[OSM-talk] [OSM-dev] Overpass API: new big server, IPv6

[Roland Olbricht]

> Side issue re. Overpass API....
> 
> How might it compare with the osm2pgsql route (in performance, and memory
>  usage for the import process) for running a local API for a fairly small
>  area, and with limited data, e.g. highways and wood/water feature polygons
>  in the UK?

In the default settings, Overpass API imports the planet without exceeding 1GB 
of RAM. It can be tuned to need less than that, probably around 256 MB, by 
changing the settings before compiling. This would make the import slower, but 
a smaller area may more than compensate for that.

The whole planet (20 GB gzip compressed XML) needs 24 to 48 hours in a 
standard setting. An extract of Northrine-Westphalia (300 MB gzip compressed 
XML) takes about 10 minutes. Assuming the UK around 1 GB gzip XML, it should 
take between 30 minutes and 2 hours.

An important disadvantage might be that Overpass API has no functionality to 
clip bounding boxes after updates. Thus using the minute updates would mean 
that the database gets filled more and more with irrelevant data.

Best regards,

Roland