[OSM-talk] highway=unsurfaced

[Anthony]

On Tue, Jan 11, 2011 at 4:54 PM, David Murn <davey at incanberra.com.au> wrote:>
> Well, I dunno/care about what the definition is in every state, but the
> definition of highway=road in the OSM wiki (since I believe we're all
> talking about OSM here, and not some other localised schema):
>
> >From highway=road:
>> A road of unknown classification. This is intended as a temporary tag
>> to mark a road until it has been properly surveyed. Once it has been
>> surveyed, the classification should be updated to the appropriate
>> value.
>
> So, while 'road' may mean a tarred bit of bitumen in the UK, and it
> means something passable by a vehicle in Australia, in the OSM context
> it means an unknown classification, temporarily tagged until the
> required re-survey is complete.

It means a *road* of unknown classification.  Apparently to some
people that word "road" means something more than just "a path where
people drive motor vehicles", and that in order to be a road the path
has to have some sort of official standing.

Of course, the definition for "highway=track" says "Roads for
agricultural use, gravel roads in the forest etc."  So it uses that
same word "road", which leads me to believe that the word "road" as
used in OSM really does mean nothing more than "a path where people
drive motor vehicles".

But I'm open to other definitions, especially if they fit in with the
current de facto tagging.

> Now, maybe Im off the mark here, but it
> sounds like that is *EXACTLY* the outcome we want when mass changing
> tags, to use a temporary tag which by definition means more information
> is needed.

I see no point in mass changing tags.  At best it provides equal
information.  At worst it provides less information.  And according to
some it provides wrong information.

If there were some benefit that might be derived from it, I might
reconsider.  But I see no benefit, and only potential harm.