State of the Map US 2025 recap: An inspiring gathering of the OpenStreetMap community

The State of the Map U.S. 2025 — the largest gathering of OpenStreetMap (OSM) community members in the United States — took place in Boston, Massachusetts, from June 19 to 21. Hosted by OpenStreetMap U.S., this year's event centered on mobility mapping under the theme "Charting the Course," and marked the 15th anniversary of OpenStreetMap U.S.

The State of the Map U.S. 2025 conference offered an engaging mix of hands-on sessions and discussions centered on diverse mapping topics. Its 328 attendees explored themes such as field mapping, map design, mobility challenges and innovative approaches to improve mapping accuracy and infrastructure.

Specialized sessions delved into areas like local trail mapping, safer transportation routes and the development of bicycle infrastructure, while participants also reflected on community-driven initiatives and advancements in mapping technology. The event fostered collaboration, knowledge sharing and a spirit of innovation, bringing together individuals with varied perspectives and skills, from educators and GIS professionals to hobbyists and scholars.

Social activities, including city tours and a scavenger hunt, added a fun and interactive dimension to the conference, reinforcing connections and highlighting the vibrant energy of the OSM community.

A dedicated group from TomTom’s Community & Partnerships Team attended the conference, engaging in sessions and discussions to deepen our understanding of the latest developments in open mapping and to strengthen partnerships within the OSM ecosystem.

TomTom, a proud silver sponsor of State of the Map U.S. 2025, is committed to supporting and collaborating with OSM communities, contributing to the growth of OSM both in the United States and globally. With over 7,700 fellow mappers on the OSM U.S. Slack channel and a multitude of other channels for collaboration, there are endless opportunities for community engagement.

TomTom representatives attending the State of the Map event, from left to right: David Salmon, Community and Partnerships Program Manager; Keara Dennehy, Former Business Analyst Community and Partnerships; Shaundrea Kenyon, Director, Prodcution Engineering; L.J. Lambert, Production Engineering.

We are also happy to announce that TomTom is now an associate-level organizational member of OpenStreetMap U.S. This membership allows us to support the maintenance and further development of critical technologies in the OSM ecosystem, such as OSMCha, MapRoulette, OpenHistoricalMap and the OSM U.S. Tasking Manager. We're excited to contribute to innovative, community-led projects and tools such as OSM Americana, SliceOSM and OSM Merge, while also supporting working groups that bring together collaborators from private, nonprofit and government sectors to advance open mapping across various fields, including education and pedestrian accessibility.

As we look ahead, we remain committed to fostering the growth of OSM across the globe through community initiatives and strong collaboration. The experiences shared and connections made at State of the Map U.S. 2025 reaffirm our dedication to supporting OSM communities worldwide. It was an inspiring event that not only celebrated the past achievements of the OSM community but also ignited enthusiasm for future collaborations. We are excited about the road ahead and look forward to exploring new horizons together.