[Talk-GB] What is farmland?

James Derrick lists at jamesderrick.org
Wed Dec 18 13:19:54 UTC 2019


On 16/12/2019 12:32, Andy Townsend wrote:
>
>   * Firstly, I only tend to add farmland etc. after I've added fences,
>     walls, ditches, gates, bits of woodland etc. (it's just easier
>     that way around).
>   * If the crop extends right up to the hedge, I'd tend to have the
>     hedge sharing nodes with both fields.
>   * If there's a ditch, track or other separating feature I'd try and
>     draw the hedges either side (if they exist) and have the farmland
>     not sharing nodes with the ditch but with the hedge (if it
>     exists).  Similarly I wouldn't attach farmland to roads.
>   * If there's an uncultivated strip around the edge of the field I
>     wouldn't tend to include that in the "field". Similarly if an area
>     is left as scrub (perhaps to wet for crops), I'd map as scrub.
>
+1

After several years mapping Northumberland (about 60% complete!), that's 
almost exactly the same style I've landed on.


Adding boundaries and rivers first helps get a feel for the area, then 
adding individual polygons is easier with the follow tool in JOSM.

Large areas of one polygon are a PITA to maintain later - e.g. if a 
meadow is ploughed up, or a housing estate appears. (I know - I've 
cursed my own previous less detailed mapping several times...)


Also to help with maintenance, I separate roads from landuse UNLESS in 
upland areas where there may be less field boundaries but 
barrier=cattle_grid visible which means the sheep really are in the 
middle of the highway.

And, please don't chop up roads into little segments so one way can be 
used in four area relations (my least favourite maintenance PITA). Your 
future self will be happier if you draw separate lines! :-)


My own practice is to show a pattern of cultivation with different tags 
such as farmland, meadow, scrub, heath. In Northumberland this can give 
additional information at large scales as height limits the types of 
farming which are viable as you rise inland from the coast.

And yes, farmers do indeed plough up grazing land and rotate crops - I 
try to map what is visible from cycle survey, and different imagery 
providers whilst accepting it's not going to be as canonical as a 
housing estate!

TTFN,


James

James
-- 
James Derrick
     lists at jamesderrick.org, Cramlington, England
     I wouldn't be a volunteer if you paid me...
     https://www.openstreetmap.org/user/James%20Derrick

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