[OSM-dev] Programatic reconstruction of postal code areas

[Tom Hughes]

On 29/03/17 08:58, Frederik Ramm wrote:

> On 29.03.2017 09:10, Alex K wrote:
>>   * For one, this type of information is already part of
>>     OSM: http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Tag:boundary%3Dpostal_code
>
> Generally we don't like data that is impossible (or difficult e.g.
> "knocking on doors") to verify on the ground, but we do make exceptions
> for admin boundaries and, usually, postal code boundaries.

If the postal code boundary is a genuine thing that exists then sure.

I don't know about the countries in question, but in the countries that 
I do know about there is no such thing as a postal code boundary because 
the authority that assigns postal codes doesn't do so using geographic 
areas like that, and doesn't special any specific boundary.

Rather they are just defined by a list of addresses, being a set of 
addresses that are a convenient group to deliver to.

Now obviously you can draw any number of shapes around those addresses 
but none of those shapes is in any way an official or definitive 
boundary for the postal code.

Tom

-- 
Tom Hughes (tom at compton.nu)
http://compton.nu/