[OSM-dev] Least squares to trace curved GPS data as segments

[Stefan de Konink]

Hello,

Yesterday I joined this project, and today I started editing under OSX. I
must say it is a lot of work to map the trace acurate. Next to that, the
roads in The Netherlands are always curves. Maping node to node as a line
is not the way I guess.

What I would like to suggest is a to automatically trace the points using
Least Squares to curves. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Least_squares

In the editor it should be possible to make straigt lines and corners, but
automatically map the selected nodes as a curve segment. This has an
implication for junctions. Each junction should be a floating point
on the line when intersecting a curve.

Pro:
-  Even without user intervention getting mapped charts.
-  Less work
-  Looks more pretty

Cons:
-  Needs a good math implementation to make it fast :)
-  Other way of thinking when making nodes, roads and segments
-  Segment property: curve
-  Needs (real)math to determine junctions on curves (other option: stop
the curve and start again, but ugly hack)

Anythoughts on this idea?


Yours Sincerely,

Stefan de Konink aka Skinkie