# drawing your base map

*Article written by Marketa Beitlova and Stanislav Popelka, coordinated by the DIG-IT team*

The USE-IT map design starts with the paper map, and the digital one is a consequence of the paper one. However, you have to prepare some assets and take into account some digital requirements for later in order not to lose time - and money. The most important of them being cartography! 

You have 2 options: the long journey, drawing everything from scratch. It’s time-consuming and not super precise, especially since we now offer a digital version of our maps, where people can use GPS. And then, there is the efficient and precise version: downloading the geographic data directly from OSM. Here is a precious tutorial on how to do it.

OpenStreetMap (OSM) is a free, collaborative world map created by thousands of volunteers. It contains detailed information about streets, paths, buildings, parks, rivers, and many points of interest— all available under an open licence.

Using QGIS, a free and open-source GIS program, you can easily import OSM data into your project. With the help of built-in tools or add-ins such as QuickOSM, you can download specific layers (e.g., buildings, footpaths, tram lines, green areas) directly for your selected city or neighbourhood.

This allows you to quickly obtain a clean and accurate geometric base, which you can then simplify, recolour, adjust, or generalize according to the graphic style of your USE-IT map. It saves time, ensures precision, and gives you a solid foundation on which to build your custom cartography.

{% columns %}
{% column %}

<p align="right"><a href="https://qgis.org/" class="button primary" data-icon="1">QGIS Software</a></p>
{% endcolumn %}

{% column %} <a href="https://docs.3liz.org/QuickOSM/" class="button primary" data-icon="2">Quick OSM pluggin</a>
{% endcolumn %}
{% endcolumns %}

## Step-by-step: how to download OSM data in QGIS

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

### <sup>Install QuickOSM</sup>

* Open QGIS
* Go to Plugins → Manage and Install Plugins

<figure><img src="/files/opy9Whz04mueFxf550J1" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

* Go to Plugins → Manage and Install Plugins
* Search for QuickOSM
* Click Install

<figure><img src="/files/IvoDGmvbt9lx4hD6fXSz" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### <sup>Open QuickOSM</sup>

Go to Vector → QuickOSM → QuickOSM

<figure><img src="/files/5KMDjLhAaOD7rOTLpi8z" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### <sup>Choose what you want to download</sup>

The easiest way is to select the pre-defined preset “Urban”. In In field, type the name of the city you are working on.

<figure><img src="/files/0n3TGzNgyTidTlwwOR38" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### <sup>**Click “Run preset”**</sup>

The plugin downloads vector data directly from OpenStreetMap and loads the layers into your QGIS project.

Before working with the data, a proper coordinate system should be selected - this point is a bit tricky, because coordinate systems differ for different places in the world. Ask ChatGPT for help with the best coordinate system for your city. The national coordinate system for Czechia (where Olomouc is) is S-JTSK Krovak East North (EPSG:5514).

<figure><img src="/files/733aESqO6n0c80B75FdW" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### <sup>**Clean & style your data**</sup>

* You can change the colour of the layers - Click to the layer (on the left) with the right mouse button, select Properties - Symbology.

<figure><img src="/files/a8TJwlQjsh8OekBZVk7A" alt="" width="303"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

* Double click to the “simple fill” (this is valid for polygons like buildings). Change Fill colour.&#x20;

<figure><img src="/files/UxkMGUR2u350nxImwQ0U" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="/files/rflY5FuN9xOzIFuXiWE5" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

* Building layer is now visible

<figure><img src="/files/I9o0Ev6aCxAnyFyjHKpP" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

* You can do that similarly for all layers - like roads, parks…
* Some of the layers have different categories - like roads - you can edit different features - colour, width, rounding…

<figure><img src="/files/9N1fObzxsMxLq2LgS9Ue" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

* You can play with the settings until the map is according to your needs. It will take some time - this is just an example.

<figure><img src="/files/r8keOYEEVxrEaRWXSP1U" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

* There are a lot of labels - I suggest removing them and drawing your own later only where you need them.&#x20;
* To do that - right click on the layer - uncheck “show labels”

<figure><img src="/files/RzpQnrOpLVqUAsM8Wph6" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

* Export the final map for design - Project - Import/Export - Export map to PDF

<figure><img src="/files/NpuQP6ZDaAsaV4uQaAw2" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="/files/GJMOeEriWpbFS8tsRxJ0" alt="" width="495"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

* You can now open PDF in Adobe Illustrator or elsewhere as vector file and continue with the work there.

<figure><img src="/files/izJZItuGz9FF9eiJNC8P" alt="" width="563"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

## <sub>Do not forget the credits :)</sub>

Whatever the option you choose (using OpenStreetMap or Google Maps as a base map or even drawing it yourself), just make sure you do not violate any copyrights and that you give proper credit to the sources you use. You can do it in the credit area on the back cover of your paper map and on the allocated section in the online platform.


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