id editor
The iD editor is the new (launched 2013) web-based OpenStreetMap editor which makes it easy to edit OpenStreetMap. iD is fast and easy, and allows you to map using various data sources such as satellite imagery, GPS, and Field Papers.
The iD editor is a great way to edit when you want to make small and easy changes, and you don't require all the complexity of JOSM. This chapter demonstrates the basics of editing with iD.
Starting the iD Editor
To use iD you will need to be connected 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 want to edit.
Click on the small arrow next to Edit. Then click Edit with ID (in-browser editor).
iD Editor User Interface
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
Draw line
Draw shape (polygon)
Undo
Redo
Save changes
Map panel: This panel show various configuration functions:
Zoom In
Zoom Out
Go to your location
Configure background layer
Open Help Menu
Information panel: This panel shows various information, such as 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.
You will see a panel like this:
You can change the brightness level by clicking one of these boxes:
There are 3 different brightness levels - 100%, 50%, and 0%. Click all 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 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 also can display GPS tracks from your computer (GPX format). It is very easy - just drag the GPX file into ID editor.
If there is imagery offset, you can correct the imagery offset by clicking Fix Misalignment.
Click the navigation buttons to move the imagery. Click the reset button to return to the default position.
Basic Editing with iD
Before we start practicing with iD, pan and zoom to a location that you familiar with. You can pan by holding the left mouse button and dragging the map to your desired area.
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 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 form, depending on what tag you choose from the feature panel.
If you make a mistake, such as a wrong location, you can drag your point to a new location by holding the left mouse button on your point. 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 a point from the line, you will see these tools:
Delete point from line
Disconnect point from line
Split a line into two line from the point you’ve selected
When you click your left mouse button on a line, 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
A "line" created in the iD editor is actually a "way" with "tags" on it.
Drawing Shapes (Polygons)
To add a new 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 and 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.
This will show all the tags attached to the feature.
Click the plus sign (+) to add keys and values or click the trash icon to delete tags.
ID versus JOSM
iD is good for...
When you are doing simple edits
When you have fast internet to load the imagery and save the edits
When you want to be sure to follow a consistent and simple tagging scheme
When you cannot install a programme on the computer you are using
JOSM is better...
When you are adding many buildings (buildings tool in JOSM is best for that)
When you are editing many polygons or lines that already exist
When you are on an unreliable internet connection or offline
When you are using a specific tagging scheme (or custom presets)
Moving Forward
Click on the link for further reading on:
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