[OSM-talk] Another argument for Open Street Data ?

[Steve Coast]

On 12 Nov 2007, at 18:23, OJW wrote:

> That raises an interesting point: the future of signage
>
> Currently if the council want to enforce some limit ("No HGVs",  
> "Nothing over
> 12' tall") then they do so using a physical road sign.  But that  
> won't have
> any effect on the routes chosen by computers

Not true. My PND asks me if I'm a pedestrian, cyclist, car or van and  
knows about width, weight and height restrictions. Also see my podcast  
with yotter nee geospatial vision. Data accuracy is another issue.

Also... what's with this thing about road signs being passe and  
relying on your PND? Do you ignore traffic lights and pedestrians  
too? :-)

> (and people won't learn about
> the limits until they're part-way along an unsuitable route)

So turn around? :-)

> So logically, in the future we might expect some sort of online  
> signage.  If
> the councils want to block HGVs from a road, maybe the best way  
> would be for
> them to issue an RSS with "node 443839 now has a maximum weight of x"

What I don't like about this thread is how it assumes heavy goods  
drivers are total morons. While the cynical side of me might agree,  
there's a weight of evidence against it. First, they drive the same  
routes a lot so know their area. Second, they have common sense.  
Third, they obey road signs which I don't see being replaced with RSS  
any time soon. Fourth, unless the government mandates PAYD[1] and if  
you wait 10 years[2] for everyone to have a GPS...

[1] - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PAYD
[2] - (specifically vehicle ownership turnover) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hirsch_report

have fun,

SteveC | steve at asklater.com | http://www.asklater.com/steve/