[OSM-newbies] defining an area with potlatch

[ael]

Uwe Geuder wrote:
> Hi!
> 
>> An area is simply a line, in which the last point is the same as
>> the first.
> 
> So how do you distinguish a closed way from an area? Well, closed
> ways aren't that common, but they do exist. Racing tracks for example
> or just circular streets.

There is a tag=area which is how I do it. osmarender seems to handle
this as I expect, but mapnik does not. But I can't complain because the
particular semantics I have in mind isn't official, and I haven't found
time to put a proposal into the wiki.

I have many quite large enclosed parking areas in residential parts in
my locality. And also industrial estates with large car parks and yards.
There doesn't seem to be any existing tag to handle that although
"square" is near. Instead I draw a closed way tagged as a service road.
 Then I add the area tag. Osmarender does what I expect: without the
area tag, it draw the way as you would expect: just a road that joins
itself.   When tagged as an area, it shows an service area - a polygon -
exactly as I want. The wiki seems to say that it is illegal to use the
tag area on a service road. All we need to do is remove that restriction
and require the semantics above.

Will something like that fit your case(s)?

ael