OpenRailwayMap
{{Short description|Open railway mapping software project}}
{{infobox website
| name = OpenRailwayMap
| screenshot = File:OpenRailwayMap of Northeastern US and Southeastern Canada.png
| products = Geographic data
| url = {{URL|https://www.openrailwaymap.org/}}
| commercial = No
| caption = OpenRailwayMap section of northeastern US and southeastern Canada
| type = Collaborative mapping
| registration = Required for contributors, not required for viewing
| content_license = Various
| owner = Community-owned
| launch_date = {{Start date and age|2013}}{{Cite web |title=Whois openrailwaymap.org |url=https://www.whois.com/whois/openrailwaymap.org |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=www.whois.com |language=en}}
| current_status = Active
}}
OpenRailwayMap (ORM) is an online collaborative mapping project developing a worldwide railway map using technology based on the OpenStreetMap project. The project is part of the OpenStreetMap database, and acts as a renderer for the existing OpenStreetMap database to include additional information for railroad lines worldwide.{{Cite web |title=Where to find railroad maps online |url=https://www.trains.com/mrr/how-to/expert-tips/where-to-find-railroad-maps-online/ |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=Trains |language=en-US}} The project was launched in 2013.{{Cite web |title=Whois openrailwaymap.org |url=https://www.whois.com/whois/openrailwaymap.org |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=www.whois.com |language=en}}
History
The project was started in 2011.{{Cite web |title=OpenRailwayMap - OpenStreetMap Wiki |url=https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/OpenRailwayMap |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=wiki.openstreetmap.org}} The OpenRailwayMap website was launched in mid 2013. The map originally supported both raster tiles and vector tiles, but support for the latter was dropped in 2017 due to poor performance.{{cite mailing list|title=Removing vector tile support|first=Alexander|last=Matheisen|mailing-list=openrailwaymap|date=2 April 2017|accessdate=7 April 2025|url=https://lists.openrailwaymap.org/mailman3/hyperkitty/list/openrailwaymap@openrailwaymap.org/thread/3NBE2TD63R3BZWMINXEXD5EWKL6OBPLB/}} A fork of OpenRailwayMap with a more modern vector tile implementation was announced in 2025.{{cite mailing list|title=OpenRailwayMap-vector announcement|first=Hidde|last=Wieringa|mailing-list=openrailwaymap|date=6 March 2025|accessdate=7 April 2025|url=https://lists.openrailwaymap.org/mailman3/hyperkitty/list/openrailwaymap@openrailwaymap.org/thread/6GVBIAI54CBHF2BJ22TEDOULJFYWYFSI/}}
Contents
OpenRailwayMap contains data for railway line positions, as well as the following information about them: track type (i.e. bridge, tunnel, regular line); track line type and current use (i.e. main, branch, yard; construction, disused, abandoned); max rail speeds; train protection; track electrification and track voltage if applicable; and track gauge.{{Cite book |title=Computers in Railways XV: Railway Engineering Design and Operation |publisher=WIT Press |year=2016 |isbn=978-1-78466-123-6 |editor-last=Brebbia |editor-first=C.A. |location=Great Britain |pages=119–120 |language=EN |eissn=1743-3509 |editor-last2=Mera |editor-first2=J.M. |editor-last3=Tomii |editor-first3=N. |editor-last4=Tzieropoulos |editor-first4=P.}}
Applications
Some of the uses for OpenRailwayMap are as follows: scientific models/simulations, data for model train enthusiasts, track information for trainspotters, and routing/public transport. {{Cite web |last1=Blumenschein |first1=Mattias |last2=Babilon |first2=Katherina |last3=Schmidt |first3=Bernd D. |last4=Pfaff |first4=Raphael |year=2021 |title=Use cases in autonomous shunting |url=https://publications.rwth-aachen.de/record/841583/files/841583.pdf |access-date=8 September 2024 |website=RWTH AACHEN UNIVERSITY |publication-place=Aachen, Germany}}
As well as the project website there is also a mobile app available for Android devices.{{Cite web |title=Railmap for OpenRailwayMap - Apps on Google Play |url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.alexamin.railmap&hl=en_US&pli=1 |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=play.google.com |language=en-US}}
= API =
OpenRailwayMap has a public and free (albeit limited-use) API. It is designed for small-scale applications. Users can query for information such as rail locations and data related to the rail.{{Cite web |title=OpenRailwayMap/API - OpenStreetMap Wiki |url=https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/OpenRailwayMap/API |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=wiki.openstreetmap.org}}{{Cite web |last=Gaffuri |first=Julien |year=2018 |title=Generalising OpenRailwayMap to 1:10k and 1:50k |url=https://kartographie.geo.tu-dresden.de/downloads/ica-gen/workshop2018/ICA_Workshop_2018_railway_gaffuri.pdf |access-date=8 September 2024 |website=TU Dresden |publication-place=Luxembourg city, Luxembourg}}
Contributing
Image:JOSM-ss.png editor]]
OpenRailwayMap allows anyone to contribute in many ways, such as:
- Creating data using photography or GPS trackers and sending it to experienced project editors
- Using the JOSM desktop editing tool to expand the database (Registration required with a verified email address, no registration required to view data)
- Contributing to the project's open source code
= Internationalization =
References
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{Official website|https://www.openrailwaymap.org/}}
- [https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/OpenRailwayMap OpenRailwayMap documentation] on the OpenStreetMap Wiki
{{OpenStreetMap}}
Category:Collaborative mapping
Category:Creative Commons-licensed works
Category:Open content projects
Category:Internet properties established in 2013