[OSM-newbies] rivers and coastlines

[Peter Childs]

2009/10/4 Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason <avarab at gmail.com>:
> On Sun, Oct 4, 2009 at 8:07 AM, Robert Helvie <alimamo at gmail.com> wrote:
>> I have been correcting some of the coastline of South Korea (NK border south
>> through to Busan provisionally finished) using the Yahoo imagery (yes, I
>> know it is old and not always perfect, but it is a darnsite better than what
>> was there).
>>
>> My question is ... What is the common practice for when rivers meet the
>> ocean? Here I am talking about the actual way of the river. Not the
>> "riverbank" ways. Should the river way run out and butt against the
>> coastline with a node? Cross the coastline and run out into the ocean? ...
>> Something else??
>>
>> Additionally, coastline segments often (and correctly in my view) run "up
>> river" of wider rivers. How far up river is a judgment call for which I am
>> not looking for an answer right now. But I am wondering about the river way
>> running out. If the "coastline" runs up river, should the river way end at
>> or just past that coast line or should it run out between the banks into
>> deeper water?
>>
>> I couldn't seem to find anything on the wiki.
>>
>> Just looking for a consenses or perhaps some examples in practice.
>> Thanks. If you do have an example, send a link, please.
>
> I draw a line between the two points where the riverbanks meet the
> ocean on their far sides. That's my coastline:
>
> Riverbank: http://www.openstreetmap.org/browse/way/28101869
> Coastline: http://www.openstreetmap.org/browse/way/28101860
>
> I think that's a sensible way to do it.
>

Strictly speaking, I think its to do with Tide. If the Bank is
effected by Tide its a Coast, If its not its a River Bank. But I don't
suspect this really makes that much sence in every case and since the
coast and river banks are usually broken in to short segments anyway.
Its a judgment call. Hence if its a Tidal River bank in needs to be
marked as such, But Coasts always have tides, Lakes are different
again....

Peter.