[OSM-dev] Why no curves in map data?

[Cartinus]

On Saturday 14 March 2009 15:21:19 Udo Giacomozzi wrote:
> Is there a good reason why all map databases seem to be fixed on
> straight lines and do not support some kind of bezier curves?

Because to do curves _right_ you need more data then you have now. First you 
need to know if a line has to curve at a point at all. (I wouldn't want to 
have rounded corners on every square.) If the line curves, then you need to 
know how it curves. E.g. the length and direction of the "anchors" as seen 
in: 
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bézier_curve_in_Adobe_Illustrator_CS2.png>

-- 
m.v.g.,
Cartinus