[OSM-talk] New user: OSM theory, and Naming Streets

[Nick Whitelegg]

Hello Jack,

> Hi, I'm a newbie to this project.

Welcome to OSM.

> I've created some GPS tracks and imported them to JOSM. I imported
> them as plain GPS data points because if I don't it appears that JOSM
> treats all the points on my journey as part of the same way (I think
> that's the term).
> I then start drawing points on the map using the GPS points as a guide
> (because I've driven the same road more than once I've got multiple
> traces - I'm just visually averaging them by guessing). Is this a
> sensible way to do it?
>
> I've got a couple of questions that don't appear to be answered in the FAQ:
>
> 1. Is a segment simply a join between two nodes?

Yes.

> 2. Is a "way" considered to be a single path/road/track?

A way is a collection of segments which make up a defined path or road, such 
as Station Road.

> 3. How do I name a "way" - e.g. "This is Station Road"? 

Just "Station Road".

> I can't see 
> anywhere obvious in JOSM or the online applet. Presumably there's also
> a way to show this is a main road, this one's a country lane, but I'm
> just starting...

You need to use tags. Having created a way, you can specify its properties 
using tags. In JOSM, there is a panel on the right hand side, to the right of 
the map window, headed 'Key' and 'Value'. Below this is a button labelled 
'Add'. If you click on this, you can add tags (keys and values) to the road.

Keys represent the type of information you're adding, values the actual value.
For example to add a name tag to a way, you would use a key of 'name' and 
value of 'Station Road'.

To define the class of road you use the 'highway' tag. For example, an A road 
would have the 'highway' tag set to 'primary', a B road 'secondary' and a 
country lane or other un-numbered road 'unclassified'.

The tagging scheme is described at:
http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/index.php/Map_Features

> 4. Can I apply more than one name to a road/segment of road? For
> example, a road might be the A1234, with a random section known as
> "The Bowl". Also a road going between town A and town B might be known
> as "A road" when you're in B, but "B road" when you're in A. (Yikes,
> that was a bad choice of names :) ).

Different people have different ideas on this, but I would recommend creating 
a separate way for each bit of the A road with a different name. Similarly, 
if a road changes number halfway along, use two different ways.

While we're on the subject of road numbers, you use the 'ref' tag. e.g. add 
the key 'ref' and the value 'A1234' to a road.

Hope that helps, please ask the list again if you have any more questions,

Nick