<div dir="ltr">Good to see more data consumers using the tags we have to improve the map representation. I agree we should try to tag operator and informal tags more.<div><br></div><div>I'd also like to see the highway tag value set based on:</div><div><br></div><div>* highway=footway for constructed walking tracks (you may find things like surface levelling, drainage channels, timber sleepers for erosion control) or formally signposted tracks.</div><div>* highway=path for natural walking tracks formed by use without being formally constructed and no signage</div><div><br></div><div>moving away from the traditional practice of exclusively using highway=path for bush tracks and highway=footway for urban footpaths.</div><div><br></div><div>This could also be used as an indicator for map display, in a similar way to highway classifications.</div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Mon, 21 Oct 2024 at 08:47, Tom Brennan <<a href="mailto:website@ozultimate.com">website@ozultimate.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">Hi all<br>
<br>
Back in April I did some tagging tests on foot tracks (highway=path) at <br>
Kanangra that showed that Gaia GPS (possibly amongst other downstream <br>
applications) renders formal tracks - tagged with "operator=*" - more <br>
prominently than those tagged as "informal=yes".<br>
<br>
So I'd encourage anyone updating tracks on the map in future to fill in <br>
those fields where appropriate. While it's only a small thing from a <br>
rendering point of view, it will help deter users of those applications <br>
from thinking that all paths are equal.<br>
<br>
It's not always easy to determine what is formal vs informal, <br>
particularly in areas where the national park service or local council <br>
does minimal maintenance. There are some guidelines on the Australian <br>
Tagging Page:<br>
<br>
<a href="https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Australian_Tagging_Guidelines/Cycling_and_Foot_Paths" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Australian_Tagging_Guidelines/Cycling_and_Foot_Paths</a><br>
<br>
I tend to try and look at the following:<br>
* maintenance - if a track is being maintained by council/NPWS then it <br>
should be tagged<br>
* signposting - if a track is signposted by council/NPWS then it's tacit <br>
approval, and should also be tagged<br>
* mapping - if a track appears on council/NPWS's own maps (not obviously <br>
reproduced from OSM) then it's tacit approval, and should also be tagged<br>
<br>
Any other thoughts welcome.<br>
<br>
cheers<br>
Tom<br>
----<br>
Canyoning? try <a href="http://ozultimate.com/canyoning" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://ozultimate.com/canyoning</a><br>
Bushwalking? try <a href="http://bushwalkingnsw.com" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://bushwalkingnsw.com</a><br>
<br>
<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
Talk-au mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:Talk-au@openstreetmap.org" target="_blank">Talk-au@openstreetmap.org</a><br>
<a href="https://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/talk-au" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/talk-au</a><br>
</blockquote></div>