[OSM-talk] Tagging hierarchies

[Robin Paulson]

On 14/01/2008, Alex Mauer <hawke at hawkesnest.net> wrote:
> Robin Paulson wrote:
> > the point i'm trying to get across, is that all water features, be
> > they linear (rivers, canals, stream) or areas (lakes, reservoirs) or
> > whatever would benefit from being under _one_ top-level tag, for
> > consistency.
>
> Hmm, are you sure?  Is it easy for a renderer to differentiate a linear
> feature from an area without a distinct tag?  I don't think it could be.

yes, of course - in exactly the same way as you can differentiate a
square, triangle or circle drawn on paper, from a line

areas must form complete loops, otherwise they are treated as ways by
the renderer