OpenStreetMap
Using Maps to Map
Posted by KhubsuratInsaan on 23 May 2025 in English. Last updated on 15 July 2025.I have a craze for adding addresses to OSM. Unfortunately, in Delhi it is ridiculously hard to find a place with addresses properly displayed on the front. If you come across a house with no nameplate on it, you can be almost sure to not guess the correct house number.
This irks me a lot. So, I have decided to look for guide maps made by the locals while travelling around the city, and use those to map the neighbourhoods. I have got some nice pictures, which I have uploaded to my commons profile.
Here’s one I recently clicked. The amount of detail really supplements my survey a lot.
This diary entry is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
Discussion
Comment from SimonPoole on 23 May 2025 at 09:48
You need to find out how far Indian copyright regulation will restrict reuse of such maps. (by creating your OSM account you agreed to only using sources that you can legally use for editing OSM).
India is a signatory to the Berne convention and while there are likely to be some differences in the details, you are going to have to assume that the maps are protected by copyright.
The simple way around the problem though is to simply ask the map creators for permission.
Comment from KhubsuratInsaan on 23 May 2025 at 10:45
SimonPoole that sucks. I will no longer upload anything that hasn’t been verified by me. And see if I can get permission.
Comment from ianlopez1115 on 23 May 2025 at 16:11
Though you cannot directly copy the guide maps and similar maps due to relevant copyright laws in your area, you may use them as a reference or to cross-check.
Comment from AF HAF KARTOGRAF on 3 July 2025 at 11:32
Has these house numbers streets? If yes, same house numbering as in Czechia without street numbers.
Comment from KhubsuratInsaan on 3 July 2025 at 11:59
@AF HAF KARTOGRAF the house numbers in Delhi usually have
addr:placeinstead ofaddr:street.Comment from spacewalker77 on 16 August 2025 at 03:19
Most of the time they are correct cause the house layout haven’t changed
Comment from KhubsuratInsaan on 16 August 2025 at 04:09
spacewalker77, I think you are right about its accuracy. I tried asking the government about the copyright, but haven’t received a reply so far. So, I will have to continue using these as references.
Comment from spacewalker77 on 16 August 2025 at 04:13
Bold of you to assume they’ll give you one
Comment from KhubsuratInsaan on 16 August 2025 at 04:34
I am generally not that pessimistic of the government, though I have to say it wasn’t much of a surprise when I didn’t received a reply 🫤