New CNEFE Tool Revolutionizes Street Name Correction in OpenStreetMap Brazil

The community of Brazilian mappers has just gained a powerful ally to improve one of the most crucial and, at the same time, challenging data points in any map: street names. The CNEFE Verification System platform has been launched, accessible at https://cnefe.mapaslivre.com.br, a tool created by and for the OpenStreetMap (OSM) community in Brazil, aimed at validating and correcting address data using the latest information from the 2022 IBGE Census.

The project is an initiative of UMBRAOSM (Union of Brazilian OpenStreetMap Mappers) and was developed by experienced mappers Raphael de Assis, president of UMBRAOSM and member of the OpenStreetMap Foundation, and Anderson Toniazo, both active members of the OSM Brazil community. The tool arrives to solve a long-standing bottleneck in national mapping: the updating and verification of street names based on official sources. The Challenge of Street Names in Brazil

For those mapping in Brazil, one of the biggest challenges has always been the lack of a complete, accurate, and freely accessible street database. Through the Demographic Census, IBGE compiles the National Registry of Addresses for Statistical Purposes (CNEFE) . This registry is a vast list of addresses from across the country, containing street names, address types, neighborhoods, and, in many cases, geographic coordinates, especially in rural and non-residential areas.

Historically, the OSM community has used CNEFE data from previous censuses (such as 2010) to enrich the map. However, the process was complex, involving downloading text files (fixed format), cross-referencing them with census tract shapefiles, and extensive manual work to match the information with the streets already drawn on the map, in addition to correcting spelling differences.

With the recent publication of the CNEFE 2022 microdata by IBGE, the need for an efficient tool to integrate this new data into OSM became even more evident. CNEFE System: A Bridge Between Official Data and the Collaborative Map

It is in this context that the CNEFE Verification System emerges. The platform created by Raphael de Assis and Anderson Toniazo is not just a data viewer; it is a complete work tool, designed to optimize the collaborative verification and correction workflow.

The system’s intuitive interface allows mappers of all experience levels to:

Visualize CNEFE 2022 Data: The tool presents official address data from the most recent census clearly, overlaid on the map.

Compare with OpenStreetMap: The mapper can easily identify discrepancies between a street name recorded in CNEFE and the name currently present in OSM.

Correct and Include Names: When a street in OSM is unnamed (very common in less mapped areas) or has a different name than the IBGE registry, the tool facilitates the correction and inclusion of the correct name directly on the map.

Fill Gaps: In places where IBGE registered addresses, but the corresponding streets have not yet been drawn in OSM, the application highlights these areas, encouraging the complete mapping of road geometries and, subsequently, the addition of names.

The platform is already at version 1.0, updated on January 22, 2026, and features rich support material for the community. Mappers can access a step-by-step tutorial with images, watch demonstrative videos, and even download complete PDF tutorials for offline consultation, ensuring everyone can make the most of the tool. The Strength of the Community Behind the Tool

The development of the CNEFE System is a testament to the power and organization of the OSM Brazil community. UMBRAOSM, under the leadership of Raphael de Assis, has stood out for promoting initiatives that facilitate and professionalize collaborative mapping in the country. Projects like “Mapeia Crato” have already demonstrated the capacity of unity in training new mappers and carrying out large-scale tasks.

The partnership between Raphael and Anderson in developing this tool reinforces the community’s commitment to not only use open data but also to give back, creating ecosystems that improve the quality of geospatial information available to everyone. Their work directly aligns with broader discussions within the community, such as the matching of CNEFE 2022 variables with OSM tags, a fundamental step for any data import or validation process. A Future with More Accurate Maps

The availability of the CNEFE System marks a significant advance for Brazilian mapping. By facilitating access and comparison with official Census 2022 data, the tool not only speeds up the map update process but also increases the reliability of the OpenStreetMap database as a whole.

For the end-user, whether a driver using a navigation app, a delivery person, or a researcher, the result is more accurate maps, with correctly identified streets and addresses that are easier to locate. The CNEFE tool is, therefore, a key piece in Brazil’s open data infrastructure, built collaboratively by those who understand the subject best: the mapping community itself.

Visit https://cnefe.mapaslivre.com.br and start contributing to a more complete and correct map of Brazil.