Wow Alberto, you have put a lot of thought into this. I agree its needed
and think the model would serve us a lot better than the way its done
now. But I see a couple of problems, first, we have a huge data set
using the existing model. Very hard to change that. Secondly, I suspect
not all contributers to OSM are familiar with the sort of roads that
have prompted your proposal. So, wide spread support may be a bit hard
to find.
But I'd be the last to suggest you give up something just because its
impossible !
So, lets pick it over.
Firstly, maybe your categories might need to be a bit finer grained.
For example, the jump, in Rural, 3 Tertiary and 4 Unclassified is too
big. I live on a rural road, its not a connecting road and it is owned
and maintained (occasionally) by the Municipality. So its definitely a
public access road but not one a routing engine should consider (except
start and end stages of course). Such roads are very common.
I am not sure I like the classification you use for C Road Condition. It
seems a bit too focused on maintenance models rather than providing an
indication of how a traveler might find it. I suggest what a map (or
whatever) user wants to know is "should I use this road ?". And that, of
course, is dependent on vehicle, maybe affected by weather, maintenance
cycles and so on.
Alberto, I'd like to see this model refined, lets make out that we are
starting fresh, get it right and then look to see if some of the result
can be incorporated into the current model, or even a long term transition ?
David
On 06/03/16 01:25, Alberto wrote:
Dear OSM staff, contributors, and users:
I have read the definitions, concepts and description that OSM uses to
characterize (tag) roads and noticed that OSM does not establish the
difference between inter-urban (rural) roads and urban roads
(comprising mostly avenues and streets). Therefore, I propose to
*replace the existing OSM road classification with a "functional
classification"* that would allow OSM *"to better model and better
visualize"* the actual road network. I have noticed that you have been
challenged to adapt to the differences found in each country. If the
following classification is adopted, it will be a "*universal
standard*" and you will not need to adopt different criteria for
developed or developing countries, like the OSM example for East Africa.
It would be useful to define a road class (paved/unpaved) and a road
surface type (concrete, asphalt, surface treatment, gravel, earth). I
also propose to reduce the options for road condition to only five
categories defined by the need for maintenance or rehabilitation. I
can provide a technical definition using the International Roughness
Index (IRI) for paved and unpaved roads.
I am fully aware that these changes present a major challenge for the
existing, coding, renderer, editors, etc. However, I am confident that
introducing these changes (and adding the number of lanes) will not
only simplify the mapping tasks, but would substantially improve the
quality of the OMS products, particularly given the fact that many
other layers are highly dependent on the quality of the road network.
I am a Civil Engineer (MS Stanford) with training on urban planning
(MIT) with more than 20 years of experience working with international
organizations like the World Bank and the African Development Bank on
roads and highways in more than 50 countries, but mostly in
Sub-Saharan Africa, South America, South Asia, East Asia and the
Pacific, and Eastern Europe.
Alberto Nogales
202-257-8726
*A. FUNCTIONAL ROAD CLASSIFICATION for "Motor Vehicles":*
*
*
*Rural (Inter-Urban) Roads - Located outside of urban areas*
*Classified Road Network. *Generally falls under the responsibility of
the National, Provincial (State), Municipal/Local Government to build,
operate and maintain.
*1.* *Primary* Roads - National, Main, Trunk Roads outside of
urban areas that connect the main population and economic centers
of the country. Typically under the responsibility of the National
Government and with high levels of traffic.
*2.* *Secondary* Roads - Regional, State, Provincial Roads are the
main feeder routes into, and provide the main links between
primary roads. Typically under the responsibility of the
Provincial Government and with medium levels of traffic.
*3.* *Tertiary* Roads - Municipal, Local, Rural Roads that connect
the smaller towns to intermediate cities. Typically under the
responsibility of the Local Governments and with low levels of
traffic.
*Unclassified Road Network.*
*4. Unclassified* Roads. Mostly private roads or of unknown
responsibility to build and operate. Typically maintained by local
communities or by private mining, forestry, or agricultural
enterprises.
*Urban Network- Located within the boundaries of urban areas*
*1/2/3.* *Highway.* [Expres
