[USA] Landmark Guidelines - Request for Comments
Recently a group of Connecticut Editors got together and wrote landmark guidelines for the state. They have been published in the wiki at https://www.waze.com/wiki/index.php/Con ... _Landmarks. Since their publication several Champs have approached me to use them as a base for national (USA ONLY) guidelines. Below you will find the National Guidelines that the Waze Champs have created.
Before these guidelines are published the Champs are looking for input from the general userbase. Please comment below on any specific item(s) if you feel changes should be considered. You'll notice several places with text that says "Please see local Wiki Pages / local Area Managers for information on what is considered "Major" and mapped for this category in your area." This is to allow flexibility for local needs.
There are also a few places that refer to ongoing discussions, this refers to the fact that the Waze Champs are currently working with the Waze Staff to sort out some misconceptions about landmarks (snapping to roads, suppression of various reports, etc) and will also be creating a page that better addresses the Theory of Operation behind Landmarks shortly.
This discussion topic will be open for comments for about a week (longer if the discussion warrants).
PLEASE keep your comments to specific guidelines and leave the more general discussion (i.e. should landmarks snap to roads) for a later discussion.
As always, the world-wide rule of "don't map individual businesses" still applies.
Before these guidelines are published the Champs are looking for input from the general userbase. Please comment below on any specific item(s) if you feel changes should be considered. You'll notice several places with text that says "Please see local Wiki Pages / local Area Managers for information on what is considered "Major" and mapped for this category in your area." This is to allow flexibility for local needs.
There are also a few places that refer to ongoing discussions, this refers to the fact that the Waze Champs are currently working with the Waze Staff to sort out some misconceptions about landmarks (snapping to roads, suppression of various reports, etc) and will also be creating a page that better addresses the Theory of Operation behind Landmarks shortly.
This discussion topic will be open for comments for about a week (longer if the discussion warrants).
PLEASE keep your comments to specific guidelines and leave the more general discussion (i.e. should landmarks snap to roads) for a later discussion.
As always, the world-wide rule of "don't map individual businesses" still applies.
- 1 Transportation
- 1.1 Gas Station - We've heard from Waze that we SHOULD be creating landmarks for Gas Stations in the US, and there will be changes to the Gas Station system in the US soon. Map as fence line, make sure the landmark does not snap to roads. At this time, the "Name" property should be set to the brand of the gas station (i.e. "Mobil", not "Joe's Town Mobil & Repair"). Due to a rise in independent stations, several have adopted generic names, for these stations, use whatever shows prominently up on the signage. NOTE: Gas Station Landmarks suppress Automatic System Detected Errors and as such care should be taken to ensure they don't snap to roads.
1.2 Toll booth - Not Mapped.
1.3 Terminal - Not used at this time. Not defined at this time.
1.4 Airport - Mapped at the fence line, include parking lots/terminals that are close to the airport in one landmark. Try to avoid crossing non-airport roads with the landmark.
1.5 Train station - Mapped at the fence line, including parking lot(s) in one landmark.
1.6 Bus Station / Bus Terminal - Mapped at the fence line, including parking lot(s) in one landmark.
1.7 Sea Port - Not Mapped.
1.8 Parking Lot - Listed below are the ONLY parking lots mapped with landmarks, there are several other landmarks that are mapped to cover parking lots associated with those venues. NOTE: Parking Lot Landmarks suppress & Automatic System Detected Errors and as such care should be taken to ensure they don't snap to roads.- Park & Ride/Commuter Lots are mapped at the fence line, make sure the landmark does not snap to roads. Name these the same way your local State DOT names them (i.e. "Park & Ride" or "Commuter Lot" - no specific names as it would get too long. These lots should also have unnamed Parking Lot Roads in accordance with the information in Road Types wiki page.
- Pay Parking Lots (Private & Municipal) - Not mapped at this time, however, they are currently under discussion. This is possible POI situation, also the |P| icon that appears when nearing destination is generated from results from FourSquare. Incorrect |P| pins should be corrected on the FourSquare website.
1.9 Junction/Interchange - Not mapped at this time, however please leave any you see on the map alone as we are currently testing what effect, if any, these have on navigation.
1.10 Bridge - Major Bridges Mapped as a rectangle or arc only to include the road. Please see local Wiki Pages / local Area Managers for information on what is considered "Major" and mapped for this category in your area.
1.11 Tunnel - Major Tunnels Mapped as a rectangle or arc only to include the road. Please see local Wiki Pages / local Area Managers for information on what is considered "Major" and mapped for this category in your area.
1.12 Subway station - Not Mapped
1.13 Ferry lane - We really need a Ferry Road Type and an Avoid Ferry option in the client to do this properly, but for now mapped as a rectangle or arc only to include the route.
1.14 Car Rental - Not Mapped. Handled by POI Search.
1.15 Garage - Not Mapped. Handled by POI Search.
- 2.1 Park - Mapped at the fence line, including parking lot(s) in one landmark. Further definition in the works, but Private Golf Courses are not included.
2.2 Museum / Visitor Center / Monument - Mapped at the fence line, including parking lot(s) in one landmark.
2.3 Mall/Shopping Center - Major Malls/Shopping Centers Mapped at the fence line, including parking lot(s) in one landmark. A "Major" Mall/Shopping Center is typically defined by those having 45 or more individual stores in the complex. Please see local Wiki Pages / local Area Managers for information on what is considered "Major" and mapped for this category in your area. Please note that strip malls & grocery store plazas typically do NOT meet this definition.
2.4 Convenience Store / Kiosk - Not Mapped. Handled by POI Search.
2.5 Restaurant / Bar / Coffee Shop - Not Mapped. Handled by POI Search.
2.6 Stadium / Sports Facility - Mapped as building shape, adjacent parking lots are mapped using Parking Lot Roads.
2.7 Hotel / Motel / Guest Room - Not Mapped. Handled by POI Search.
2.8 Club/Concert Hall - Major Clubs/Concert Halls Mapped at the fence line, including associated parking lot(s) (if attached) in one landmark. Venues are mapped if their PRIMARY function is as a Concert/Performance Venue with a capacity of at least 1,000 people. For venues with multiple stages/halls, use the total combined capacity of all the individual auditoriums in the venue.
2.9 Beach - Not used. Mapped as 2.1 Park
2.10 Camp site / RV Park - Not Mapped. Handled by POI Search.
2.11 Casino - Not Mapped. Handled by POI Search.
2.12 Marina - Not Mapped. Handled by POI Search.
2.13 Promenade / Boardwalk - Not Mapped. Handled by POI Search.
2.14 Store/stall - Not Mapped. Handled by POI Search.
- 3.1 Island - Not Mapped.
3.2 Sea/Lake/Levee - Not Mapped. Handled by Waze Water Layer. Waze is currently working on issues with the water layer. Once this work is complete, this guideline will be reevaluated to determine if bodies of water not included on the water layer should be mapped.
3.3 River/Stream - Not Mapped. Handled by Waze Water Layer. Waze is currently working on issues with the water layer. Once this work is complete, this guideline will be reevaluated to determine if bodies of water not included on the water layer should be mapped.
3.4 Forest/Grove - Not Mapped.
3.5 Farmland - Not Mapped.
3.6 Gravel - Not Mapped.
3.7 Danger Zone - Not used at this time. Not defined at this time.
- 4.1 Religious Site - Major religious sites are Mapped at the fence line, including associated parking lot(s) (if attached) in one landmark. "Major" is typically defined as a site which someone would make a pilgrimage to/visit similar to a tourist attraction. Please see local Wiki Pages / local Area Managers for information on what is considered 'Major' and mapped for this category in your area.
4.2 Bank - Not Mapped. Handled by POI Search.
4.3 Office Building - Not Mapped. Handled by POI Search.
4.4 Industry - Not Mapped. Handled by POI Search.
4.5 Public Building - Libraries and Court Houses Mapped at the fence line, including associated parking lot(s) (if attached) in one landmark.
4.6 Tourist Site / Attraction - Mapped at the fence line, including parking lot(s) in one landmark. Further definition in the works.
4.7 ATM - Not Mapped. Handled by POI Search.
4.8 Pharmacy - Not Mapped. Handled by POI Search.
4.9 Supermarket/Market - Not Mapped. Handled by POI Search.
- 5.1 Hospital/Clinic - Hospitals Mapped at the fence line, including associated parking lot(s) (if attached) in one landmark.
5.2 Correction Facility / Prison - Mapped at the fence line, including parking lot(s) in one landmark.
5.3 Military Site - Mapped at the fence line, including parking lot(s) in one landmark. This landmark is used for smaller facilities like Armories and National Guard Training Facilities. Larger facilities such as Naval Submarine Base New London is NOT landmarked, but given it's own City name.
5.4 Government / Municipal Building - City/Town Halls & associated facilities Mapped at the fence line, including associated parking lot(s) (if attached) in one landmark. Public Works garages & work yards are not mapped. The Department of Motor Vehicles/Registry of Motor Vehicles is mapped using this type, and the name is spelled out (i.e. "Dept of Motor Vehicles"), do not use abbreviations such as "DMV" or "RMV".
5.5 Police Station - Mapped at the fence line, including associated parking lot(s) (if attached) in one landmark. ALL landmarks are named "Police Dept" for local departments. Special naming for state police departments is acceptable - please see local Wiki Pages / local Area Managers for information on how to name them.
5.6 University / College / Academy - Mapped at the fence line, including associated parking lot(s) (if attached) in one landmark. Do not use landmarks to map individual buildings (even if they could qualify as another landmark type), parking lots, or other campus features. This is due to the way landmarks are displayed in the client.
5.7 School / Kindergarten / Junior High / High School - Mapped at the fence line, including associated parking lot(s) (if attached) in one landmark.
5.8 Cemetery - Typically not mapped and handled by POI Search. HOWEVER, those cemeteries with historical significance or a significant tourist draw can be mapped using this type. Internal roads, if needed, are mapped using the Parking Lot Road Type whether or not the landmark is used. Please see local Wiki Pages / local Area Managers for information on which, if any, cemeteries are mapped for this category in your area.
5.9 Fire Department/Emergency Service - Mapped at the fence line, including associated parking lot(s) (if attached) in one landmark. ALL landmarks are named "Fire Dept".
5.10 Post Office - Mapped at the fence line, including associated parking lot(s) (if attached) in one landmark. ALL landmarks are named "Post Office" - do not use abbreviation "USPS".
- 6.1 Other - Not used at this time. Not defined at this time.
- 1.1 Gas Station - We've heard from Waze that we SHOULD be creating landmarks for Gas Stations in the US, and there will be changes to the Gas Station system in the US soon. Map as fence line, make sure the landmark does not snap to roads. At this time, the "Name" property should be set to the brand of the gas station (i.e. "Mobil", not "Joe's Town Mobil & Repair"). Due to a rise in independent stations, several have adopted generic names, for these stations, use whatever shows prominently up on the signage. NOTE: Gas Station Landmarks suppress Automatic System Detected Errors and as such care should be taken to ensure they don't snap to roads.
Re: [USA] Landmark Guidelines - Request for Comments