Proposal:Service supplies proposal
| Service supplies proposal | |
|---|---|
| Proposal status: | Draft (under way) |
| Proposed by: | fanfouer |
| Tagging: | line_management=service_supply |
| Applies to: | 
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| Definition: | Provide a dedicated value for nodes on which utility service supplies connects to main lines for any network, different from branches |
| Statistics: |
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| Draft started: | 2025-03-14 |
Utility networks like electricity, water or even gas often goes along streets to allow individual consumers to connect them with service drop or service lateral towards their homes or companies.
Service lines connecting individual consumers may be considered as particular branch lines starting from main lines towards households.
However and despite they can be part of the public network, they are often designed for a single consumer and are way smaller than other lines.
This proposal intends to define a dedicated line_management=* value to simplify mapping of utility distribution networks without connecting each house to main lines (without preventing anyone who wants to do so).
This proposal is intended for any utility network and it can be took for power networks as to ease understanding.
Proposal
It is proposed to add following tagging:
- line_management=service_supply value to be used on nodes at which consumers lines connect to main utility lines (power, water, gas...). It will have the same combination capabilities as line_management=branch.
- occupancy:[utility]=* to count how many premises are supplied by the distribution line on a given point (i.e counting the visible drops without mapping them)
It is also proposed to refine the line_management=branch definition to exclude service supplies: Any connection where a side line, except service supplies, coming from a different direction connects to a continuous main line on a support or on a junction box underground.
Rationale
A service supply is intended to feed an individual household from distribution network nearby. It is defined as per 601-02-12 IEC60050 definition.
It differs from utility main lines that are designed to feed a group of customers or facilities with a more important capacity.
If this proposal got adopted, no one will be forced to map service supplies nor count them on poles. This proposal intends to refine and bring new method useful for anyone who want to describe such things.
A particular branch point
line_management=branch will be dedicated to points on which several main/secondary lines connects.
Service supply lines are particular branch lines and often smallest assets of larger utility networks.
When overhead, they are called service drops and are barely seen from aerial imagery of even from streets.
When underground, they are usually called service laterals and may be seen when connecting to a pole nearby to reach overhead public network (mostly for power or telecom but sometimes for gas too).
Many of those supplies can be seen in residential streets and mappers may be interested to only describe points on which they connect on the main lines without going through the hassle of mapping each of them.
Furthermore, using occupancy:[utility]=* allows to count connections on a given point for each observed utility if mappers are able to.
As line_management=service_supply is intended to abstract too detailed mapping, mappers won't be prompted to connect three or more lines on those points.
On the contrary, line_management=branch will require a T-point at least for sake of mapping consistency of main lines.
Furthermore, mappers shouldn't be able to end a main line with branch instead of service_supply and should be warned when such a situation occurs.
Such service points may already got particular tagging depending on the utility. See telecom=distribution_point for telecommunications for instance.
Properly ending rural mains
In rural areas, overhead power main lines or underground water mains may stop by isolated households, finally supplying a single consumer.
As those drops may not be seen during surveys or from aerial imagery, proposed line_management=service_supply may allow to properly end the main lines and state that it explicitly stops by the consumer drop without mapping the service line itself.
Currently, mappers that don't want to map service drops can't properly terminate the main lines seen on ground.
It's not possible to use line_management=termination because it's not a proper termination where the main line would actually stop without any service drop.
Proposed line_management=service_supply has got a double advantage to distinguish service supplies form branch ones and provide a convenient manner to end distribution main lines that stop by consumers drops.
Isolated poles intended for service drops from underground network
Even in urban areas, some utility poles may be designed to connect homes with aerial service drops whereas the public network had been previously buried underground. Such properties certainly lack underground ducts in their private vicinity and aerial lines remain required even after the public network went underground.
It can currently lead to isolated power poles without any line connected and a warning in quality assurance tools.
Proposed line_management=service_supply will allow to distinguish such poles and prevent any irrelevant encouragement to map power lines by them.
Tagging
This proposal won't change current line_management=* usage.
This key will still be used on nodes only.
Use line_management=service_supply or combine it as necessary depending on the situation encountered at each point a service supply taps any network main line.
Service supply lines themselves will be mapped just like any other line (mostly with power=minor_line or man_made=pipeline).
You can additionally count them with help of occupancy:[utility]=*.
Advanced usage
line_management=service_supply is proposed with same combination capabilities as line_management=branch:
| Value | branch | service_supply |
|---|---|---|
| straight | 
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| branch | branch | branch/service_supply |
| service_supply | branch/service_supply | service_supply |
| split | 
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| transpose | 
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| termination | 
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| transition | 
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Change management
Affected pages
- Create line_management=service_supply page
- Edit line_management=* page to add service_supply value
- Edit line_management=branch to refine the definition as proposed
- Edit telecom=distribution_point to add mention of line_management=service_supply and occupancy:[utility]=* to count actual supplies
External discussions
Examples
Power
| Photo | Location | Tagging | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - |
Voting
Vote has not been started yet.