[OSM-talk] Proposal -- OpenFootpaths, a dedicated WMS layer for paths

Gabriel Ebner ge at gabrielebner.at
Sat Jun 10 15:10:19 BST 2006


On Fri, Jun 09, 2006 at 10:49:16PM +0100, nick at hogweed.org wrote:
> layer dedicated to UK footpaths, bridleways and other countryside rights of 

So OFP would be UK-only?

> a) This new "OpenFootpaths" layer could be combined with OpenStreetMap and 
> NASA SRTM contour data by default. However if desired it could be overlain on 
> out-of-copyright Ordnance Survey maps, which are largely still useful in 
> countryside areas (used one to navigate back from Godshill to Brighstone on 
> the IoW for instance....) IIRC, Richard is working on making the out of 
> copyright maps available through a web (WMS?) interface.

Why couldn't this be done with the main OSM dataset?

> Of course there is a disadvantage... the separation of rural footpath data 
> from the main OSM database. However it would *only* be rural footpath data, 
> the "OpenFootpaths" data would not seek to contain roads of any description, 
> or even urban footpaths/alleyways.

I see further disadvantages:

- It's difficult to draw the line between rural and urban ways, so a way might
  be mapped twice.

- Finding intersections (for routing applications) between the main OSM
  dataset and OFP would be difficult -- think of a footpath over a motorway.

- Producing maps with osmarender et al would become more difficult as you'd
  have to get OFP data too and probably also need to convert that.

- You'd have to use two editors, one for OFP, one for OSM.

- Should a rural way turn out (or become) urban, you'd have to move it between
  the databases, not only being laborous but also losing the history.  As of
  now, you just have to change a tag.

  Gabriel.
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