Map Editing (new Editor) View history

The Road Maps

Waze started out in many countries by importing publicly available road data. This data was fairly accurate, though somewhat dated, but does not include some details vital for a navigation system such as road direction, distinctions between railroad, pedestrian trails, canals and regular roads. It also did not specify when two roads crossed, whether there was a junction or a bridge involved. Waze defaulted to a junction in all cases. This set of data was enough to get started, but definitely needed updating and maintenance.

This is where two key aspects of the Waze system come into play:

The web-based map editing tools where Waze users can edit maps of their neighborhoods, cities or other places they are familiar with
Collection of GPS data from Waze users and using that information to set road direction and allowed turns at intersections.

Some countries have no data available for their road systems and these countries must be mapped from the beginning, using a combination of GPS tracks from driving and recording roads using the Waze client, and any available aerial photography in the map editor.

Getting started with Map Editing

Waze uses two different map editing interfaces:
- Code named "Papyrus," this editor is the default editing interface for Waze. It replaced Cartouche as the default editor on September 19, 2011
- Cartouche was the main editor for years prior to 2011. Currently, it is still available until all necessary functionality is replicated for Papyrus.
When editing the Waze maps, please follow the best map editing practice. You should also be aware of known Papyrus issues or missing features and bugs and quirks with Cartouche.
Editing your route on the map (Papyrus)
If you are looking for advanced editing permissions, read about becoming an Area Manager.
With the web-based editor, you can add, edit or delete nearly any object within your Editable Area, which is within a 1-mile radius of any location you have driven with Waze running.

Accessing the Map Editor

The default Papyrus editor is currently supported on the Chrome browser only. It may work on other browsers, but it is not currently supported
Log in to your account from the Waze homepage using the Login link at the top-right corner of the homepage:
- For North American editors, login from www.waze.com
- For the rest of the world, login from world.waze.com
Select "Live Map" in the main navigation header.
Select "Update Map" located just above the map viewer.

Once logged in, your screen should look something like this:

Check out the Map Editing Hints and Tips page for some shortcuts for logging in to the map editor

Map Editing Basics

The Papyrus editor was designed to be used without much documentation, but this list will give the quick basics for drawing a new road, roundabout, or landmark

Click the item you want to create under the big + button
- For a road, click to start drawing, click to add a geometry node as you follow a path, and double-click to end drawing
- For a roundabout, click at the center of the roundabout and move the mouse to size it. Click to create it
- For a landmark, or POI (Point of Interest), click to start the landmark and click as you follow the outline of the area. Double-click to end drawing.
For each object, there are details you need to enter before saving, such as the city, street name, direction and level, or landmark type for landmarks.
Click the Save button

You can also modify or delete existing map objects. You do this by selecting an object, then modifying its geometry, location or properties. What is possible with each object depends on the type of object. The Editing Manual is where you will find all the details necessary to understand all the editor functionality.

Permalink

A permalink is a URL or hyperlink to a specific location or webpage. In the Waze map editor, a permalink is used to take you or someone else directly to a specific map location, as well as specifying any objects such as roads, junctions, or landmarks which should be selected.
The permalink to the current map editor view, whether you are in Papyrus or Cartouche, is found at the bottom-right corner of the map. You can click on it and the address bar in your browser will change to match the current location which you can copy, or you can right-click the Permalink directly and copy the link or URL to include in an email or other location.

Selecting Multiple Roads

Some edits require that you select two or more segments of road.

Mac: Command + Click
Windows: Ctrl + Click
Linux: Window-Key + Click

Keyboard Shortcuts

d - delete selected node from road geometry while editing road geometry
m - Multi-select mode: hit "m" (when not in a text box or address bar) and you don't have to hold Ctrl or Cmd down to select multiple segments. Hit "m" again to exit Multi-select mode.
Delete (Del) - delete the selected object. To delete multiple objects, you must click the trash can icon and confirm the multiple delete.
Esc - deselect all objects
a - connection arrows turn transparent
s - spreads connections arrows so they don't touch
Shift+a - show all disallowed connections (turns) for every segment/node in the view
q - disable all connections for the selected junction
w - allow all connections for the selected junction
r - toggle segment direction between 1-way, reverse-1-way, 2-way and No Entrance
i - insert/draw new segment (equivalent to clicking Road under the big + button)
o - draw new roundabout (equivalent to clicking Roundabout under the big + button)
u - draw new landmark (equivalent to clicking Landmark under the big + button)
Ctrl+z - undo
Ctrl+Shift+y - redo
Ctrl+Shift+z - redo
Ctrl+s - save

Editing Manual

Tips and Hints

These will become their own page.

In general it is best to try to avoid deleting road segments unless they are really, really wrong
When you junction two segments together, you will need to enable the allowed connections (turns). Or, enable all connections, and then , if necessary, apply any turn restrictions.
Use the separating line checkbox only when there is a physical barrier on the road between the opposing lanes, or turns across the center divider are not permitted
For wide roads with two directions of traffic, create two one-way roads so that a GPS lock will be made correctly. All USA Interstate Highways should be split this way

Google aerial images cannot be used

This section needs to become its own page. Google's terms of use means that Waze cannot use their aerial images.

Those terms of use also apply to you. You cannot use Google's aerial images to edit Waze's maps. In some jurisdictions you may be able to use them as a reference (like looking at a map in a mapbook), but not as an overlay as with the Greasemonkey script Googze.

If you were to do such a thing, it would taint all the work you did and Waze would need to reverse out all your edits. There could be other adverse effects. Waze has already had to remove all the maps for Chile, and other South American countries because the source of the map data was not properly licensed (not Waze's fault).

So do not use Googze as a way of applying Google's aerial images as a replacement for Waze's licensed images when doing map editing.

You may negotiate with officials in your country for access to aerial images that Waze can use. Just be careful not to give the impression that you are acting on behalf of Waze. But as an interested citizen you can speak with local authority, in a local language, to explain the benefits to your country in making aerial images freely available as a public good.

Search