Open Infrastructure Map
Tool Description : An interactive mapping platform that visualises critical infrastructure worldwide using data primarily sourced from OpenStreetMap.
Open Infrastructure Map
Quick Overview
What it does
Provides an interactive global map of critical infrastructure layers to help users identify, visualise, and analyse physical infrastructure and connectivity.
How to use it
Select an infrastructure layer (e.g. power, telecoms, pipelines), navigate to an area of interest, zoom in for detail, and compare infrastructure with satellite imagery or other mapping sources.
Cost
Free.
Account required
No.
Cookies
Minimal functional cookies/none logged during our session.
Ownership
Run and operated by software developer Russ Garrett
Use in Reporting
Identifying infrastructure relevant to an investigation, validating the presence of facilities or networks, providing geographic context, supporting geolocation, and illustrating infrastructure dependencies.
What does Open Infrastructure Map do?
Open Infrastructure Map aggregates infrastructure data from OpenStreetMap into different layers, allowing investigators to quickly identify and explore electricity networks, telecommunications infrastructure, pipelines, transport assets, renewable energy installations and submarine cable routes.
Rather than searching multiple datasets individually, investigators can visualise infrastructure in one location and assess its relationship to events, organisations, or geographic areas.
The lowdown: It’s a visualisation tool that excels at quickly identifying infrastructure and providing geographic context, although it relies heavily on the completeness and accuracy of OpenStreetMap data.
How to Use:
1. Open the webpage and zoom to your area of interest.
2. Enable relevant infrastructure layers (Power, Telecoms, Pipelines, Rail, Renewables, etc.) and inspect nearby assets.
3. Cross-reference mapped infrastructure with satellite imagery, OpenStreetMap, government datasets, company information, or news reporting to verify findings and build investigative context.
Cost
Data Processing
Account Required:
Cookies:
Minimal functional cookies / none used during our site session on 28 July 2026.
Use in Reporting
Open Infrastructure Map can support reporting by:
Providing visual evidence of infrastructure surrounding an incident or location.
Identifying power stations, substations, transmission lines and other critical assets relevant to investigations.
Mapping telecommunications infrastructure and submarine cable routes to assess connectivity.
Supporting geolocation by comparing mapped infrastructure against satellite imagery and photographs.
Demonstrating relationships between infrastructure, industrial facilities and populated areas.
Corroborating infrastructure-related claims when used alongside authoritative sources and satellite imagery.
For example, analysts investigating attacks on energy infrastructure in Ukraine have used OpenStreetMap-derived infrastructure layers together with satellite imagery to identify substations and transmission networks.
Capabilities
Limitations
Visualises multiple critical infrastructure datasets on a single interactive map.
Coverage depends entirely on OpenStreetMap contributor data and may be incomplete.
Displays electricity transmission lines, substations, power plants, and renewable energy assets, as well as oil and gas pipelines.
Infrastructure accuracy varies significantly between countries and regions.
Maps telecommunications infrastructure, fibre networks, and submarine cables.
Does not provide historical imagery or change detection.
Supports rapid geospatial orientation and infrastructure reconnaissance.
Cannot verify operational status or ownership of infrastructure.
Integrates seamlessly with OpenStreetMap data making it useful alongside other OSINT mapping tools.
Summary
Open Infrastructure Map is particularly effective during the discovery, reconnaissance, geolocation and contextual analysis stages of the OSINT workflow, helping investigators understand the physical environment surrounding an event or location before validating findings with satellite imagery, official datasets and additional intelligence sources.
Ownership
Run and operated by software developer Russ Garrett (known as Russss in the OpenStreetMap community), rather than being owned by a corporate entity.
Ethical Considerations
Verify mapped infrastructure using independent sources before publishing findings.
Avoid revealing sensitive infrastructure details that could increase security risks.
Recognise that mapping completeness varies by location and contributor activity.
Clearly distinguish between mapped infrastructure and confirmed operational capability.
Consider national security implications when reporting on critical infrastructure.
Attribute OpenStreetMap-derived information appropriately where required.
Related Tools:
OpenStreetMap
OpenRailwayMap
Sources
https://openinframap.org/about
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