As someone who works on GEOINT (Geospatial Intelligence) projects, I’ve realized the power of using Overpass Turbo to analyze geographic locations. Whether it’s for an OSINT investigation, a CTF challenge, or just gathering specific data about an area, Overpass Turbo gives you the ability to query OpenStreetMap and get detailed, real-time geographic information.
In this post, I’ll explain how Overpass Turbo works, how you can create powerful custom queries to find exactly what you’re looking for, and the advantages it offers when working with location data.
I’ll also walk you through a real-world example of how to use it to pinpoint train stations in Berlin.
Why Use Overpass Turbo for GEOINT?
Overpass Turbo allows you to create highly targeted searches for geographic information. The OpenStreetMap database, which it queries, contains an enormous amount of information about the physical world, including streets, buildings, landmarks, and services. One of its biggest advantages is that you can access location-specific data in near real-time, making it ideal for tasks like:
- GEOINT Investigations: Extract detailed data from OpenStreetMap that’s useful for intelligence or security research.
- OSINT Research: Pinpoint specific locations or landmarks for further investigation.
- Mapping & Navigation: Gather data on transportation networks, buildings, and amenities to build custom maps.
Another key advantage of Overpass Turbo is that it’s open-source, so you don’t have to worry about access restrictions or expensive licensing fees. You can easily tailor your queries to your exact needs, whether you’re looking for a single landmark or analyzing entire city infrastructures.
Understanding Overpass Turbo Queries
At the core of Overpass Turbo is Overpass QL, a query language used to interact with the OpenStreetMap database. By writing queries in Overpass QL, you can define what kind of geographic features you want to retrieve, such as roads, restaurants, hospitals, or parks. The language might seem a bit technical at first, but with a basic understanding, you can craft highly effective searches.
Here are some key components of an Overpass Turbo query:
Node, Way, and Relation: These are the fundamental elements of OpenStreetMap.
lets see:
Node: A single point with a specific location (e.g., a bench or tree).
Way: A sequence of nodes that forms a line or polygon (e.g., a street or building boundary).
Relation: A collection of nodes, ways, or other relations that define more complex structures (e.g., public transportation routes).
Tags: Tags are key-value pairs that define the attributes of each element. For example:
amenity=restaurant(Defines a restaurant).highway=road(Defines a road).natural=water(Defines a body of water).
Area: You can specify geographic boundaries to limit your search to a specific region or city. Overpass Turbo makes it easy by providing a geocoding function to select areas by name.
How to Create and Run a Query in Overpass Turbo
Now let’s dive into how you can create a custom query in Overpass Turbo to find specific geographic data.
Step 1: Define Your Area of Interest
The first step is to decide on the area you want to investigate. You can zoom in on the map directly in Overpass Turbo or use the built-in geocoding feature to define your area by name.
Step 2: Choose the Type of Data You Want to Retrieve
Next, you need to decide what kind of data you’re looking for. This could be amenities, buildings, roads, parks, etc. For example, if you’re searching for hospitals in a certain area, you would use the tag amenity=hospital.
Step 3: Write Your Query
Here’s where you combine everything into a query that Overpass Turbo can execute. Let’s use a real example of finding train stations in Berlin.
Example: Finding Train Stations in Berlin
Let’s assume you are tasked with finding all the train stations in Berlin for an OSINT investigation or mapping project. Here’s how to write a query to accomplish that.
Query Breakdown
[out:json][timeout:25];
// Define the area of Berlin
{{geocodeArea:Berlin}}->.searchArea;
// Find all nodes that are train stations
node[“railway”=”station”](area.searchArea);
out body;
>;
out skel qt;
Explanation
- [out]: Specifies the output format in JSON, which is useful if you want to export and further analyze the data.
- [timeout:25]: Sets a time limit of 25 seconds for the query to run.
- {{geocodeArea}}: Limits the search to the Berlin area.
- node[“railway”=”station”]: This searches for all nodes that are tagged as
railway=station, i.e., train stations. - out body: This displays detailed information about the stations found.
Result
and youy can see the data of the targets finded
now let’s suppose our target is more specific, something unique in the city, bookstores within 50 meters of every station in berlin.
[out:json][timeout:25];
// Define place
{{geocodeArea:Berlín}}->.areaBusqueda;// all train stations in Berlín
node[“railway”=”station”](area.areaBusqueda)->.estaciones;// just bookstores close to stations (radio de 50 metros)
node(around.estaciones:50)[“shop”=”books”]->.librerias;// just show the bookstore
.librerias out body;
now we can see that if our goal was to find bookstores near berlin train stations, we were able to quickly refine many results and have only 5 possible final targets.
This is just a quick sample of the power of this tool, but as we will see, it has many advantages.
The Advantages of Overpass Turbo for GEOINT
- Real-Time Data: OpenStreetMap is updated regularly, so Overpass Turbo provides near real-time access to changes in geographic data. This is especially useful for ongoing investigations or CTF challenges where timely information is crucial.
- Customizable Queries: Unlike many other map tools, Overpass Turbo allows you to tailor your queries exactly to your needs. You can search for anything from public transportation routes to very specific points like cafes or historical landmarks.
- Open and Free: Overpass Turbo is completely open-source, making it accessible for everyone without restrictions. This makes it a favorite among researchers, hackers, and analysts working on OSINT or GEOINT projects.
- Precision: One of the most powerful aspects of Overpass Turbo is its ability to drill down to exact points of interest. Whether you’re trying to locate public facilities, landmarks, or infrastructure, the precision of Overpass Turbo ensures you get exactly what you’re looking for.
Final words
Overpass Turbo is a vital tool for anyone involved in GEOINT, OSINT, or any kind of geographic analysis. The ability to create powerful, custom queries and retrieve highly specific data makes it stand out among other mapping tools. With the example we walked through, you can now start creating your own queries and leverage Overpass Turbo for your investigations.
If you haven’t yet, head over to Overpass Turbo and start experimenting with your own searches. With some practice, you’ll find that this tool opens up endless possibilities for location-based intelligence.