[OSM-talk] postcode idea

[Andy Robinson]

This is a good point. How does Royal Mail differentiate in their postcode
database between a block area which has a common postcode and a specific
address which has a unique postcode. As far as I can tell everything is
based around areas but that the reference to that area is a point, does
anyone know any different?

For OSM I personally think that postal codes can fit any of the node,
segment, way or area features in the database. We are not necessarily trying
to replicate a postal code database but rather provide postal code
information for OSM database features.

Cheers,

Andy

Andy Robinson
Andy_J_Robinson at blueyonder.co.uk 

>-----Original Message-----
>From: talk-bounces at openstreetmap.org [mailto:talk-
>bounces at openstreetmap.org] On Behalf Of Andy Armstrong
>Sent: 31 March 2006 08:44
>To: Nick Hill
>Cc: talk at openstreetmap.org
>Subject: Re: [OSM-talk] postcode idea
>
>On 30 Mar 2006, at 10:22, Nick Hill wrote:
>> Once we have a fairly complete open street map, with named segments
>> and localities, merging plain address data will give us a fairly
>> accurate postcode map. It will enable us to automatically attach
>> postcodes to a street. Once we put at which end number 1 is, or the
>> way the street is numbered (one side odd one side even or looped)
>> we will have enough data for a very accurate postcode map.
>
>Plenty of places don't have streets :)
>
>I live in an area where a single postcode can cover a number of farms
>and smallholdings in a way that wouldn't necessarily be easy to infer.
>
>That's not to say it's not a good idea - just that the street thing
>won't work anything like everywhere.
>
>--
>Andy Armstrong, hexten.net
>
>
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