[OSM-talk] Naming natural features

[Nick Whitelegg]

On Sunday 06 May 2007 20:21, Steve Chilton wrote:
> Whilst server/API have been down I have been doing some preliminary mapping
> in the Lake District, using the NPE>GPXweb route to produce GPS logs for
> some of the open water features that are not currently in the OSM database
> (the small lakes and tarns mostly). When things are back in place I will
> upload GPS files and produce the appropriate ways to map these features.
>
> Two questions:
> ...
> Similarly, I might want to map the 124 Wainwright tops in the Lakes - with
> locations taken from the same NPE source. I know many of the names but not
> all. Again almost all will be named on the NPE maps, but what about some of
> the low-lying ones on the urban fringe - it is not always clear from the
> NPE map what labels are attached to what features. For example, from local
> knowledge I could identify and name Orrest Head (Wainwright's locational
> muse), but might not be able to apply that logic in areas I don't know so
> well. And what about heights of summits? If it is shown on the NPE map I
> can use the value. Presumably for Orrest Head I can't record a height value
> as it is not specifically shown on the NPE map, even though others sources
> could tell me (my copies of Wainwrights Guides are from the 70s so not out
> of copyright AFAIK).

Both these raise basically the same question, namely "is it OK to learn 
something from a copyright source". Common-sense would suggest so and I would 
hope that in reality this is the case.

One thing about many Wainwright tops (peaks in the Lake District documented in 
Wainwright's fell guides) is that they have a Wainwright name and an OS name. 
I suspect that, given his knowledge, the Wainwright name is the "correct" and 
"traditional" one. A few examples (W=Wainwright, OS=Ordnance Survey, both NPE 
and contemporary):

W: Coniston Old Main, OS: The Old Man of Coniston
W: Pike o'Blisco, OS: Pike OF Blisco
W: Pike o'Stickle, OS: Pike OF Stickle
W: Silver How, OS: Silver Howe

Now I "know" the Wainwright names, e.g. I would refer to "Coniston Old Man" 
not "The Old Man of Coniston" if talking about it to someone. Given that I 
have *learnt* the names, is it OK to call it "Coniston Old Man" in OSM? That 
would certainly be my preference, I would much prefer to use the Wainwright 
names. I take it that learning things from a copyrighted source is OK, it 
would be a sad state of affairs if not.....

Nick
> Cheers
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