OSINT TOOLKIT: OPEN INFRASTRUCTURE MAP, A GEOSPATIAL INVESTIGATION TOOL FOR DETAILED GLOBAL CRITICAL POWER INFRASTRUCTURE VISUALIZATION
- Senior Editor
- 35 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Priscilla Alves Pereira, OSINT-RDT Team
Jennifer Loy, Chief Editor
Date of Publication:
Industry: Geospatial Intelligence, Online Investigations
(The Open Source Intelligence [OSINT] Toolkit is a report to help teach about various OSINT tools that can be used by Threat, Security, Intelligence, and Investigative Professionals [TSIIPs])

Map with Critical Infrastructures[1]
What is the BLUF about the OSINT Tool?
Open Infrastructure Map is a free geospatial OSINT tool that leverages the OpenStreetMap database and provides an in-depth view of global critical power infrastructure, such as electrical grids, oil/natural gas pipelines, various power grids, etc. It allows TSIIPs to search for a specific infrastructure or find within a certain area all infrastructure possibilities available. This tool can assist TSIIPs with emergency preparedness and enhance investigations pertaining to sabotage or other concerns to these facilities. TSIIPs should be aware that there is a charge for export data requests.
What is the name of the OSINT Tool?
Open Infrastructure Map
URL:
Who makes this tool?
Created by Russ Garrett using OpenStreetMap database.
What country is this tool based out of?
United Kingdom
What is the purpose of the OSINT Tool?
Open Infrastructure Map provides a mapping of the world’s main critical infrastructures, such as “Power Plants,” “Power Generators,” and “Power Line Supports.” It can enhance protection capabilities by detailing the infrastructure, like pipelines and network cabling, and providing exact locations in the case of sabotage or another concern for the facility.
What is the reason TSIIPs should use this OSINT Tool?
The tool can enhance TSIIPs investigation by protecting major infrastructures if a threat emerges. It can help TSIIPs with emergency preparedness, once a location is found, they can use other tools to collect further information on terrain, facilities around the area and respond effectively. TSIIPs can also use this tool to analyse infrastructure corridors of various oil and natural gas pipelines to assess potential targets of attack and/or bottlenecks.
How should TSIIPs use this OSINT Tool?
TSIIPs should use this tool to facilitate their geospatial reporting or investigation regarding critical infrastructures. When facing a threat focused on these facilities, Open Infrastructure Map will help reduce their reporting or investigation time as this tool provides detailed information on different types of infrastructure and where components are located, narrowing down their search.
What results will TSIIPs receive from the use of this OSINT Tool?
Open Infrastructure Map provides in-depth information on critical infrastructures worldwide:
Power Lines in kV.
Power Plants are detailed as coal, geothermal, hydroelectric, nuclear, etc.
Power Generators as wind turbines and solar panels.
Power Lines as tower/pylon, power pole and transition pole.
Switchgear as transformer, disconnector, circuit breaker, etc.
Telecoms as cables, datacenter, tower/mast, etc.
Gas in DN and distribution pressure.
Petroleum as oil, fuel, hydrogen, etc.
Water as fresh, hot, steam, water treatment plant, water pumping station, etc.
Other pipelines such as Oxygen, CO2, Nitrogen, etc.
How will this OSINT Tool help TSIIPs protect a person or organization?
TSIIPs can use this tool to report on, investigate, and potentially protect facilities and their surrounding areas. Having this knowledge and building a footprint of these critical facilities can prevent a threat from becoming an attack. TSIIPs can use this data in combination with other HUMINT, SOCMINT, OSINT, etc. data to provide warnings or protection.
Instructions on using this OSINT Tool:
Access Open Infrastructure Map by clicking on the above URL
At the top left, there are information as “About”, “Stats” and “Exports”
Right below, users can access the search box
The map is clickable and easy to navigate. Users should use the mouse to search for an area
When users click on the chosen infrastructure it will open a new page with the location on OpenStreetMap
On the top right, users will find:
Zoom
Find my location
Key
Power Plants
Power Generators
Power Line Supports
Switchgear
Telecoms
Gas
Petroleum
Water
Other Pipelines (Oxygen, CO2, Nitrogen, Beer, Other)
Layers
Background
Overlays
Heatmaps
Infrastructure
Validation
Example of this OSINT Tool in use by a TSIIP?
Consider a scenario where TSIIPs received intelligence that an “accelerationist” group is planning a protest around the Battersea area, in London. As TSIIPs are aware that this particular group is likely to pose a threat to critical infrastructures, they decide to use the Open Infrastructure Map and investigate the area. The procedure would be as follows:
In the search box, the TSIIP will input “Battersea,” where a few options will come up. Users should click on “Battersea, London.”
Once you get the results, it is clear that there are a few power substations in the area.
When clicking one of them, OpenStreetMap page will open and provide further details about that infrastructure, for example generation method, operator, power, source and start date.
TSIIPs can also use the “Layers” icon to search for a different infrastructure from the list, like “Telecoms” or “Water.”
Given the results, TSIIPs can create their contingency plan, in case the protest becomes a threat to the power stations.
By leveraging this tool, TSIIPs are able to enhance their investigation and prevent possible threats.
What other tools should be used with this OSINT Tool?
TSIIPs should use this tool combined with social media channels like Telegram, X, SimpleX, and Gab, for threat intelligence to verify where emerging threats may take place. When clicking on an infrastructure Open Infrastructure Map it will automatically open OpenStreetMap but it is also good to cross-check information with other maps or geolocation services like Google Earth[2] or Bellingcats OpenStreetMap Search,[3] both available on the CTG website, for more information on the tool.
Are there any concerns that TSIIPs should have about using this OSINT tool?
TSIIPs should be aware that Open Infrastructure Map is an open, crowdsourced tool. It is helpful to always check when it was last updated before using it and use other tools to cross-reference and confirm authenticity of the information provided. Even though the site does not require downloading or logging in, TSIIPs should utilize a VPN and secure browser to safeguard OPSEC/PERSEC while using the tool. Exporting data has a fee and TSIIPs should be aware of having their personal details exposed in case of a data breach. Users should always check their preferred tool’s security and privacy policy before using it.
[1] Map with critical infrastructures, generated by a third party image database (created by AI)
[3] https://www.counterthreatcenter.com/post/osint-toolkit-bellingcat-openstreetmap-search-a-user-friendly-mapping-tool-that-offers-customizable by Martina Elena Nitti, Christian Collins, Priscilla Alves Pereira, OSINT-RDT Team