Analysis of the up-to-datedness of OSM Data on Buildings in the Republic of Croatia

Abstract

This paper analyzes the up-to-datedness of OpenStreetMap (OSM) buildings data in the Republic of Croatia, with the aim of assessing their suitability for spatial analysis and operational usage. OSM is an open, volunteer-maintained geographic database that is increasingly used in various professional and scientific contexts. Given the informal nature of OSM data collection, it is important to understand the level of their completeness and accuracy, for instance as compared to official data sources. The paper describes the methodology for comparing OSM data with the official Basic Topographic Database (TTB). It employs two criteria – the number of buildings and the total floor area, this at the national and at the local government unit (LGU) levels. Differences in coverage are also considered, with a special emphasis on the impact of urbanization and tourist attractiveness on data quality. The paper provides an overview of the technologies, data sources and analytical approaches used. It also provides some guidelines for the future use of OSM data in the context of spatial planning and management.