OpenStreetMap Bangladesh

The iD editor is the browser-based OpenStreetMap editor. iD is fast and easy to use, and allows mapping from various data sources such as satellite and aerial imageries, GPS, Field Papers or Mapillary.

The iD editor is a great way to edit for small and easy changes that don’t require the advanced features of JOSM (a more advanced mapping editor). This chapter demonstrates the basics of editing with iD.

Starting the iD Editor

The iD editor requires an active connection to the Internet.
Open your Internet browser, and go to the OpenStreetMap website at http://www.openstreetmap.org.
Login using your OpenStreetMap account
Pan and zoom the map to the area that you wish to edit. You can pan by holding the left mouse button and dragging the map to your desired area.
Click on the small arrow next to Edit. Then click Edit with iD (in-browser editor).

iD Editor User Interface

Edit Feature Panel: This panel shows tags from the object selected on the map. You can add or edit tags from this panel.
Tools: This panel shows basic editing tools:
- Draw point (node), shortcut key 1
- Draw line (way), shortcut key 2
- Draw shape (polygon), shortcut key 3
- Undo, shortcut keys Ctrl+z
- Redo, shortcut keys Ctrl+y
- Save changes, shortcut keys Ctrl+s
Map panel: This panel show various configuration functions:
- Zoom In, shortcut key +
- Zoom Out, shortcut key -
- Go to your location
- Configure background layer, shortcut key b
- Map Data, shortcut key f
- Open Help Menu, shortcut key h
Information panel: This panel shows various information, such as the scale bar and which users have contributed to the area.

Configuring the Background Layer

Before you start editing, you can change the background layer.

Click the Background settings button or use the shortcut key b.
You will see a panel like this:
You can change the brightness level by clicking one of these boxes:
There are 4 different brightness levels - 100%, 75%, 50%, and 25%. Click on each of them to see the difference.
You also can change the background layer based on your desired tile provider (the default is Bing Aerial Imagery). Try the various options available from this list.
You can add your own map tiles by clicking on Custom.
For example, if you want to add a Field Paper, click Custom then click on the magnifying glass (search) icon to open the following window:-

and enter your FieldPaper snapshot URL, which will be something like this: http://fieldpapers.org/snapshot.php?id=cqhmf2v9#18/37.80593/-122.22715

You can display GPS tracks from your computer (GPX format). It is as easy as dragging and dropping the GPX file into iD editor.
You can enable OpenStreetMap GPS traces to display public GPS traces available for the area. In the image below, public GPS traces are shown in various colors, indicating the direction of travel.

If there is imagery offset, you can correct the imagery offset by clicking Fix Alignment.
Click the navigation buttons to move the imagery. Click the reset button to return to the default position.

Basic Editing with iD

Now let’s start practicing with iD.

Adding Points

To add a new point, click on the Point button.

Your mouse cursor will change into plus (+) sign. Now, click on a position that you know to mark a location. For example, if you know that there is a hospital in your area, click on the position of the hospital building.

Notice that a new point is added. At the same time, the left panel will change to show a form where you can select attributes for the object. Click Hospital to tag the point as a hospital.

You can use the forms to fill detail information about your point. You can fill hospital name, address, and/or other additional information. Note that each feature will have different options, depending on what tag you choose from the feature panel.
If you make a mistake, such as a wrong location, you can move your point to a new location by holding the left mouse button on your point and dragging it. Or, if you want to delete your point, click the left mouse button on the point and then click the button which looks like a trashcan.

A “point” created in the iD editor is actually a standalone “node” with a set of “tags” on it.

Drawing Lines

To add a new line, click on the Line button.

Your mouse cursor will change into plus (+) sign. Find a road that hasn’t been drawn on the map and trace it. Click once on a point where the road segment begins, move your mouse, and click to add additional points. Double-click to end the drawing process. Notice the panel on the left.

Just as with a point, select the appropriate tags for your line.
You can drag points from the line by clicking your left mouse button on a point and dragging it.
You also can move the whole line by selecting it, and choosing the Move tool. Then drag the line to a new position.

When you click your left mouse button on an individual point (node) on the line, you will see these tools:
- Delete point from line
- Disconnect point from line
- Split a line into two lines from the point you’ve selected
When you click your left mouse button on a line (but not on a point), you will see these tools:
- Delete line
- Create a circle from a line (only active if the line is closed)
- Move line
- Form a square shape from a line (only active if the line is closed)
- Reverse line direction (good for rivers & one-way streets)

A “line” created in the iD editor is actually a “way” with “tags” on it.

A special note about Deleting: In general you should avoid deleting other people’s mapping if it just needs improvement. You can delete your own mistakes, but you should try to adjust other people’s mapped objects if they need changes. This preserves the history of the items in the OSM database and is respectful of fellow mappers. If you really feel something should be deleted, consider asking the original mapper or one of the OSM email lists about it first.

Drawing Shapes (Polygons)

To add a new multi-sided shape, click on the Area button.

Your mouse cursor will change into plus (+) sign. Try to trace a building using the imagery as a guide.
You will notice that the color of your shape will change depending on the attributes that you assign to it.

The tools that are available when you select a shape are similar to those when you click on a line.

A “polygon” in the iD editor is actually a “closed way” with tags on it.

Saving Your Changes

When (and if) you want to save your edits to OpenStreetMap, click the Save button. The panel on the left will show the upload panel.

Enter a comment about your edits and click Save.

Additional Information and Custom Tags

When you are editing an object, you will see a strip of icons at the bottom of the attribute panel. You can add additional information by clicking these icons:
- Add elevation
- Add notes
- Add contacts / phone number
- Add source tag
- Add website
- Add accessibility information
- Add Wikipedia link
Or, you can add custom tags by clicking All tags.