OpenStreetMap (OSM) is a collaborative online mapping platform that has become a go-to resource for developers and businesses around the world such as Amazon or Uber. Launched in 2004, OSM is a free, open-source alternative to proprietary mapping services like Google Maps or Bing Maps. With over 9 billion elements, including roads, buildings, and points of interest, it’s a massive repository of geographical information that is constantly growing. In fact, as of 2021, OSM contains more than 95 million kilometers of mapped roads, making it the largest open-source mapping project in the world. To put that in perspective, that’s enough road length to circle the Earth more than 2300 times! OSM works in the same way as Wikipedia, with a global community of contributing volunteers but also private companies that add and modify information on the platform in real time.
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