How does a place get on the map?

How does a proposal become a place page?

A place proposal and a published record are two different stages. The terms provide for review of place submissions before publication. Uploading is therefore neither immediate publication nor a guarantee that the place will be accepted.

The catalogue also contains imported data. Do not infer that every record was submitted by a member, visited by a moderator or checked on site.

Prepare a proposal in the app

In the submission form, prepare information that helps reviewers understand the place:

1. Photos you have the right to use, showing the subject rather than a way in. Check sensitive metadata before uploading.
2. A plausible location, checked on the map before confirming. A misplaced pin can identify a different property.
3. The country and a factual description. Describe what you know, with a date and source where possible. Do not turn an assumption into a certainty.

Submitting uses a signed-in account. Follow the limits and errors shown by the form; an error message is not confirmation of receipt. Proposing a place does not require entering it: observation or documentary research does not authorise access.

Understand submission status

Check your submissions in your profile. Do not submit the same place repeatedly because a decision takes time. This guide promises neither a processing time nor an automatic notification at every stage.

What merits a check?

Useful issues to report include:

• a record describing an active business, an occupied home or a subject outside the catalogue’s scope;
• a photo showing a different place or carrying uncertain rights;
• outdated information, demolition, renewed activity or access restrictions;
• content revealing a way in or promoting forced entry, theft or damage;
• an infringement of someone’s rights.

Provide facts, their date and a reference that can be consulted. Do not return to obtain evidence when access or safety is uncertain.

Report a place or content

In the app, use the menu on the relevant place, post, comment, event photo or profile. Choose an appropriate reason and describe the issue precisely. Include only necessary information and avoid publicly sharing personal data.

A report requests review; it does not mean the content has already been removed. Relevance votes and accessibility feedback also inform review without replacing a moderation decision. A previously approved record can be corrected or removed.

For a rights issue, including copyright, image rights or privacy, consult the procedure and contact in the terms. Provide the URL or content reference and explain what is disputed. A request about a photo is separate from a request to close an account.

Imported photos: rights and relevance are separate checks

A reuse licence does not prove that a photo shows the place. Conversely, a relevant image cannot be used without sufficient rights. Imported photos displayed on place pages carry their credits and licence information; check these before reusing them.

A missing photo does not necessarily mean a place was rejected. Publishing a record and deciding to display an image are separate decisions.

Why public access remains limited

Public pages viewed without signing in do not provide exact access information. Member features are available on the website and in the app, according to access rights. Location information does not authorise entry. Check access conditions with the owner or site manager.

Closing an account and requesting removal are separate steps

Do not treat account closure as a request to delete every contribution. The project intends to retain contributions under anonymised attribution to preserve the catalogue and discussions. Applicable arrangements and retention periods are described on the Delete my account page and in the privacy documents.

If your request concerns a particular photo or other item, identify it and explain the reason for removal. Anonymising attribution does not by itself resolve every rights issue involving content.

Scope of this guide

This guide helps you prepare a proposal and report a problem. It does not replace the terms, guarantee a decision time or certify a place’s safety. The service’s legal information remains on the dedicated pages linked below.