On August 9, 2004, Steve Coast took the first step towards revolutionizing the world of mapping by registering the openstreetmap.org domain. This act marked the official birth of OpenStreetMap (OSM), a project that would grow to become a global phenomenon.
OpenStreetMap was created by Steve Coast in response to the Ordnance Survey, the United Kingdom’s national mapping agency, which failed to release its data to the public under free licenses in 2004. Coast envisioned a free, editable map of the world that anyone could contribute to and use. Initially, OSM focused on mapping the United Kingdom, utilizing GPS traces to create maps. However, it quickly expanded by importing public domain geographical data, such as the U.S. TIGER data, and by tracing permitted aerial photography or satellite imagery.
In the UK, as well as in other countries, government-run and tax-funded projects like the Ordnance Survey amassed extensive geospatial data. However, this valuable information was not freely and widely distributed, limiting its accessibility and usability. Steve Coast’s vision aimed to democratize access to geospatial data, breaking down these barriers and making it available for everyone, from hobbyists to professionals.
The launch of openstreetmap.org signified a new era in cartography, one where community collaboration and open data would challenge traditional, closed-off mapping systems. Today, OpenStreetMap is supported by millions of contributors worldwide, all working together to map our world in unprecedented detail and accuracy.
