{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,13]],"date-time":"2026-02-13T19:55:10Z","timestamp":1771012510937,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":47,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2013,4,2]],"date-time":"2013-04-02T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1364860800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/3.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJGI"],"abstract":"<jats:p>As open source volunteered geographic information continues to gain popularity, the user community and data contributions are expected to grow, e.g., CloudMade, Apple, and Ushahidi now provide OpenStreetMap\u00a9 (OSM) as a base layer for some of their mapping applications. This, coupled with the lack of cartographic standards and the expectation to one day be able to use this vector data for more geopositionally sensitive applications, like GPS navigation, leaves potential users and researchers to question the accuracy of the database. This research takes a photogrammetric approach to determining the positional accuracy of OSM road features using stereo imagery and a vector adjustment model. The method applies rigorous analytical measurement principles to compute accurate real world geolocations of OSM road vectors. The proposed approach was tested on several urban gridded city streets from the OSM database with the results showing that the post adjusted shape points improved positionally by 86%. Furthermore, the vector adjustment was able to recover 95% of the actual positional displacement present in the database. To demonstrate a practical application, a head-to-head positional accuracy assessment between OSM, the USGS National Map (TNM), and United States Census Bureau\u2019s Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding Referencing (TIGER) 2007 roads was conducted.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijgi2020276","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2013,4,2]],"date-time":"2013-04-02T12:52:56Z","timestamp":1364907176000},"page":"276-301","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":29,"title":["A Photogrammetric Approach for Assessing Positional Accuracy of OpenStreetMap\u00a9 Roads"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"2","author":[{"given":"Roberto","family":"Canavosio-Zuzelski","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Geography and Geoinformation Science, George Mason University, 4400 University, MS6C3, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA"}]},{"given":"Peggy","family":"Agouris","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Geography and Geoinformation Science, George Mason University, 4400 University, MS6C3, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA"}]},{"given":"Peter","family":"Doucette","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Integrity Application Incorporated, 15020 Conference Center, Suite 100, Chantilly, VA 20151, USA"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2013,4,2]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"Available online:http:\/\/wiki.openstreetmap.org\/wiki\/About."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"31","DOI":"10.1080\/02693799208901893","article-title":"Geographic information science","volume":"6","author":"Goodchild","year":"1992","journal-title":"Int. J. Geogr. Inf. Syst."},{"key":"ref_3","unstructured":"Available online:http:\/\/www.ferris.edu\/HTMLS\/colleges\/cot\/surveying\/CheckSheets\/SureCheckSheetBS.htm."},{"key":"ref_4","unstructured":"Thompson, M. (1988). Maps for America: Cartographic Products of the U.S. Geological Survey and Others, US Dept. of Interior, Geological Survey."},{"key":"ref_5","unstructured":"American Congress on Surveying and Mapping (ACSM) (1988). The proposed standard for digital cartographic data. Am. Cartogr., 15, 9\u2013140."},{"key":"ref_6","unstructured":"(1990). ASPRS Accuracy Standards for Large-Scale Maps, American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS)."},{"key":"ref_7","unstructured":"Available online:http:\/\/cloudmade.com\/about."},{"key":"ref_8","unstructured":"Available online:http:\/\/techcrunch.com\/2012\/05\/04\/apple-finally-gives-proper-credit-to-openstreetmap-in-iphoto-for-ios\/."},{"key":"ref_9","unstructured":"Available online:http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ushahidi."},{"key":"ref_10","unstructured":"Available online:http:\/\/www.openstreetmap.org\/."},{"key":"ref_11","unstructured":"Available online:http:\/\/viewer.nationalmap.gov\/viewer\/."},{"key":"ref_12","unstructured":"Available online:http:\/\/www.census.gov\/cgi-bin\/geo\/shapefiles\/national-files."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"299","DOI":"10.1080\/136588197242419","article-title":"A simple positional accuracy measure for linear features","volume":"11","author":"Goodchild","year":"1997","journal-title":"Int. J. Geogr. Inf. Sci."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"33","DOI":"10.1080\/136588197242482","article-title":"Assessing, representing, and transmitting positional uncertainty in maps","volume":"11","author":"Kiiveri","year":"1997","journal-title":"Int. J. Geogr. Inf. Sci."},{"key":"ref_15","unstructured":"US Dept. of Interior (1990). A Study of Land Information, US Department of Interior."},{"key":"ref_16","first-page":"429","article-title":"Estimating positional accuracy of data layers within a GIS through error propagation","volume":"62","author":"Stanislawski","year":"1996","journal-title":"Photogramm. Eng. Remote Sensing"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"111","DOI":"10.1080\/13658810110099071","article-title":"Developments in statistical approaches to spatial uncertainty and its propagation","volume":"16","author":"Heuvelink","year":"2002","journal-title":"Int. J. Geogr. Inf. Sci."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Doucette, P., Motsko, D., Sorenson, M., and White, D. (2012, January 23\u201327). Uncertainty Handling in Geospatial Data. Proceedings of SPIE 2012 Defense, Security, and Sensing Symposium, Baltimore, MD, USA.","DOI":"10.1117\/12.918538"},{"key":"ref_19","first-page":"2","article-title":"Spatial pattern of uncertainties: An accuracy assessment of the TIGER files","volume":"1","author":"Lee","year":"2009","journal-title":"J. Geogr. Geol."},{"key":"ref_20","unstructured":"Zent, C.J. (1996). TIGER vs. DLG Road Feature Data. [M.Sc. Thesis, The State University of New York at Buffalo]."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"315","DOI":"10.1179\/000870410X12911304958827","article-title":"How many volunteers does it take to map an area well? The validity of Linus\u2019 Law to volunteered geographic information","volume":"47","author":"Haklay","year":"2008","journal-title":"Cartogr. J."},{"key":"ref_22","unstructured":"Zielstra, D., and Zipf, A. (2010, January 11\u201314). A Comparative Study of Proprietary Geodata and Volunteered Geographic Information for Germany. Proceedings of 13th Agile International Conference on Geographical Information Science 2010, Guimaraes, Portugal."},{"key":"ref_23","unstructured":"Cipeluch, B., Jacobs, R., and Winstanley, A. (2010, January 20\u201323). Comparison of the Accuracy of OpenStreetMap for Ireland with Google Maps and Bing Maps. Proceedings of the Spatial Accuracy Symposium, Leicester, UK."},{"key":"ref_24","unstructured":"O\u2019Grady, K. Available online:http:\/\/www.census.gov\/geo\/mod\/esri_paper.pdf."},{"key":"ref_25","unstructured":"Liadis, J. Available online:http:\/\/www.census.gov\/geo\/www\/tiger\/gtaat2000.pdf."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"495","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1467-9671.2011.01277.x","article-title":"Positional accuracy of TIGER 2000 and 2009 road networks","volume":"15","author":"Zandbergen","year":"2011","journal-title":"Trans. GIS"},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"682","DOI":"10.1068\/b35097","article-title":"How good is volunteered geographical information? A comparative study of OpenStreetMap and Ordnance Survey datasets","volume":"37","author":"Haklay","year":"2010","journal-title":"Environ. Plan. B"},{"key":"ref_28","unstructured":"GeoEye, Inc. Available online:http:\/\/www.geoeye.com\/CorpSite\/products-and-services\/imagery-collection\/satellite-imagery-products\/product-specifications.aspx."},{"key":"ref_29","unstructured":"Talaya, J., Kornus, W., Alamus, R., Soler, E., Pla, M., and Ruiz, A. (2008, January 3\u201311). Analyzing DMC Performance in a Production Environment. Proceedings of the 37th ISPRS Congress, Beijing, China."},{"key":"ref_30","unstructured":"(2007). Google Earth Geo Viewer (v.6.1)-Imagery Archive 2012, Google Inc."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"361","DOI":"10.1023\/A:1012734519752","article-title":"GIS and geostatistics: Essential partners for spatial analysis","volume":"8","author":"Burrough","year":"2001","journal-title":"Environ Ecol. Stat."},{"key":"ref_32","unstructured":"Goodchild, M.F. (1988, January 13\u201316). Towards Models of Error for Categorical Maps. Proceedings of First Specialist Meeting on Accuracy of Spatial Data Bases, National Center for Geographical Information and Analysis, Montecito, CA, USA."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Goodchild, M.F., and Gopal, S. (1989). Modelling Error in Objects and Fields. Accuracy of Spatial Databases, Taylor & Francis.","DOI":"10.1201\/b12612"},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"303","DOI":"10.1080\/02693798908941518","article-title":"Propagation of errors in spatial modelling with GIS","volume":"3","author":"Heuvelink","year":"1989","journal-title":"Int. J. Geogr. Inf. Syst."},{"key":"ref_35","unstructured":"Veregin, H. (1989). Accuracy of Spatial Databases: Annotated Bibliography, NCGIA."},{"key":"ref_36","unstructured":"Veregin, H. (1989). A Taxonomy of Error in Spatial Databases, NCGIA."},{"key":"ref_37","unstructured":"Goodchild, M.F. (1991, January 19\u201320). Keynote Address. Proceedings of Symposium on Spatial Database Accuracy, Melbourne, Australia."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"119","DOI":"10.1111\/1467-9671.00011","article-title":"Analytical modelling of positional and thematic uncertainties in the integration of remote sensing and geographical information systems","volume":"3","author":"Shi","year":"1999","journal-title":"Trans. GIS"},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"51","DOI":"10.1080\/136588100240958","article-title":"A stochastic process-based model for the positional error of line segments in GIS","volume":"14","author":"Shi","year":"2000","journal-title":"Geogr. Inf. Sci."},{"key":"ref_40","unstructured":"Love, K., Ye, K., Smith, E., and Prisley, S. (2007). Error Models in Geographic Information Systems Vector Data using Bayesian Methods; Technical Report for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), NGA-US Government."},{"key":"ref_41","unstructured":"US Geological Survey Available online:http:\/\/ned.usgs.gov\/."},{"key":"ref_42","unstructured":"Mikhail, E., Bethel, J., and McGlone, J.C. (2001). Introduction to Modern Photogrammetry, John Wiley & Sons."},{"key":"ref_43","unstructured":"Wolf, P., and Dewitt, B. (2000). Elements of Photogrammetry with Applications in GIS, McGraw-Hill Publishing Company. [3rd]."},{"key":"ref_44","unstructured":"Andersen, J., and Mikhail, E. (1998). Surveying Theory and Practice, McGraw Hill Publishers. [7th]."},{"key":"ref_45","unstructured":"Ager, T.P. (2002). An Analysis of Metric Accuracy Definitions and Methods of Computation; InnoVision Whitepaper, National Imaging and Mapping Agency (NIMA)."},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Canavosio-Zuzelski, R. (2013). A Photogrammetric Approach for Geopositioning OpenStreetMap Roads. [Ph.D. Thesis, George Mason University].","DOI":"10.3390\/ijgi2020276"},{"key":"ref_47","unstructured":"Iiyama, M., Dolloff, J., and Taylor, C. (2006). The ABC\u2019s of RSM: An Introduction to the Replacement Sensor Model; Technical Report, BAE Systems, Inc."}],"container-title":["ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2220-9964\/2\/2\/276\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T21:45:54Z","timestamp":1760219154000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2220-9964\/2\/2\/276"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2013,4,2]]},"references-count":47,"journal-issue":{"issue":"2","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2013,6]]}},"alternative-id":["ijgi2020276"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ijgi2020276","relation":{},"ISSN":["2220-9964"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2220-9964","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2013,4,2]]}}}