Overview

OpenStreetMap

Stacks253

Followers473

Votes58

ArcGIS

Stacks144

Followers194

Votes20

ArcGIS vs OpenStreetMap: What are the differences?

Introduction

When it comes to geographic information systems (GIS), two popular options are ArcGIS and OpenStreetMap. Both platforms provide valuable mapping and spatial analysis capabilities, but they differ in several key areas. Let's explore the key differences between ArcGIS and OpenStreetMap.

Data Sources: ArcGIS relies on proprietary data sources, including data from commercial providers and government agencies. In contrast, OpenStreetMap is built on crowdsourced data, where users contribute and maintain the mapping data. This means that ArcGIS offers a wide range of authoritative data, while OpenStreetMap has more community-driven and potentially more up-to-date data.
Cost: ArcGIS is a commercial software that requires a license, and the cost varies depending on the specific product and usage. OpenStreetMap, on the other hand, is open source and free to use. This makes OpenStreetMap a suitable option for users and organizations with limited budgets or those who prefer a more affordable solution.
Customization: ArcGIS offers extensive customization options, allowing users to tailor the platform to their specific needs. This includes the ability to create custom data models, develop specialized workflows, and integrate with other enterprise systems. OpenStreetMap also supports customization, but it may require more technical expertise to implement and maintain.
Community Participation: OpenStreetMap has a strong and vibrant community of contributors who actively participate in mapping and data updates. Anyone can contribute to OpenStreetMap by adding, editing, or verifying map features. ArcGIS, on the other hand, has a more controlled and curated approach to data updates, typically relying on authoritative sources. This can result in a more centralized and standardized dataset but may not be as responsive to local changes.
Functionality: ArcGIS offers a wide range of advanced GIS functionality, including spatial analysis, geoprocessing, and 3D visualization. It also provides specialized solutions for different industries, such as agriculture, urban planning, and emergency management. OpenStreetMap, while more limited in terms of built-in functionality, allows for flexibility and the development of custom tools and applications.
Integration with Other Systems: ArcGIS has extensive integration capabilities, allowing users to connect with a variety of data sources and systems. It offers APIs and SDKs for developers to build custom applications and workflows. OpenStreetMap also provides integration options, but the availability and level of integration may vary depending on the specific tools and platforms used.

In summary, ArcGIS offers a comprehensive GIS platform with authoritative data sources, extensive functionality, and customization options. It comes with a cost and is ideal for users who require a robust and well-supported GIS solution. OpenStreetMap, on the other hand, is free and open source, with community-driven data and customization opportunities. It may be more suitable for users or organizations with limited budgets or those who prefer a more flexible and collaborative mapping platform.

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Advice on OpenStreetMap, ArcGIS

StackShare

Apr 4, 2019

Needs advice

From a StackShare Community member: "We're a team of two starting to write a mobile app. The app will heavily rely on maps and this is where my partner and I are not seeing eye-to-eye. I would like to go with an open source solution like OpenStreetMap that is used by Apple & Foursquare. He would like to go with Google Maps since more apps use it and has better support (according to him). Mapbox is also an option but I don’t know much about it."

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Detailed Comparison

OpenStreetMap	ArcGIS
OpenStreetMap is built by a community of mappers that contribute and maintain data about roads, trails, cafés, railway stations, and much more, all over the world.	It is a geographic information system for working with maps and geographic information. It is used for creating and using maps, compiling geographic data, analyzing mapped information, sharing and much more.
Emphasizes local knowledge; Contributors use aerial imagery, GPS devices, and low-tech field maps to verify that OSM is accurate and up to date; Built by a community of mappers that contribute and maintain data	-
Statistics
Stacks 253	Stacks 144
Followers 473	Followers 194
Votes 58	Votes 20
Pros & Cons
Pros 23 Simple 17 Free 9 Open-Source 8 Open-Data 1 React/ RNative integration	Pros 7 Reponsive 4 A lot of widgets 4 Data driven vizualisation 2 3D 2 Easy tà learn

What are some alternatives to OpenStreetMap, ArcGIS?

Google Maps

Create rich applications and stunning visualisations of your data, leveraging the comprehensiveness, accuracy, and usability of Google Maps and a modern web platform that scales as you grow.

Mapbox

We make it possible to pin travel spots on Pinterest, find restaurants on Foursquare, and visualize data on GitHub.

Leaflet

Leaflet is an open source JavaScript library for mobile-friendly interactive maps. It is developed by Vladimir Agafonkin of MapBox with a team of dedicated contributors. Weighing just about 30 KB of gzipped JS code, it has all the features most developers ever need for online maps.

OpenLayers

An opensource javascript library to load, display and render maps from multiple sources on web pages.

CSV2GEO

It provides live conversion of batch addresses into geographic coordinates (address to lat long) or turn coordinates into well formatted address. It creates and publishes interactive maps.

MapTiler

It is a software for map tile rendering. It has been designed for producing seamless maps and aerial photo layers covering whole countries. The rendering is fast and efficient, and it can fully utilize multiple CPUs to 100%.

MAPS.ME

MAPS.ME is an open source cross-platform offline maps application, built on top of crowd-sourced OpenStreetMap data. It was publicly released for iOS and Android.

LocationIQ

Free and Fast Geocoding Service

Stadia Maps

We enable devs to contextualize their data on a map and build complicated apps involving routing, time zones, and more with our APIs. We hate billing surprises as much as you, and if you send us an email, you'll get a real human reply.

CARTO

The CARTO platform empowers everyone, from business analysts to data scientists, to turn location data into business outcomes. We accelerate innovation, power new use cases and disrupt business models through Location Intelligence.