Before you start
Stop! You must read the new External Data / Third-Party Sources Policy to understand how and under what conditions this data is permitted to be used. Failure to comply with the policy may result in sanctions on your account, your edits reversed, edits reversed for an entire area / country, and / or your account terminated.
You should also not map a road just because it is listed on another authorised source. Roads and features on Waze must continue to meet the standards and expectations of mapping in Australia to ensure they’re practical for drivers. For example, some roads shown in these sources may not exist or usable in reality, verify that the road is useful to Wazers before mapping it. A reminder on mapping expectations found here.
These external sources, and the instructions listed herein are intended for advanced editors who can (as required), independently experiment with the tools listed. These guides are not complete and are not written to cater for all users. You will likely need to collaborate with other editors on the Waze Australia forums or Waze Australia Discord server.
Data Sources By Jurisdiction
National
PSMA Administrative Boundaries
This data source is updated quarterly with new and changing data. It is helpful for seeing suburb boundaries for the country. Data is saved in a file format called “shapefile”. To use this data, you may benefit from a tool like QGIS.
Data Source: https://data.gov.au/dataset/psma-administrative-boundaries (Look for the latest file called Suburbs - Localities).
Before you start, if your operating system (such as Windows) hides file extensions on files, you may need to show them. On Windows 10, open Explorer or “This PC”, in the ribbon at the top of the window click View, and tick: File name extensions. OR, in older versions of Windows, go to Control Panel > File Explorer Options > View tab > Untick: Hide extensions for known file types.
The following guide uses a tool called QGIS, you’ll need to download and install it before starting.
This video demonstrates in less than 60 seconds how to get started using the click and drag method. Note the files selected were NSW_LOCALITY_shp.dbf and NSW_LOCALITY_POLYGON_shp.dbf, but it works regardless of the state or territory.
The polygon data can also be exported for use in WME Geometries. This will be added later.
Australian Capital Territory
ACT Road Centrelines
This data source is updated occasionally with new and changing data. It is helpful for seeing roads within the ACT. Data is saved in a file format called “shapefile” which can be either downloaded or accessed via an API.
To use this data, you may benefit from a tool like QGIS.
Data Source: https://actmapi-actgov.opendata.arcgis.com/datasets/act-road-centrelines
If you download, it may be faster for you if you have a slow internet connection, but you will need to redownload the file again when it changes and you won’t be notified when that is required.
Visit data source link above
Click Download > Shapefile, and see this video demonstrating in less than 60 seconds how to get started using the click and drag method
If you use API, it is more convenient and always up to date.
Server address: https://data.actmapi.act.gov.au/arcgis/rest/services/data_extract/Transport/MapServer
Recommended Layer: Road Centrelines
This video demonstrates in less than 60 seconds how to configure the API connection:
New South Wales
NSW Base Map
To use this data, you may benefit from a tool like QGIS.
Data Source: https://www.spatial.nsw.gov.au/products_and_services/web_services/access_web_services (Note: ONLY “NSW Base Map” web service is authorised for use).
To setup the API connection:
Server address: https://maps.six.nsw.gov.au/arcgis/rest/services/public/NSW_Base_Map/MapServer
This video demonstrates in less than 60 seconds how to configure the API connection:
Once the data is loaded, explore what is available. There are so much data you could use apply to the Waze map.
Top tip for adding new estates to the Waze map. Take a screenshot of the new estate in NSW Base Map and overlay it on WME using WME Image Overlays.
Northern Territory
Natural Resource Maps
An easy to use website to access detailed information about the Northern Territory, with very few caveats.
Website: http://nrmaps.nt.gov.au/nrmaps.html
Layers you can freely use, with the recommended layers ticked:
The following layers should be used with caution. They contain third-party copyright data we are not authorised to copy. Use these layers to help you navigate and orientate yourself on the map, however never copy any data provided by these layers:
Queensland
Queensland Globe
QLD Globe is an approved source, however aspects of QLD Globe cannot be used as they include data from third parties Waze is not licensed for, this includes all satellite imagery, tourism data, and postcode boundaries. For a list of sources that are excluded from the permitted data sources, please see https://qldglobe.information.qld.gov.au/help-info/Specific-data-conditions.html.
Guide to Queensland Roads
A website with PDF resources of tourist sites around Queensland. Note most of the data is currently aged and should be used carefully.
Website: https://www.publications.qld.gov.au/dataset/guide-to-queensland-roads
South Australia
South Australian Government Data Directory (Roads)
Waze is authorised to use data within the the South Australian Government Data Directory, including the Location SA Viewer tool (accessed via "Preview Roads in a map viewer" in aforementioned link). However, only road data listed in the directory may be used in the Location SA Viewer tool. For example, the tool is best used with only the “Roads” dataset selected, and nothing else ticked, as per the below screenshot:
The preferred map to use in this tool is “satellite” as other maps contain other data like house numbers we’re not authorised to use. You can use all these map layers to help you navigate and orientate yourself on the map, however never copy any data provided by these layers:
Recommended link to Location SA Viewer with allowed layers enabled: http://location.sa.gov.au/viewer/?map=hybrid&x=138.60075&y=-34.9285&z=16&uids=135,136
Other road data can be extracted from files within the South Australian Government Data Directory, however it won’t be covered in this guide.
Tasmania
Coming soon - National or State Highway and Arterial Roads plus Feeder Roads plus Local plus Access Roads plus VTs
Victoria
An excellent web based resource, MapShareVic shows road, property and other great resources. Please be mindful there is third-party copyrighted data incorporated in the website. You are obligated to look out for these by checking for copyright statements and avoiding using websites linked from this portal.
Website: https://mapshare.vic.gov.au/mapsharevic/
Here is a quick video to show you the preferred layers to use:
Western Australia
Main Roads WA ArcGIS REST API
Western Australia offers one of the largest and most comprehensive data sources of all states and territories. The API, for example, allows you to render every road in the state while looking at the entire state - this may place strain on your computer and internet connection. You will need to be careful as to which data layers you enable, and toggle the “render” option on / off to maximise usability.
To use this data, you may benefit from a tool like QGIS.
Data Source: https://mrgis.mainroads.wa.gov.au/arcgis/rest/services/OpenData/RoadAssets_DataPortal/MapServer
Note we are permitted to use all layers, though only certain layers will be helpful.
To setup the API connection:
Server address: https://mrgis.mainroads.wa.gov.au/arcgis/rest/services/OpenData/RoadAssets_DataPortal/MapServer
This video demonstrates configuring the server, enabling recommended layers, and how to toggle the “render” option to improve usability.
Tools
The following tools may be helpful in accessing and managing the above mentioned data sources. Follow directions of the above as to what tools are helpful for which data source.
QGIS
A cross-platform, free and open source geographic information system. Helpful for displaying maps and data from third party sources. These applications are resource intensive and may require a powerful computer.
Go to https://www.qgis.org/ and follow links to download the application on your platform (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.). Below are some helpful plugins for the QGIS application.
Lat Lon Tools
This plugin helps you do useful tasks with coordinates. Such as take coordinates from WME and zoom to that location in QGIS. Remember in WME the coordinates are back-to-front and need to be swapped before putting in the Zoom To box. Here's how to install the plugin and use the feature:
Another trick, open your current QGIS location in WME or Waze Live Map. This requires modifying a setting file in the application data directory. Here's the video:
Once the plugin is installed, on Windows 10 64bit and QGIS 3.10 64bit, the application path was:
%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\QGIS\QGIS3\profiles\default\python\plugins\latlontools
The code added to the settings file (mapProviders.py) seen in the video are as follows:
['Waze WME', 'https://www.waze.com/en-GB/editor/?env=row&lon=@LON@&lat=@LAT@&zoom=7', 'https://www.waze.com/en-GB/editor/?env=row&lon=@LON@&lat=@LAT@&zoom=7'], ['Waze Live Map', 'https://www.waze.com/en-GB/livemap/directions?latlng=@LAT@%2C@LON@&overlay=false&zoom=17', 'https://www.waze.com/en-GB/livemap/directions?latlng=@LAT@%2C@LON@&overlay=false&zoom=17'],
WME Geometries
Script: https://www.waze.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=819&t=129735
Additional information and video will be added later on how to export polygons from some of the above data for overlay in WME with the above script. Below is a video example on how you might use it.
WME Image Overlays
Script: https://greasyfork.org/en/scripts/29381-wme-image-overlays
This script is helpful for applying screenshots of approved data and overlaying it on WME so you can draw new roads accurately.