[OSM-newbies] Entering building sizes in meters into one of the editors

[Eric Ladner]

On Mon, Aug 11, 2008 at 4:07 PM, Norbert.J.Girardi <nobbes at girardis.de> wrote:
> Hello to all,
>
...
> Is there a way to draw the "ways" for these buildings using width and
> length entries like with a normal drawing editor?
>

One of the problems with that is all the coordinates are stored in
lat/lon form.  Computing precise measurements is a pain and converting
back and forth from distance to lat/lon is problematic and error prone
(earth is an oblate spheroid, etc.).  Even doing regular vector math
on some of the ways comes up with errors because of round off problems
(dealing with coordinates that only have differences of a millionth or
less difference between them).

In general, I'd say nothing really needs to be THAT accurate.  Get the
buildings close, then call it a day.  :)


-- 
Eric Ladner