OpenDataKarten

OpenDataKarten is an open data mapping initiative that provides free access to geospatial data and related tools. It aims to support transparency, innovation, and informed decision-making by making geographic information openly available and machine-readable. The project aggregates datasets from public authorities, research institutions, and volunteers, and publishes them under open licenses that permit reuse with attribution.

Data and formats include administrative boundaries, land use, transportation networks, and points of interest. Datasets are published in open formats such as GeoJSON, Shapefile, and GeoPackage, with metadata described according to common standards to support discovery and interoperability.

Access and tools are provided through a web portal that offers a map viewer, data search, and bulk downloads. An API enables programmatic access to datasets, while documentation and tutorials help users integrate the data into analyses and applications.

Licensing and governance follow open terms, typically using licenses like the Open Data Commons Open Database License (ODbL) or Creative Commons Attribution licenses. The project operates with a community-driven governance model and a code of conduct, and data quality is maintained through validation, user feedback, and reproducible workflows.

Impact and reception: OpenDataKarten is used by local governments, researchers, journalists, and non-governmental organizations to support planning, reporting, and advocacy. It contributes to broader open data ecosystems and complements larger projects in the geospatial domain.

See also: Open data, Geographic information systems, OpenStreetMap.