October 15, 2024
The komoot map is full of all kinds of details which help you plan a great route. Where trails actually exist, what kind of surface they have, whether there are any seasonal restrictions, and in mountainous areas, what the Swiss Alpine Club’s (SAC) trail grading is. But where does this information come from? And how do you know if you can trust it?
The short answer
The komoot map uses data from OpenStreetMap (OSM), a volunteer-run, open-source mapping platform. With over 11 million community members contributing updates, OSM is by far the largest and most up-to-date source of mapping intel out there.
But how does OSM work?
OpenStreetMap is overseen by the OpenStreetMap Foundation. It’s like Wikipedia, but for map data, so anyone can suggest an edit or update the map. This means OSM can tap into the hive mind of hundreds of thousands of on-the-ground explorers.
OpenStreetMap’s digital mapping versus your trusty guidebook or paper map
OSM is a living, breathing source of information, with new data being added, and updates frequently made to the map. This can be anything from relabeling the surface type from “hard-packed gravel” to “rocky”, to adding access regulations – who is allowed to use a path and who isn't. OSM volunteers also keep map data like SAC trail grading up to date. Your paper map or guide book will never run out of battery, but you’ll also need to buy a new one regularly if you want up-to-date, peer-reviewed maps.
When you say anyone can contribute, do you actually mean ANYONE?
Yes. Anyone can edit the OSM map (even you), provided you follow the community-approved process for how and when it’s appropriate to update the map. All edits to the map are transparent and trackable – anyone can see what’s changed, by whom, and why. This way the community can easily question others’ decisions or correct details that don’t seem right.
Editor’s note: You can see some of OSM’s guidelines here.
The “give and take” between OSM, komoot, and you
Komoot uses OpenStreetMap data, but with a large, active community who are regularly testing out the trails, we often get feedback if the situation on the ground is different to that indicated by OpenStreetMap. Komoot’s support team and selected members of our content teams regularly pass on feedback to the relevant OSM organizations to ensure that we all benefit from this shared resource. We also educate our tourism and conservation partners on how to use OSM so they can keep data related to their regions up to date. We provide resources for you too, so it’s simpler for you to share feedback directly with OpenStreetMap. If you find yourself on a route that does not match the information on the map, you can edit the map directly yourself (here’s how to edit OSM data) or you can suggest an edit via OSM, and a volunteer will update it. Any changes made to OSM are usually reflected on the komoot map within 14 days.
With so many people regularly contributing up-to-date, on-the-ground information, OSM is a reliable source. It goes without saying though that you should always pay close attention to the map during the route planning stage – OpenStreetMap’s data, just like any map, is not perfect. Visit this page so you know what to look out for as you plan your next route.
Want some examples of how komoot uses OSM for routing? Read this.
Interested in more topics that affect your confidence and safety in the mountains? Visit this page full of safety-related resources.