[OSM-talk] 'Allowed data'

[Lester Caine]

Martin Koppenhoefer wrote:
>     I would like to request that 'start_date' is automatically populated with ad
>     the very least, the current date, but with an option to update it based on
>     what is being traced from?
>
> if you are refering to the tag "start_date" than I strongly oppose this idea.
> Hardly ever will the start_date of an object be the same than the time the
> mappers adds it.

I am referring to using 'start_date' is it is currently documented
http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Key:start_date
At a very minimum putting a current timestamp in will give a starting point 
since we know it is valid today, although a future start date is also possible. 
It is creating the habit of populating it and encouraging the addition where it 
is known.

end_date is only required when an existing object is removed from the data.

 > If you are refering to changesets or version timestamps then
> you are a lucky man, because this is already done. Every single version of every
> single osmobject has a precise timestamp with not only date but also hours,
> minutes and seconds.

That is a completely different set of data ;)
And since elaboration seems to be required. The history of the way data is 
created is not the same as the history of how an object came into existence.

-- 
Lester Caine - G8HFL
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