# openrouteservice.org

> routing services offered by University of Heidelberg

**Wikidata**: [Q122271187](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q122271187)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/openrouteservice-org

## Summary
openrouteservice.org (ORS) is an open-source routing service and platform maintained by the ORS Team at HeiGIT (Heidelberg Institute for Geoinformation Technology) and offered by the University of Heidelberg. It functions as a routing tool based on OpenStreetMap data, providing users with navigational capabilities and geographic analysis tools under the GNU Lesser General Public License.

## Key Facts
- **Official URL:** https://openrouteservice.org/ (Maps interface: https://maps.openrouteservice.org)
- **Also Known As:** Open Route Service, ORS
- **Developer:** ORS Team
- **Maintained By:** HeiGIT (Heidelberg Institute for Geoinformation Technology)
- **License:** GNU Lesser General Public License, version 3.0
- **Software Class:** Open-source software; OpenStreetMap routing tool
- **Source Repository:** https://github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice
- **Latest Recorded Version (in source):** 5.0.2 (released October 7, 2019)
- **Listed In:** OSM Apps Catalog (as a list of OSM-based services)
- **Description Source:** OpenStreetMap Wiki

## FAQs
### Q: Who develops and maintains openrouteservice.org?
A: The platform is developed by the ORS Team and maintained by HeiGIT. It is described as a routing service offered by the University of Heidelberg.

### Q: Is openrouteservice.org free to use?
A: Yes, as open-source software, it is licensed under the GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL) version 3.0. This allows users to use and redistribute the software with libre access to the original source code.

### Q: What data does openrouteservice.org use for routing?
A: The service is classified as an OpenStreetMap routing tool and is included in the OSM Apps Catalog, indicating it relies on OpenStreetMap data for its routing engines.

## Why It Matters
openrouteservice.org represents a significant bridge between academic geoinformatics research and practical, open-source tooling available to the global community. Maintained by the Heidelberg Institute for Geoinformation Technology (HeiGIT) at the University of Heidelberg, it leverages the vast, crowdsourced data of OpenStreetMap to provide routing services free from the licensing restrictions often associated with proprietary geographic software.

Its adherence to the GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL 3.0) ensures that the source code remains accessible to developers, fostering innovation and allowing for the modification and redistribution of the software in its current state. This makes ORS a vital resource for developers, researchers, and humanitarian organizations who require transparent, customizable routing algorithms without the barrier of proprietary costs. By existing as a part of the OSM Apps Catalog, it reinforces the ecosystem of free geographic information systems (GIS), democratizing access to navigation and spatial analysis technologies.

## Notable For
- **Academic Backing:** Unlike many commercial routers, it is offered directly by the University of Heidelberg and maintained by the research institute HeiGIT.
- **Open Source Commitment:** It utilizes the LGPL v3.0 license, guaranteeing libre access to the source code hosted on GitHub.
- **OSM Ecosystem Integration:** It is explicitly cataloged in the OSM Apps Catalog as a primary OpenStreetMap routing tool.
- **Active Development History:** The service has a documented history of stable releases, evolving from version 4.3.0 in 2017 to version 5.0.2 in 2019 based on available records.

## Body

### Organizational Structure and Development
openrouteservice.org is a project offered by the University of Heidelberg. The ongoing maintenance and development are handled by the **ORS Team**, operating under the umbrella of **HeiGIT** (Heidelberg Institute for Geoinformation Technology). The project is deeply integrated into the open-source community, with its codebase publicly accessible to facilitate transparency and collaboration.

### Technical Specifications and Licensing
The software is classified strictly as **open-source software** and an **OpenStreetMap routing tool**. It operates under the **GNU Lesser General Public License, version 3.0**. This licensing permits users to use and redistribute the software in its current state with permissive access to the original source code, though it is noted that the license does not necessarily grant the right to modify it (depending on interpretation of "libre access" vs modification rights in the specific source context provided).

The technical infrastructure supports the following access points:
- **Website:** https://openrouteservice.org/
- **Web Map Interface:** https://maps.openrouteservice.org
- **Source Code:** Hosted on GitHub at `https://github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice`.

### Version History and Releases
According to structured data sourced from Wikidata and GitHub, openrouteservice.org has maintained a regular release schedule for its stable versions. Key releases documented in the provided source material include:

- **4.3.0:** Released September 21, 2017
- **4.7.0:** Released October 10, 2018
- **5.0.0:** Released March 15, 2019
- **5.0.2:** Released October 7, 2019 (the latest version provided in the source data)

The project is documented in the **OpenStreetMap Wiki** and is listed in the **OSM Apps Catalog** as a validated list of OSM-based services. While the software is open-source, the content and branding are noted as having a **copyrighted** status.

## References

1. [Source](https://openrouteservice.org/team/)
2. OSM Apps Catalog
3. [Release 4.3.0. 2017](https://github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice/releases/tag/4.3.0)
4. [Release 4.4.0. 2017](https://github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice/releases/tag/4.4.0)
5. [Release 4.4.1. 2017](https://github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice/releases/tag/4.4.1)
6. [Release 4.5.0. 2018](https://github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice/releases/tag/4.5.0)
7. [Release 4.7.0. 2018](https://github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice/releases/tag/4.7.0)
8. [Release 4.7.1. 2018](https://github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice/releases/tag/4.7.1)
9. [Release 4.7.2. 2019](https://github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice/releases/tag/4.7.2)
10. [Release 5.0.0. 2019](https://github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice/releases/tag/5.0.0)
11. [Release 5.0.1. 2019](https://github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice/releases/tag/v5.0.1)
12. [Release 5.0.2. 2019](https://github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice/releases/tag/v5.0.2)
13. [Release 6.0.1. 2021](https://github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice/releases/tag/v6.0.1)
14. [Release 6.0.2. 2021](https://github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice/releases/tag/v6.0.2)
15. [Release 6.1.1. 2020](https://github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice/releases/tag/v6.1.1)
16. [Release 6.1.2. 2021](https://github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice/releases/tag/v6.1.2)
17. [Release 6.1.3. 2021](https://github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice/releases/tag/v6.1.3)
18. [Release 6.2.0. 2020](https://github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice/releases/tag/v6.2.0)
19. [Release 6.2.1. 2020](https://github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice/releases/tag/v6.2.1)
20. [Release 6.2.2. 2021](https://github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice/releases/tag/v6.2.2)
21. [Release 6.3.0. 2020](https://github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice/releases/tag/v6.3.0)
22. [Release 6.3.1. 2020](https://github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice/releases/tag/v6.3.1)
23. [Release 6.3.2. 2020](https://github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice/releases/tag/v6.3.2)
24. [Release 6.3.3. 2021](https://github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice/releases/tag/v6.3.3)
25. [Release 6.3.4. 2021](https://github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice/releases/tag/v6.3.4)
26. [Release 6.3.5. 2021](https://github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice/releases/tag/v6.3.5)
27. [Release 6.3.6. 2021](https://github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice/releases/tag/v6.3.6)
28. [Release 6.3.7. 2021](https://github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice/releases/tag/v6.3.7)
29. [Release 6.4.0. 2021](https://github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice/releases/tag/v6.4.0)
30. [Release 6.4.1. 2021](https://github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice/releases/tag/v6.4.1)
31. [Release 6.4.2. 2021](https://github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice/releases/tag/v6.4.2)
32. [Release 6.4.3. 2021](https://github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice/releases/tag/v6.4.3)
33. [Release 6.4.4. 2021](https://github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice/releases/tag/v6.4.4)
34. [Release 6.5.0. 2021](https://github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice/releases/tag/v6.5.0)
35. [Release 6.6.0. 2021](https://github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice/releases/tag/v6.6.0)
36. [Release 6.6.1. 2021](https://github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice/releases/tag/v6.6.1)
37. [Release 6.6.2. 2021](https://github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice/releases/tag/v6.6.2)
38. [Release 6.6.3. 2021](https://github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice/releases/tag/v6.6.3)
39. [Release 6.6.4. 2022](https://github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice/releases/tag/v6.6.4)
40. [Release 6.7.0. 2022](https://github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice/releases/tag/v6.7.0)
41. [Release 6.7.1. 2022](https://github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice/releases/tag/v6.7.1)
42. [Release 6.8.0. 2022](https://github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice/releases/tag/v6.8.0)
43. [Release 6.8.1. 2023](https://github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice/releases/tag/v6.8.1)
44. [Release 6.8.2. 2023](https://github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice/releases/tag/v6.8.2)
45. [Release 6.8.3. 2023](https://github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice/releases/tag/v6.8.3)
46. [Release 7.0.0. 2023](https://github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice/releases/tag/v7.0.0)
47. [Release 7.0.1. 2023](https://github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice/releases/tag/v7.0.1)
48. [Release 7.1.0. 2023](https://github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice/releases/tag/v7.1.0)
49. [Release 7.1.1. 2023](https://github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice/releases/tag/v7.1.1)
50. [Release 7.2.0. 2023](https://github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice/releases/tag/v7.2.0)