[Talk-ca] Canvec/Geobase point feature - Render

[Richard Weait]

On Mon, 2009-03-23 at 20:05 -0400, Michel Gilbert wrote:
> 2009/3/23 Sam Vekemans <acrosscanadatrails at gmail.com>
>         
>         I have not yet received the answer from NRCan about if the
>         location of the node is EXACTLY where the building actually
>         is, or is it just shown in the general area.  If it is the
>         former, then this information can be taken into account.

Sam, why should the building point location be EXACT?  We know that all
data, regardless of source, will have a degree of precision depending on
many things.  Buildings are worth having, in my opinion, even if only as
a point.  

> The position of buildings may be "exact" if the acquisition methods
> was from stereo-digitization. If it came from map scanning they may
> have been displaced for map representation purposes. My guess is 80%
> of the buildings in CanVec come from map scanning.   

>         What i can do, and i presume that you all would agree, is to
>         add this feature to the "not4osm" folder so then it could be
>         used as an assistant for the person who is actually uploading
>         the information.

I disagree.  Worth including in my opinion.  Default renders may chose
to render them or not.  Some future render may do "cool things" based on
the number of buildings / area.  Who can predict future creativity?  The
buildings exist, or existed at the time of survey.  Worth knowing.  

> Following the new information I received from
> tilesathome at openstreetmap.org (i have just forwarded the email to
> talk-ca) we may still want them for mapping purposes.

> 
> We can list them, then check with the tilesathome at openstreetmap.org
> talk if they are part of the render feature.

And even if the default renderers don't want point buildings, perhaps
the renderer at openstreetmap.ca will.  Or YourCompany.com might make a
fortune offering point-building renderers.  

>         For example, when the feature lists 9 or so different feature
>         types, the general practice for both GeoBase & CanVec is to
>         state "-1" unknown  and "0" none ... i would suggest that
>         these features be omitted from the import also.
>         
>         Any thoughts on that?

Sam, I'm sure I don't know to what you refer here.  Could you clarify
please?  

> Again it depends if the tilesathome at openstreetmap.org talk confirm
> that no render is possible. If we really want them display we can ask
> them ?

Even if the default mapnik, T at H and others don't render point-buildings
we can adjust them for our own purposes.  (We can also ask the
maintainers to add support for point buildings.)

Best regards,
Richard