New open-source tool extracts freeway networks from OpenStreetMap in seconds
Reduces manual ramp encoding effort by roughly two-thirds on 359.6 miles of freeway.
Researchers Drew Miller and Cathy Wu released an open-source tool that extracts freeway networks from OpenStreetMap (OSM) into a compact, station-referenced format for simulation. It supports corridor queries, visual inspection, and validation—addressing issues like inconsistent route references and interchanges. On two prototype corridors, the extract-first-then-validate approach required roughly one-third the analyst effort of manual ramp encoding. Deployed across 359.6 miles in Orange County, California, total processing and validation averaged 41 seconds per mile.
- Cuts analyst effort by ~67% compared to manual ramp encoding from scratch.
- Processes 359.6 miles of freeway in Orange County, CA, at 41 seconds per mile.
- Handles OSM quirks like inconsistent route references and ambiguous interchange paths.
Why It Matters
Enables scalable, reproducible freeway simulation by slashing road network preparation from days to minutes.