[OSM-dev] Do we need world boundaries for small areas?

[M∡rtin Koppenhoefer]

2011/6/20 Frederik Ramm <frederik at remote.org>:
> Hi,
>
> On 06/20/11 16:53, Parveen Arora wrote:
>>>
>>> If you're not rendering any oceans, simply change the map background
>>> colour
>>> from blue to gray and do away with the shape files.
>
>> Is it only for the oceans or also for the world boundaries that
>> doesn't include in any ocean.
>
> I think the shapes also include world boundaries and populated areas, but
> only for the very low zoom levels (like 1-5 or so) which I understood you
> would not use anyway.


+1
The shapefiles are used in this layer (in inc/ ):
http://svn.openstreetmap.org/applications/rendering/mapnik/inc/layer-shapefiles.xml.inc

As you can see the simple boundaries are used only in z1-3 and the
populated areas in z3 and 4. There is also a shape called "built-up"
used in z8-10 which I am not sure what it is, but it might be also
populated areas. Above z10 there is only OSM-Data (and coastlines)
used.

cheers,
Martin