Government as a Contributing Member of the OpenStreetMap (OSM) Community

Bibiana McHugh, TriMet
Wednesday 10:30 - 10:55
Session 1, Track 8, Slot 2

OpenStreetMap (OSM) is now TriMet’s standard source for routable base map data. TriMet utilizes OSM for internal systems and applications that necessitate a routable base map including, but not limited to: Computer-Aided Dispatch/Automatic Vehicle Location (CAD/AVL) system; Call Center and Field Trip applications; LIFT paratransit mobile data terminals (MDTs); OpenTripPlanner, an open source, multimodal trip planner; and fixed route scheduling system for on-street service.

TriMet is now a committed, contributing member of the OSM community. Working with the community and local jurisdictions is a standard business practice supported with a full-time employee (FTE) that is dedicated to OSM maintenance and associated datasets in the seven counties area. This effort sustains the increasing number of systems in the agency that require routable networks, and it supports seamless multi-agency trip planning and analysis in the region.

This presentation will include:
• Emerging technologies on the market that require a seamless routable network, and why OSM is an obvious solution to fulfill new system requirements
• TriMet’s OSM Improvement Projects for the seven county regional area in Portland in support of vehicle, walking, biking and transit routing in the four county metro area
• The business justification for a dedicated FTE in support of continued maintenance of OSM
• The financial support for this position which demonstrates the recognition of OSM’s importance from both an agency and regional perspective.
• Benefits of collaboration between the OSM community and government
• Facilitation of progress in this area with open data policies, data portals, and enhanced software tools