[PAGE UPDATE] Best map editing practice - Parking lots

Map Editors Community United States US Wiki Discussion
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[size=150]Best map editing practice - Parking Lots[/size]

After extensive discussion and mulling over by the US Champs, it was decided that the previous guidance of only mapping the most-used lanes in large parking lots should be revised. The change summarized below was implemented on October 17, 2018, and is in immediate effect, though there is no priority to convert existing parking lots to conform to the new guidance (see the MBox).

Champs have been experimenting for sometime to determine the pros and cons of altering the existing guidance and found that allowing app users to ‘snap’ to the aisles closer to the beginning of the drive resulted in a better user experience.

Additionally, as of the drafting of the guidance and this posting, unnamed parking lot roads (PLRs) are being used in the process commonly known as ‘road name inheritance’, and the addition of aisles in parking lots tends to reduce the area affected by this unfortunate effect.

Finally, with inclusion of app features such as walking ETAs and “where I parked pins,” the addition of aisles in large parking lots does improve the user experience when moving to their parked cars. Also, the walking ETAs become more accurate when the parking pin is located near an aisle road segment rather than just perimeter parking lot roads.

One of the important changes to occur to the guidance prior to its release were the recommendations to include u-turns on two-way aisles, as it allows the app to direct the user towards the most advantageous exit of the aisle prior to the user leaving their parking space.

Another important revision was made to the Small Lots section, including when it is advisable to map (or not map) small parking lots.

Finally, a subsection was added showing how parking garages should be mapped (with all entrances connected, and not including all rooftop aisles) considering that parking lot area places only allow one entry/exit point.

For a detailed look at all the additions and removals, see the wiki page’s history change log.

This post is being made for posterity, and to open the new page to wiki editors for wordsmithing, formatting, and copy editing. In addition, we should track down any other pages that need to be adjusted to fit the new aisle guidance (though some have already been fixed).

Thanks to all the champs who contributed to this effort, and to the editors who have already contributed improvements via discord.

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Regarding the u-turns at the ends of perpendicular-parking aisles:

Should these u-turns only be added if it seems safe to make the u-turn at the actual end of the aisle, will Waze will tell you to make the u-turn.

Or is it acceptable to include the U-turn in all prking aisles?

This question has come up already in discussions with new and junior editors.
Some clarification on this point may be necessary.

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The purpose of the uturn in perpendicular aisles is to allow routes from starting points to automatically choose the best end, so drivers can leave the parking space to the left or right as needed. This is why angled spots are not included, as it is less likely to make this menuver.