Websites using Project-osrm

Okay, let s break down Project OSRM, its revenue model (or lack thereof), alternatives, pricing (again, or lack thereof), and customer care.

Project OSRM: Open Source Routing Machine

• Overview:

  • OSRM is a powerful and versatile open-source routing engine for shortest paths in road networks. It s primarily designed to be used as a backend service. You feed it road network data (usually OpenStreetMap data), and it calculates routes between given coordinates.
  • Key Features:
    • Open Source: Completely free to use, modify, and distribute under the BSD 2-Clause license.
    • High Performance: Optimized for fast routing, even on large road networks. It can handle continental-scale datasets.
    • Flexible: Supports various routing profiles (car, bike, foot, etc.). Profiles define the rules for routing (e.g., avoid highways for bikes). You can customize these profiles to suit your specific needs.
    • API-Driven: Provides a RESTful API for easy integration into web and mobile applications.
    • Offline Routing: Once the data is loaded, routing can be done entirely offline, making it suitable for applications where network connectivity is unreliable or unavailable.
    • OpenStreetMap (OSM) Integration: Designed to work seamlessly with OpenStreetMap data, which is a freely available, collaborative map of the world.
  • Use Cases:
    • Navigation Applications: Driving directions, cycling routes, pedestrian navigation.
    • Logistics and Fleet Management: Route optimization for delivery vehicles, service technicians, etc.
    • Geographic Information Systems (GIS): Spatial analysis, network analysis.
    • Web Mapping Applications: Interactive maps with routing capabilities.
    • Autonomous Vehicles: Path planning for self-driving cars.

• Revenue:

  • Zero Direct Revenue: Project OSRM, in its core form, is free and open-source. There is no commercial license fee. The project is primarily supported by contributions from individuals, organizations, and companies that benefit from its use.
  • Indirect Revenue (Ecosystem): While OSRM itself doesn t generate revenue, companies may build commercial products or services on top of OSRM. These companies might offer:
    • Managed OSRM Hosting: Providing a hosted OSRM service, taking care of the server infrastructure, maintenance, and updates. This is where companies can generate revenue.
    • Custom Routing Profiles: Developing specialized routing profiles tailored to specific industries or use cases (e.g., routing for large trucks with height and weight restrictions).
    • OSRM Consulting and Support: Offering consulting services to help organizations implement and customize OSRM.
    • Commercial Applications: Integrating OSRM into commercial applications (e.g., a delivery management system) and charging users for the application.

• Alternatives:

  • Open Source:
    • GraphHopper: Another popular open-source routing engine. Similar to OSRM, but written in Java. Has a commercial offering.
    • Valhalla: Open-source routing engine developed by Mapbox. Focuses on turn-by-turn navigation and is designed for complex routing scenarios.
    • pgRouting: An extension to the PostgreSQL database that adds routing functionality.
  • Commercial (Cloud-Based APIs):
    • Google Maps Platform: Widely used, but can be expensive for high-volume usage. Offers comprehensive mapping, routing, and place search services.
    • Mapbox: Offers a range of mapping, routing, and geocoding APIs. Valhalla is part of the Mapbox ecosystem.
    • HERE Technologies: Provides mapping and location services, particularly strong in automotive and enterprise solutions.
    • TomTom: Another major provider of mapping and navigation data and APIs.
    • Bing Maps API: Microsoft s mapping platform.

• Pricing:

  • OSRM Core: Free (Open Source).
  • Managed Services (if any): If you opt to use a managed OSRM hosting provider, their pricing will vary depending on the provider, the level of service, the amount of data, and the number of API requests. Expect pricing models based on:
    • Requests per month: Pay based on the number of routing requests you make.
    • Data size: Some providers might charge based on the size of the road network data you re using.
    • Server resources: Pricing can depend on the CPU, RAM, and storage allocated to your OSRM instance.
    • Support level: Higher tiers of support (e.g., dedicated support engineers) will typically cost more.
    • Customization: Pricing can change based on the complexity and amount of customization required.

• Customer Care:

  • OSRM Core: Community-Based Support: Since it s open source, there s no dedicated customer support team in the traditional sense. Support is primarily provided through:
    • GitHub Issues: Report bugs, request features, and ask questions on the OSRM GitHub repository.
    • Mailing Lists/Forums: Check for mailing lists or forums where OSRM users can discuss issues and share solutions.
    • Stack Overflow: Search for OSRM-related questions and answers on Stack Overflow.
  • Managed Services (if any): Providers of managed OSRM services will offer their own customer support channels, which may include:
    • Email Support: Contact the provider via email for assistance.
    • Live Chat: Some providers offer live chat support for immediate help.
    • Phone Support: More comprehensive support plans may include phone support.
    • Service Level Agreements (SLAs): Commercial offerings will come with service-level agreements (SLAs) that define the guaranteed uptime, response times, and other performance metrics.

Key Considerations When Choosing OSRM:

• Technical Expertise: Running OSRM requires some technical knowledge, including setting up servers, configuring routing profiles, and managing data.
• Maintenance: You are responsible for keeping the OSRM software up-to-date and maintaining the road network data.
• Scalability: You need to ensure that your OSRM setup can handle the expected traffic and data volume.
• Cost-Benefit Analysis: Compare the costs of running OSRM yourself versus using a managed routing API service. Consider the trade-offs between cost, control, and convenience.

In summary, Project OSRM is a valuable open-source tool for routing, but it requires technical expertise to deploy and manage. While the core software is free, you might incur costs for infrastructure, data, and potentially, commercial support services if you choose to use a managed provider. Consider your technical capabilities, budget, and specific requirements when deciding whether OSRM is the right solution for your needs.