[Talk-us] Naming Ramps

[Minh Nguyen]

On 2015-07-30 13:51, Paul Norman wrote:
> On 7/30/2015 7:15 AM, Brett Lord-Castillo wrote:
>> Related to this, I also wanted to look for some ideas on how to
>> generate names for the unnamed ramps in an OSM extract.
> Most ramps in parts of the US I've traveled don't have name. What they
> do have is destinations, which indicate the information on the signs.

Incidentally, the Ohio Department of Transportation does post a blue 
sign on every highway ramp, bearing a heavily abbreviated (devowelized, 
actually) name of the ramp, for example:

Ramp
E 275
  To
N 75

or:

   Ramp
   E 275
    To
Lvldmdra

In cases where the ramp belongs to multiplexed routes, you may see 
multiple ramp name signs side by side: <http://www.roadfan.com/3bluemrk.JPG>

These signs are specifically intended to help motorists pinpoint their 
location when calling for help. (If emergency responders look for the 
wrong ramp in a given junction, they might end up wasting precious 
minutes trying to circle back.)

I've been hesitant to put these names in the `name` tag because they 
clutter up ordinary use cases like map display and navigation. I'm 
inclined to use `official_name` here and expand all abbreviations (per 
OSM convention).

-- 
minh at nguyen.cincinnati.oh.us