[Talk-GB] Disclaimer

[Dave F.]

Hi Neil

Bottom Line: Don't put unverifiable data into OSM.

I've always been against underground cables/pipes. The utility companies 
can't even map them accurately when they're being constructed! Drawing a 
straight line between two stations on, basically, as guess, adds no 
quality. They shouldn't be rendered in a general purpose rendering like 
mapnik, & should really be stored as a separate database & overlaid in a 
specific map for the few that actually require the information.

To answer your question, a disclaimer might be worth displaying, 
however, with reference to the number of people falling in the Avon in 
Bath, no matter how much information you give, you'll always have stupid 
people who ignore it.

Dave F.

On 28/01/2015 01:13, Neil Matthews wrote:
> Do we need an OSM disclaimer -- I've just had a mail from a gentleman 
> enquiring why an underground powerline 
> http://www.openstreetmap.org/way/127968407/history#map=17/51.50283/-2.55462 
> was drawn on OSM -- as he didn't want to buy a house on top of it and 
> Western Power told him the powerline couldn't be there! I think he 
> joined OSM just to message me?!?
>
> As it happens I think I may have modified one end to change the 
> overhead route adjacent to it -- and when I checked the history I can 
> see that I didn't draw in the original version of the underground 
> powerline.
>
> I was very tempted to reply with the following disclaimer:
> Caveat emptor; the presence/absence of any or all of the following 
> items on OpenStreetmap should not be considered definitive: power 
> lines, plague pits, mines, flood planes, mobile phone masts -- but all 
> contributions on these and other topics to OpenStreetmap are warmly 
> welcomed.
>
> Unfortunately, I took the easy way out and merely referred him to his 
> solicitor and surveyer :-(
>
> I suspect he might have been more upset if he was selling...
>
> Cheers,
> Neil (ndm)
>
>
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