As of 11 Feb 2020, please be advised that Waze Australia’s policy on external data / third-party source use has changed. Please find the most up to date policy below, with includes new permitted sources:
Waze Australia External Data / Third-Party Sources Policy
This represents a significant step forward for Australia. Also see additional information available on how to use authorised third-party data sources.
See the announcement from the Waze Australia Discord server by Ituajr, Australia Coordinator:
:!: LostInMyMaps has been furiously working behind the scenes for months to collect external sources of information with Creative Commons or similar licences, pressuring Waze to allow us to use them, and then preparing tutorials on the techniques for accessing the data. All the pieces have finally come together. Thanks to Brendan, no longer are we limited to blurry (or missing) Street View images from 2008 to determine road names and other characteristics. This will also empower our editors with raw data to map regional and remote areas of our vast country.
It’s a bit complicated, but here’s what you need to know:
:arrow: We have a new Waze Australia External Data / Third-Party Sources Policy that supplants our existing policies on the use of external sources. Please go read it.
:arrow: A wiki page has been developed which lists all approved data sources, along with suggestions on how you can access them, and quick setup guides to use external tools to access the approved data at how to use authorised third-party data sources. Some of these tools are quite advanced, and at the moment the target audience is senior editors that are tech savvy. We envisage with time, the community will find new and improved ways of accessing this data and the associated documentation making it more open to others.Waze Australia Discord server , in the #external-sources channel with your peers.
:arrow: With great power, comes great responsibility! We may only use the data listed in the above policy and guides. Turning on unauthorised features or layers not only puts your account at risk, but may force Waze to revert large amounts of yours and other editor’s edits. Other countries have had their maps wiped back to the basemap. You’ve been warned!
This project has been months in the works and is a huge win for Waze Australia. Please help us celebrate it through your diligent mapping, making the Waze map amazing for all.