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Reflections on OpenStreetMap's State of the Map 2026 Conference
Key points
- Attended State of the Map (SotM) 2026 conference.
- Scientific track showcased research using OpenStreetMap.
- Noted long-term community engagement in OSM.
- Observed increased commercial presence at the conference.
Conference Attendance and Focus
The author attended the State of the Map (SotM) conference on August 29-30, specifically focusing on the scientific portion. This marked their first attendance in 15 years, aiming to update their knowledge on OpenStreetMap (OSM) developments.
Scientific Track Insights
The scientific track, which is peer-reviewed, provided insights into current research utilizing OSM. Over 1250 papers in 2025 used OSM, indicating its extensive use in academic studies. The 20 papers presented at SotM offered a view into research conducted by community-aligned researchers.
Community and Commercial Engagement
A core group of individuals has been involved with OpenStreetMap for approximately 20 years, demonstrating sustained engagement. The conference also showed a notable presence of commercial actors, serving as sponsors and presenters, and providing resources and professional opportunities within the geospatial field using OSM.
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Primary sources
GitHub WordPress/WordPressReporting from
An attendee shared impressions from the State of the Map (SotM) 2026 conference, focusing on the scientific track and the community's long-term engagement. The conference highlighted the continued academic interest in OpenStreetMap (OSM) and the growing presence of commercial entities within the OSM ecosystem.