[Talk-GB] Tagging post towns and other addressing issues in the UK

[Colin Smale]

David, thanks for offering some updates. 

By the way, I am not asking questions because I personally want the
answers - I am fully aware of how these things work. And because of
that, and because OSM tries to model reality, I believe we need some
kind of anchor-point for our thinking in order to converge on a proper
solution. In many countries postcodes/zip codes are associated with
geographic areas; the UK, as frequently happens, uses a different
paradigm. We need a clear statement of the intention for the addresses
in OSM, and my belief is that they represent postal addresses as per the
PAF. PO Box numbers are not applicable to OSM, as they cannot be related
to a location useful in OSM. The discussion is just about Dependent
Locaiity, Double Dependent Locality, and Dependent Thoroughfare. If we
can define what OSM tag should be used for these three fields, we have a
model which is sufficient for all UK addresses. 

Of course, it is an option to decide to NOT represent this level of
detail in OSM. In that case, expect mappers to make up their own
solutions, and this discussion to resurface every few months. 

Next iteration: 

 		ELEMENT
 		FIELD NAME
 		DESCRIPTION
 		MAX LENGTH
 		OSM

 		Organisation
 		Organisation Name

 		60
 		n/a

 		Department Name

 		60
 		n/a

 		Premises
 		Sub Building Name

 		30
 		addr:unit

 		Building Name

 		50
 		addr:housename

 		Building Number

 		4
 		addr:housenumber

 		Thoroughfare
 		Dependent Thoroughfare Name

 		60

 		Dependent Thoroughfare Descriptor

 		20

 		Thoroughfare Name
 		Street
 		60
 		addr:street

 		Thoroughfare Descriptor

 		20
 		addr:street

 		Locality
 		Double Dependent Locality
 		Small villages
 		35

 		Dependent Locality

 		35

 		Post town

 		30
 		addr:city

 		Postcode
 		Postcode

 		7
 		addr:postcode

 		PO Box
 		PO Box

 		6
 		 n/a

On 2019-01-27 23:17, David Woolley wrote:

> On 27/01/2019 21:21, Colin Smale wrote: 
> 
>> Organisation     Organisation Name         60     n/a
>> Department Name         60     n/a
>> Premises     Sub Building Name         30
> 
> addr:unit
> 
>> Building Name         50     addr:housename
>> Building Number         4     addr:housenumber
>> Thoroughfare     Dependent Thoroughfare Name         60
> 
> This is the one that actually normally causes questions.  It is quite common to have named terraces, and to have runs of maisonettes numbered within a name.
> 
>> Dependent Thoroughfare Descriptor         20 Thoroughfare Name     Street     60     addr:street
>> Thoroughfare Descriptor         20 Locality     Double Dependent Locality     Small villages     35 Dependent Locality         35 Post town         30     addr:city
> 
> Firstly, addr in OSM is generally postal, not geographical.  As indicated elsewhere containment (or is_in) define the geographical place.
> 
> Secondly, in practice the only parts of the address you need are the detailed destination point code and the post code.  However, I discovered that the postie on the beat also needs the street name to avoid having to look it up from the postcode.
> 
> The bar codes for Walksort only contain the postcode and two character detailed destination.  (Is there a potential project there, to capture these.  Everyone who has received utility bills will have their own code, but they are only available to paying customers, as far as the sender is concerned.)
> 
>> Postcode     Postcode         7     addr:postcode
>> PO Box     PO Box         6
> 
> PO Box is not really relevant.  In most cases it is attached to a post office building. 
> 
>> 
> 
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