Live OpenStreetMap Data in ArcGIS

OpenStreetMap (OSM) is an open, editable map of the world . For several years, Esri has provided access to OSM data as a basemap. This started with Esri referencing raster tiles hosted by OpenStreetMap and has evolved to Esri generating and hosting vector tiles, which are updated every 3 weeks with the latest OSM data at the time. These basemaps are ideal for high-performance visualization but have limited capabilities beyond that.

New Feature Layers

This year, Esri is introducing a new set of feature layers that provide access to OSM data. These feature layers will be hosted in ArcGIS Online and configured to scale. Because the data is published as feature layers, they will support visualization and analysis, including the planned ability to extract selected areas of the data (e.g. a city or neighborhood) for offline use or publishing in your own portal. As with OpenStreetMap itself, the data is published under an open (ODbL) license.

One of the biggest benefits of these new feature layers is that they will be updated continuously with the latest edits to OpenStreetMap. Esri will host a replica of the OSM data in a dedicated ArcGIS Online organization, and update that replica with minutely changes (diffs) to OpenStreetMap. Edits made directly to the OSM data will typically appear in the ArcGIS Online feature layers within a few minutes!

In order to support timely updates of the data, Esri will be hosting the OSM data as separate regions (e.g. North America, Africa, Europe, etc.), as they are made available on the Geofabrik downloads site . The first region of North America is available now ! The OSM data is published as separate feature layers of different types (e.g. buildings, highways, waterways, amenities, shops, etc.) based on their OSM tags. As features are added or updated in the OSM data using one or more of these tags, they will quickly appear in the feature layers.

Sample of OpenStreetMap Feature Layers

This map features the buildings, highways, and amenities layers for downtown Los Angeles, displayed on the OpenStreetMap Vector Basemap in Light Gray Canvas style. You can navigate the map and click on features for more details based on available OSM tags.

Access the Layers

You can browse these feature layers now by visiting the OpenStreetMap site in ArcGIS Online, which includes a gallery of maps and layers featuring the OSM data hosted by Esri.  You can also access these layers in the OpenStreetMap Layers (Beta) group .  If you find a layer in this group that is of interest to you, you can sign in to ArcGIS Online and add to favorites so it’s easily accessible for later use. As new layers are added for North America and other regions over the coming weeks and months, they will be added to the group.

OpenStreetMap License and Contributors

OpenStreetMap data is provided under an Open Database License (ODbL) . As a live replica of the OSM data, the ArcGIS Online feature layers are also licensed under ODbL. This means that you can use the data freely in your work, with proper attribution to OpenStreetMap contributors , under the terms of the ODbL license. If you include one of the maps or layers in a web map or app that you create, it is important that you also include Credits (Attribution) to OpenStreetMap (i.e. “© OpenStreetMap contributors”) in your item.

What’s Next

The OpenStreetMap feature layers are now in beta release . We will stay in beta for a few months while we publish additional feature layers and regions of the OSM data to ArcGIS Online. The feature layers currently support visualization and analysis using ArcGIS Online analysis tools. We intend to support extract of local areas of data for these layers, but have not yet enabled that capability.

During the beta period, we invite you to explore the layers and test in your maps and apps.  If you want to create a more focused layer (e.g. schools or hospitals), you can copy a layer in the ArcGIS Online map viewer and create a filtered view.  We will publish additional blog articles that demonstrate various ways in which the OSM feature layers can be used.

If you would like to contribute to OpenStreetMap and see your data reflected in these layers, we encourage you to sign up and join the OpenStreetMap community.  Many ArcGIS users are making their useful and authoritative data available to others through OpenStreetMap, or just mapping for the fun of it in their free time.  Happy mapping!

About the author

Deane Kensok

Deane Kensok has been with Esri since 1990 and is currently the ArcGIS Content CTO and a member of the Living Atlas team. For the past twenty years, Deane has worked on a variety of Internet mapping and data publishing products and projects, which have led to his current work with ArcGIS Online and the Living Atlas.

Connect: