[OSM-talk] The Fourth Dimension (temporary mapping)

Mike Collinson mike at ayeltd.biz
Fri Jul 27 21:01:30 BST 2007


At 06:37 PM 24/07/2007, Frederik Ramm wrote:
>Hi,
>
>> I once thought exactly the same. Some time ago I found these tags in
>> "Map Features":
>> 
>> start_date Date ANY Date feature was created
>> end_date Date ANY Date feature was removed
>> 
>> With this information and a given "time" maps can be rendered that show
>> the state at that specific time
>
>True, if we could count on people to add a start_date when something 
>comes into existence (as opposed to always having been there and just 
>now having been mapped), and an end_date when things are removed (as 
>opposed to just deleting them as if they'd never been there in the first 
>place). And editors would of course have to be modified to not clutter 
>the display with things from the past or the future unless instructed to 
>do so. It is possible but there will be a lot of side effects, and the 
>"start date/end date" construct might clash with the existing history 
>mechanism in some places.

This would also start putting in place the structure needed to support historical mapping. I look forward to the day when I can create an animated map of how my home town developed using OSM data. 

Mike 






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