasGroenigen	coordinator
spughetti_tomtom	coordinator
vtrtsxlegend	coordinator
SupanchatMetta	coordinator
Natasha963	coordinator
Lolek123	coodinator
DomiAr	project manager
SK@_TT	coordinator
ahirek	project manager
TTCHLOE	coordinator
Bert_vm	editor
Tabzi	editor* / team lead
Tomek_Koz	project administrator
KasiaaBaa	project administrator
Priscilla_Zachée	editor
Ziad_abdalhamed	editor
MMersch_TT	editor
Cotelabarca	editor
DarioS_TT	editor
Sebasawk	editor*
dazzlep	editor*
Geo_Cop	editor* / team lead
Ra_colate	editor*
Swihail	editor*
BR_pebble	editor*
NumisK	editor*
Crick_RN	editor*
melody_Tej	editor
Ky_AT	editor*
optimistic9	editor*
007Transformer	editor*
syazici	editor
BerkU_	editor
Captain_America_802	editor
NewEngland_CountryGirl	editor
TT_Chili_King	editor
Training_Queen	editor
darylcav	editor
David_TT	editor
aramis_TT	editor
whitepanda	editor*
Szumisia	editor
Archi_Ma	editor*
Flamen_Sru	editor*
ajmat	editor*
rajdhani	editor*
Wildsharky	editor*
Murrumbidgee	editor*
Metauro	editor*
Kaduna	editor*
Brentar	editor*
Gorger	editor*
World_Winner	editor*
MG_TT	editor
dwarfs_rule	editor
ShadowSeeker_TT	editor
Tomasz_D	editor
EZ_TT	editor
WayWise	editor
Wayfinder9	editor
Fighter_Hulk	editor
Dwight-Schrute	editor
Nitz1981	editor
Madi-Red	editor*
Fil_Vim	editor*
Nar_ach	editor*
Tinetto	editor*
Sammamish	editor*
Shel_Sri	editor*
Saint_Vincent	editor*
Shre_WD	editor*
Pan_Nug	editor*
Bod_Ger	editor*
Sangro	editor*
Byenin	editor*

* next to the user role indicates those editors who are full time.

Inactive Users

Username	Role
courtiney	coordinator
MarjanVan	coordinator
Zal_KR	editor*
YataGeo	editor*
Vid_pet	editor*
Thri_geek	editor*
The_hazards	editor*
Ten_Brian	editor*
Te_Gully	editor*
Tangy_Joy	editor*
Swet_Slam	editor*
Stanza_AT	editor*
Spare_AK	editor*
SNL_photo	editor*
Shutter_bug	editor*
Shaw_Sank	editor*
Shan_Dan	editor*
Sham_style	editor*
Rakka_Ma	editor*
Pow_AR	editor*
Potter_Gang	editor*
Jenn_Bh	editor*
Jan_Kola	editor*
House_island	editor*
HodophileA	editor*
Saa_dani	editor*
Meh_aR	editor*
Doddi_ule	editor*
Med_Pat	editor*
Mini_music	editor*
Jy_Phule	editor*
Gan_toon	editor*
geographK	editor*
DeltA_Shok	editor*
Moto_JB	editor*
C_nav	editor*
Cat_Ritha	editor*
Greenboina	editor*
Com_Rak	editor*
Rish_T	editor*
San_Path	editor*
Samannud	editor*
Photo_MC	editor*
Mo_Nem	editor*
Mendesian	editor*
Robe_mad	editor*
Rider_gang	editor*
Rap_SM	editor*
Lav_SN	editor*
KRIYA_Z	editor*
KP_Tech	editor*
Kar_Cinn	editor*
GS_vogue	editor*
JP_flower	editor*
Jo_decor	editor*
Goonj_Wad	editor*
Geo_Juk	editor*
Giza_Up	editor*
Floella	editor*
Faizy_MD	editor*
Map-Chap99	team lead
Geo_Marshal	team lead
Zooph_dhu	editor*
Mini_Craft	editor*
HanHeader	editor*
Hill_Risso	editor*
Vas_gear	editor*
Vin_Primer	editor*
PicJun	editor*
Al-dente	editor*
Man-San	editor*
EverDice	editor*
SwaRover	editor*
Lash_Flare	editor*
Holly_Sup	editor*
Digi_Tip	editor*
Cine_flick	editor*
Green_Rally	editor*
Sralla_geo	editor*
Green_Panther	editor*
Ho_Rider	editor*
Rosh_ty	editor*
Eesha_com	editor*
Can_Yon	editor*
Map_Viz	editor*
Nad_Alley	editor*
Gatsby_S	editor*
Sat_spike	editor*
Ton_SB	editor*
Da_Capo	editor*
trailblazernuri	editor*
Neophile	editor*
GallivanterST	editor*
RaGAlla	editor*
KS_movie_fan	editor*
Vish_Lune	editor*
Su_Bonk	editor*
Neo_Nug	editor*
Ruby_Jay	editor*
Makh_Anu	editor*
Vintha_de	editor*
Kala-Re	editor*
Vin_Scoop	editor*
Po_Kunfu	editor*
Div_Darla	editor*
Gan_Frame	editor*
Kan_Niha	editor*
Mu-Jook	editor*
Rap_Tesh	editor*
Tik_Ridha	editor*
Aqeel_Bob	editor*
Dot_Med	editor*
Man_Haruss	editor*
Mimi_Cam	editor*
Mit_Rate	editor*
San_Sha	editor*
Sa-Glide	editor*
Numis_Vath	editor*
Meta_Human	editor*
Galle_Tan	editor*
Geo_Marla	editor*
Kalindi	editor*
Hugoton	editor*
Addi_son	editor*
Khy_ber	editor*
Schnee_berg	editor*
Green_wood	editor*
Sondel	editor*
Ezhimala	editor*
D_ellen	editor*
Rtanj	editor*
Bell_Jan	editor*
Tan_Pan	editor*
Nee_Nand	editor*
Nik_geographer	editor*
Ja_Van	editor*
Ha_Kee	editor*
Jay_Pan	editor*
Alex_Manga	editor*
Ger_Sat	editor*
Pog_Ud	editor*
Mir_Anu	editor*
Ju_PInt	editor*
Ren_Rap	editor*
SNan_Da	editor*
Man_Shri	editor*
Thal_pal	editor*
Bon_gadget	editor*
Kas_Glass	editor*
MarioKP	editor*
Tat_NK	editor*
Hen_devil	editor*
TravetteR	editor*
Feenash	editor*
MintK	editor*
Bir_kir	editor*
Karmelovelove	editor
Rohoa	editor
tomawik	editor
mapa_sko	editor
OSMiornica	editor
Boci3k1	editor
SP_fondue	editor*
Travel_NM	editor*
Smile_arch	editor*
Dora_game	editor*
Red_Fiction	editor*
phaltankar	editor*
Dolo_mite	editor*
geo_pilot	team lead
Dhanapot	editor*
Chil_creep	editor*
Bubble_Doo	editor*
Blog_dash	editor*
Bee_Shitha	editor*
Batik_Van	editor*
Band_tea	editor*
A_dige	editor*
mapper_happy	editor*
Dockslip1	editor*
Arvari	editor*
Red_Slam	team lead
Melomania_V	editor*
So_Prano	editor*
Farm_Yusha	editor*
Amar_QT	editor*
Sri_Jaaz	editor*
Char_Vad	editor*
Jebel_Hafeet	editor*
Mount_Guntur	editor*
Kallar_N	editor*
Mul_hacen	editor*
Qua_tum	editor*
Nath_Art	editor*
Chap_oga	editor*
Gee_plant	editor*
Man_art	editor*
Mallta_sk	editor*
Pianoj	editor*
BoraP	editor*
Fashluk	editor*
Art_NS	editor*
Dollman	editor*
Ballyad	editor*
Explore_R	editor*
karoAK	editor*
Me_hyn	editor*
antique_K	editor*
Bean_B	editor*
Dun_Der	editor*
Vim_Him	editor*
Gud_Slam	editor*
Min_Jiang	editor*
Belig	editor*
Pelusium	editor*
Achelous	editor*
Gongola	editor*
MappingMore	editor*
Grintovec	editor*
Vubhar	editor*
Tegelberg	editor*
St_Drive	editor*
Peace_Stroke	editor
Savinja	editor*
Dora_baltea	editor
Palary	editor*

Hashtags

Current practice is to use the #tomtom hashtag on edits. Edits based on user feedback additionally have the hashtag #tt_mapfeedback.

#tt is a hashtag that has been used for TomTom’s edits in the past.

TomTom is actively organizing mapping events. All edits made during those events are distinguished by the hashtag #tt_events.

Community Consultation

We contact the community about all organised editing projects using the preferred communication channel.  

Timeframe

We started making data improvements to OSM through organised editing in 2021. We plan to continue making these improvements on an ongoing basis for the foreseeable future.

Measuring our Success and Performance

We perform quality checks to ensure that the changesets made by our editors are accurate, add value to the map, and meet community guidelines. For each quality check, a live editor double checks the following elements of the changeset under review:

• Did the editor follow the instructions in the challenge and task description?
• Does the completed changeset fit the scope of the project/challenge/task?

• Did the editor use the correct task status?
• Did the editor correctly use the appropriate hashtags?
• Is the edited map data accurate, according to the applicable source material?
• Does the changeset follow all country-specific capturing methods on the OSM wiki pages?
• Are the changeset comments clear and accurate?  
• Was there any community feedback, and, if so, was it implemented correctly?

These quality checks are performed in the following cases:

• 100% of changesets made by new editors are checked until at least 95% of that editor’s changesets pass the quality checks without any issues.
• 100% of changesets that are part of a new project are checked until at least 95% of that project’s changesets pass the quality checks without any issues.

Whenever a quality check uncovers an issue with a changeset, that changeset is returned to the original editor to be reworked. Once the editor resubmits the changeset, a new quality check occurs. This process repeats until the changeset passes the quality check without issues.

Training/Instructions

New editors are directed to existing OSM training materials, such as the OSM Wiki and the Help panel of the iD editor. Our team also holds regular editing parties where less experienced editors receive help and guidance from their more experienced peers.

Post-Event Clean Up

As referenced above, under Measuring Our Success and Performance, we regularly perform quality checks on our changesets. Whenever a quality check uncovers an issue with a changeset, that changeset is returned to the original editor to be reworked. Once the editor resubmits the changeset, a new quality check occurs. This process repeats until the changeset passes the quality check without issues. To ensure that no issues are missed, each changeset that successfully passes its quality check is then passed on to a second reviewer for an additional check.

Contact

If you have remarks about a specific edit of ours, please drop a comment in the changeset, and we will do our best to respond thoughtfully. Or, you can also:  

• Reach out to osm@tomtom.com with any questions

• Join the conversation in the local community channels