A standardized European hexagon gridded dataset based on OpenStreetMap POIs

Abstract

Point of interest (POI) data refers to information about the location and type of amenities, services, and attractions within a geographic area. This data is used in urban studies research to better understand the dynamics of a city, assess community needs, and identify opportunities for economic growth and development. POI data is beneficial because it provides a detailed picture of the resources available in a given area, which can inform policy decisions and improve the quality of life for residents. This paper presents a large-scale, standardized POI dataset from OpenStreetMap (OSM) for the European continent. The dataset's standardization and gridding make it more efficient for advanced modeling, reducing 7,218,304 data points to 988,575 without significant resolution loss, suitable for a broader range of models with lower computational demands. The resulting dataset can be used to conduct advanced analyses, examine POI spatial distributions, conduct comparative regional studies, and research to help enhance the understanding of the distribution of economic activity and attractions, and subsequently help in the understanding of the economic health, growth potential, and cultural opportunities of an area. The paper describes the materials and methods used in generating the dataset, including OSM data retrieval, processing, standardization, hexagonal grid generation, and point count aggregations. The dataset can be used independently or integrated with other relevant datasets for more comprehensive spatial distribution studies in future research.