On 28/07/2011 13:27, Nathan Edgars II wrote:
Here (Florida) most roads are named by subdivision plats. Names can be
changed and unplatted streets can be named by government resolution. Here's
an example:
http://orlapp1.ci.orlando.fl.us/asv/paperlessagenda.nsf/6acecff5f30ecb0d85256bd0005abae0/9db36bf38b912fbc852575a10046cc0d/$FILE/SNC2009-00001%20mission%20rd%20st%20name%20chg.pdf
The official name here appears to have been changed from "S. Mission Rd." to
"S. Pres. Barack Obama Pkwy.".
Looks pretty official to me! The official name includes abbreviations...
So I would suggest there is no authority for expanding it to "South
President Barack Obama Parkway".
It sounds like there are three types of street name:
1) Official, as decided by the Powers That Be
2) Signed, as displayed on the signs
3) Colloquial, as people habitually use
So which one do we put in "name=*", and what do we do with the others?
I suggest putting 2) in "name=" as it is a) most useful and b) most
easily verifiable "on the ground". For 1) we can use "official_name" and
for 3) we can use "alt_name" or "loc_name" (all in the wiki at [1]).
Then the renderers (and other consumers of OSM data) can choose cleanly
which name to use.
Going by the signs doesn't work when signs disagree. At one intersection
here, Parkway is spelled out in full and abbreviated three ways (Pkwy, Pky,
Py). Which one would you use?
I assume all the variations would be easily understood anyway so it
probably doesn't matter that much. Not worth a protracted debate in any
case... In this case it might make sense to opt for the variant with the
least possiblity of misunderstanding, so "Parkway". If only the three
abbreviations were used, then "Pkwy". How about always picking the
"longest form present on a sign"?
Colin
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