1

I’m new here, and I’d like to clarify something. Can I use OSM to make my own map, or is everyone just editing one public map–a WikiMapia, as it were? I wouldn’t mind contributing to the public map, but I am looking for alternatives to google maps for making my own shareable map of a particular area–a map that would not be editable by others, unless I give them permission.

Lee!

2

OpenStreetMap is just one big public database, things you contribute to it are seen and shared with all. As you suggest, it can be considered the “Wikipedia of maps”.

I make paper maps of an area that have details not appropriate for inclusion to OSM, which sounds a bit like what you would like to do. My production process is to use OSM data on one layer and then my organization’s private stuff on another layer which I believe meets the requirements of OSM for not commingling the data. And, of course, I credit both OSM and its contributors and the people who contribute the data for the private organization on the printed map. If/when we acquire data appropriate for inclusion in OSM then we add that data to OSM rather than to our private database.

Perhaps you could setup a process/system similar to what we have done for your maps that have data you don’t want editable by others.

3

Yes, at OSM we’re editing a shared public map database.

Depending on your specific needs for map editing, uMap might be worth a look: https://umap.openstreetmap.fr/de/
It’s limited in the available cartographic tools (mostly drawing on top of an existing map), but it’s easy to use!

If that’s not sufficient for your use case, I wholeheartedly support n76’s suggestions. The software we’re using to run and edit OpenStreetMap is open source, so they can be used for your private data, too.