Navigating around storms is hard. How I use OSM + custom rendering style to monitor road surface integrity - even offline!

[James Hammett]

I've been chasing with the OsmAnd app using OpenStreetMap (OSM) data for a few years now and it's a game changer. For me there's a couple of great features in particular:

1. Ability to edit the underlying OSM data to make corrections when necessary -- especially important for road surface integrity
2. Ability to use a custom map rendering style to instantly differentiate road types (e.g., poor gravel vs. paved highway) for safe and efficient navigation

Other maps are happy to route you right into a plowed field with no distinction in road surface. But in OSM road surface is a metadata tag subject to crowdsourced editing! I've made a ton of edits myself and it feels like I'm actually accomplishing something on those completely busted storm chases.

I've been using my own custom rendering style and it's working great. Easy to differentiate between expressways, paved secondaries, Bob's Road, etc. And the bright colors are easy to see in sunlight on my OLED tablet.

Check out and download my custom rendering style optimized for storm chasing here: GitHub - pqo/stormchasing-rendering-style: An OsmAnd rendering style optimized for storm chasing!

The OsmAnd app (Android, iOS) uses offline data you save to the device in advance by simply selecting which states to download. I update mine at the start of each season and do smaller live updates on a per-chase basis. So it doesn't depend on internet access at all.

 

[James K]

Thanks for this post/info

I'd been wanting to get a (free/open-source/"clean"(ie: no ads/etc)) maps app (and one that'd work offline) for my tablet.

OsmAnd looked quite promising for my wants! ...except that it won't run on my sorta-old tablet - needs a newer version of Android. (didn't look around much but maybe I could find an old version that'd work)
Then also the website says its open-source but also talks about purchases and subscriptions...so I'm not sure if its even a proper (ie: free) app..

 

[James Hammett]

needs a newer version of Android. (didn't look around much but maybe I could find an old version that'd work)
Then also the website says its open-source but also talks about purchases and subscriptions

I run it on an old Galaxy Tab S3 from 2017. A bit laggy but otherwise runs fine.

OsmAnd is free for limited map downloads. I do pay to get the frequent map updates as it's definitely worth it for me (plus it helps the developers to keep improving a great product!)

 

[James K]

Thanks!

Tablet I have is an old Asus(don't remember which model), main thing is it has Android 5 where system requirements I saw for OsmAnd said Android 7 minimum. (Somewhere I have an old Galaxy Tab 4 that I got free years ago, but I don't think it even works anymore)


Limited map downloads would be fine for me as I'd only need Colorado & its not something I'd use too often so wouldn't need frequent updates. Free version would work for me then.

I have considered at some point in the future getting a new tablet anyway.

 

[Warren Faidley]

Does this mapping system allow radar overlay? Once I get close to a storm, I've found radar overlays are critical in determining exact storm movement and road options. I generally use Radar Omega or an app called My Radar Pro on an iPad. I also have Google mapping on an iPhone in the event something goes wrong. I avoid most dirt roads in the path of the storm.

 

[Todd Lemery]

I use RadarUS+ on my IPad. It’s easy to navigate and is dependable on the roads. The negative for this one is relatively slow refresh rate for the radar. You have to note how old the latest scan is on the loop when making your decisions. I believe it refreshes every ten minutes. It is really helpful in picking your route though.