[OSM-talk] TIGER data abbreviations

[David Earl]

On 04/12/2007 11:51, Tom Hughes wrote:
> In message <20071204110643.GB18718 at mersenne.largestprime.net>
>         Cameron Patrick <cameron at patrick.wattle.id.au> wrote:
> 
>> The heuristics involved in shortening street names can also get quite
>> complex.  For example, there are streets near me named "The Avenue" and
>> "The Boulevard".  It would look weird to see those written "The Ave" or
>> "The Blvd" on a map - certainly, no road maps or street signs that I've
>> seen shorten it that way.
> 
> There is a road called "The Drive" near me, and Google does indeed
> abbreviate it ;-)

There's an obvious common factor here which a slightly more intelligent 
pattern match could cope with. I don't think this invalidates the 
concept of abbreviating at all, it's just Google is not taking it far 
enough. I'm sure there are numerous other examples which some analysis 
would show up.

The Saint problem happens with Drive too, doesn't it: "Dr Spock Dr".

(BTW the name finder will currently find it if you ask for "Dr, <place>" 
or "Drive, <place>" but will, of course, also include "A Drive", "B 
Drive and so on as well as "The Drive". At present "The Drive, <place>" 
should get a direct hit, but I will shortly be releasing a change that 
ignores the definite article, to cope with "The Black Bull" when it is 
only in the database as "Black Bull". Hmm.)

David