MENTZ GmbH/Modellierungsvorschläge Verkehrswege

The points below should provide support for the modeling of transport routes in OpenStreetMap. The topics are presenting a collection of information, which was taken from OSM-Wiki. The aim is to reflect the guidelines for modeling real features. We are thankful for any annotations and comments: MENTZ Kontakt

Access to our other topics:

• Public transport
• Indoor
• POI
• POI (used rarely)

Transport Routes

This abstract describes the modeling of tracks and streets, where public transport is active. Important aspects for the routing and the visualisation are listed here.

Streets

Streets are marked with the "key" highway=*. For "streets with more tracks" the "OSM-attribute" lanes=* will be applied. The tag "lanes" is used to indicate the number of tracks, which can be used by motorized traffic.

If there is a footway or a bicycle way next to the street, the following tags are used:

Bicycle way= bicycle=use_sidepath

Footway= foot=use_sidepath.

Streets with and without bicycle paths

A bicycle rider has the option to ride "on the street" or "on the bicyle path". The following tagging methods should be applied:

• The drawing direction should be specified, so the bicycle driver knows on which side of the street he has to ride.
• For example: In the driving direction is oneway:bicycle=yes and against the driving direction is oneway:bicycle=-1. If it's forbidden to ride in any direction, "no" is used.
• The value „yes“ is used for "in drawing direction" and -1 for "against the drawing direction", where bicyles are allowed.

Bus lanes

Tracks, which are only for busses are tagged with: highway=service + access=no +psv=yes or bus=yes. This tag is only used on streets, where bus lanes are clearly separated from the actual track. If there are missing streets with bus traffic, they have to be delineated.

Streets inside bus stations shouldn't be allowed for pedestrians. Pedestrians should use the footways and the streets only if there is a transition. This condition is fulfilled, if on the streets of the bus station the tag highway=service is connected with the tag service=driveway.

Bridges

Key	Value	Description
man_made=*	bridge	for bridges
area=*	yes	relevant for areas
name=*	"Name"	Name of the bridge

Rails

Rails

Usually, the rails shouldn't be edited. But if there are missing rails, which is usually the case in the subway, they should be delineated. Furthermore, the relations have to be updated.

More tags for the railway infrastructure are available under OpenRailwayMap/Tagging

Key	Value	Description	Model
railway	rail	Rail for train
	tram	Rail for tram
	subway	Rail for subway
	monorail	A monorail can go on rails like a magnetic levitation hovertrain or a suspension railway (e.g. the Wuppertaler Schwebebahn). For the suspension railway the tag monorail=hanging should be added.
level	integer	Level, on which the rail is located; rail level and platform level should have the same value!
ref	integer	Reference number of the switch; is usually marked at the switchpoint light.
name	Name	Only if meaningful. For example: Regular track
highspeed	yes/no	Highspeed traffic
maxspeed	integer	Maximum speed
operator	Name	Operator of the rails
railway:bidirectional	regular	Bi-directional traffic
	signals	Signalised wrong line operation
	possible	Wrong line driving possible
railway:track_ref	integer	Railway track reference
railway:preserved	yes/no	Preserved track
usage	main	Main train
	branch	Light train
	industrial	Industrial track
service	yard	Service track
	siding	Siding track
	spur	Spur track
	crossover	Crossover track

Water

Ferry

To capture ferry lines, the route of the ferry should be roughly drawn on the water. Furthermore the tag route=ferry should be used. For simple ferry line this kind of modeling is sufficient. These tags can be added:

Key	Value	Description
route	ferry	Defines a ferry line
ref	Number	Reference number of the ferry line
operator	Name	Operator of the ferry line
network	Name	Traffic network, in which the ferry line is integrated
ferry:cable	yes/no	Indicating, if it's about a ferry cable

Furthermore there is a possibility to model ferry lines and route relations (type=route).

Bicycle paths

In the following abstract are suggestions for mapping bicycle paths and footways. These are based on the suggestion of the discussion of the germany mailing list.

For more information about bicycle paths: Pressemitteilungen Radroutenplaner.

The modeling conditions of the bicycle ways for the bicycle route planner are defined in OSM from MVV.

If a bicycle path is on a street edge and has a traffic sign as a recognition, then bicycle=use_sidepath is used on the egde. See the abstract "Street".

The tag highway=path is problematic due to the fact that many paths in the forests are tagged like this. There are speculations to create a new tag, which should solve the mixtures of bicycle and foot paths.

Image/ Description	Tags
signposted bicycle path (only allowed for bicycle riders)	highway=cycleway If it's about a bicycle way, which is in parallel with the street, then highway=cycleway will be tagged with the combination of cycleway=sidepath name=* oneway=yes Sidepath is important because the name won't be shown on the map with the tiles.
Signposted foot and bicycle path	highway=path foot=designated bicycle=designated segregated=no
Signposted foot and bicycle path with dividing line	highway=path foot=designated bicycle=designated segregated=yes

Footways

This abstract describes all elements, where pedestrians get access to public transport. To use OSM-Data for routing, the modeling from a footway/ street to a platform would be the best solution. Elevators, ramps and escalators should enable a wheelchair accessible routing. Therefore the main emphasis should be put in these.

Footways

Footways along street edges, which are leading to public transport, are captured with highway=footway. If there aren't existing any footways they have to be created. If a footway is created along a street edge, the edge gets the tag foot=use_sidepath. See the abstract "Street".

Image/Descritpion	Tags
signposted footway	highway=footway If the footway isn't signposted (e.g. pavements), the tag highway=footway is used with the combination of footway=sidewalk + name=*. The combination of these tags enables renderers, that the names don't appear on the map. The mapping of pavements makes the wheelchair routing easier, because additional information (e.g. height of the pavement: height=* or wheelchair accessible information for the pavement wheelchair=*) can be added. highway=footway footway=sidewalk name=*
Signposted foot and bicycle way	highway=path foot=designated bicycle=designated segregated=no
Signposted foot and bicycle way with dividing line	highway=path foot=designated bicycle=designated segregated=yes

<map lat=" 48.1285929" lon="11.6045866" z="17" w="400" h="250" format="jpeg" />

Pedestrian zone

Karlsplatz

For pedestrian zone and other areas with a concrete ground (for pedestrians), the tags highway=pedestrian,area=yes are used. Areas with names are additionally captured with name=*.

When a pedestrian zone consists of "holes" (e.g. accesses to subway or light rail), the outer polygon (pedestrian zone) and the inner polygon (access) are mapped seperately. Both are put in a relation type type=multipolygon.

If the polygons are already created but aren't in relation, the tag area=yes has to be added.

Examples are railway stations Prinzregentenplatz, Isartor and Karlsplatz (Image).

Tactile paving

With the tag tactile_paving=yes important objects for blind people are identified. These objects are mostly captured at the station environment. The tag on points (nodes) has a different meaning than on ways:

On a point (node) the tag tactile_paving=yes is used when a footway is ending with an lowered curb at crossroads. Both footway sides are captured seperately.

A way with tactile_paving=yes is a tactile strip. The tag can also be added to footways/ platforms, which means that the whole way/ platform has tactile paving.

Crossings

The tags are being placed on the position, where two edges clash each other.

Crossing street and footway

Name and description of crossing	Tags	UK short names	Image
Zebra crossing A footway crossing without traffic lights which has white strips on the street. In the dark it is mostly lighted in yellow.	highway=crossing crossing=uncontrolled crossing_ref=zebra	crossing=zebra
Pelican crossing ('traditional' designation in the UK) Traffic lights which are only designed for pedestrians (can be button operated (button_operated=*) or not).	highway=crossing crossing=traffic_signals Traffic lights, which are directing the traffic (pedestrians, cars etc.). bicycle=no crossing_ref=pelican traffic_signals:sound=yes Pedestrian traffic signals (Pelican/Toucan/Pegasus) with sound for the visually impaired. traffic_signals:vibration=yes Pedestrian traffic signals (Pelican/Toucan/Pegasus) with vibration for the visually impaired.	crossing=pelican
'Toucan' crossing ('traditional' designation in the UK) Traffic lights which are designed for pedestrians and bicycle riders (can be button operated (button_operated=*) or not).	highway=crossing crossing=traffic_signals Traffic lights, which are directing the traffic (pedestrians, cars etc.). bicycle=yes segregated=no Indicating, that the crossing for pedestrians and bicycle riders is combined. segregated=yes indicates, that pedestrians and bicycle riders have seperate ways on the crossing. crossing_ref=toucan traffic_signals:sound=yes Pedestrian traffic signals (Pelican/Toucan/Pegasus) with sound for the visually impaired. traffic_signals:vibration=yes Pedestrian traffic signals (Pelican/Toucan/Pegasus) with vibration for the visually impaired.	crossing=toucan
Pedestrian crossing without traffic lights.	highway=crossing crossing=uncontrolled
Crossing with traffic island.	highway=crossing crossing=island;uncontrolled (or traffic_signals)

Crossing rail and footway

Name and description of the crossing	Tags
Rail crossing from a pedestrian	railway=crossing crossing=uncontrolled crossing:light=yes/no with traffic lights

Crossing rail and street

Name and description of the crossing	Tags
Crossing rail and street	railway=level_crossing

Crossing rail and rail

Name and description of the crossing	Tags
Crossing rail and rail. Used when two rails cross each other but can't change their own track.	railway=railway_crossing

Steps, escalators, elevators and ramps

see Modellierungsvorschläge Indoor.