Australian Place Style Guide View history

All Places need to comply with the Waze editing philosophy, only add places that are relevant to Waze's function as a navigation app - that is, possible destinations, or features that aid orientation. Other types of places aren't in line with the Waze map editing goal of SIMPLICITY.

If you decide you want to create a Place in the editor, the best way to ensure it doesn't need constant maintenance, is to do it right the first time. Fill in all the information you possibly can, don't just add Places to the map because it's there. 

Creation Requirements

At a bare minimum, your created Place needs to have:

  • Title/Name
  • Relevant Category

And a best effort for the following information: (be aware some fields may not need filling in, depending on the type of Place)

  • Address
  • Short, Accurate and Unbiased description
    By this we mean no opinions on a particular Place, stick to the facts or don't add Places at all.
  • Entry point (this aids more in Area Place navigation to ensure the route goes to the correct street.
  • Appropriate Lock Level (more on this below).
  • Appropriate use of Area/Point Places
    Most Places should be a Point Place. The exceptions are water bodies, parks, relevant places that can be used at a glance to orient the driver, and Places that should be shown on the map (petrol stations). See When to use Area/Point
  • Website and/or Phone (if available)
    Do NOT use Facebook, even if it's the company's official Facebook page. You must use a website that belongs directly to the business owner, not any third party hosting site. Check that the website doesn't prohibit linking without permission. Their Terms & Conditions page will usually include any restrictions. Australia Post, for example, requires a formal approval process.
  • Accurate Services (some check-boxes may not apply to a certain type of place)
  • Opening hours (if set, not variable)

Note

  • [L2+] If possible, add an external provider. This not only assists with making sure the place is in the correct spot, it also allows us to link that place to the Google Result.
  • Don't stretch Area Places so that they intersect with road segments, they should come a little bit back from the road, as this avoids problems with editing geometry of both segments & Places.
    Correct mapping of a Place to the actual area

Locking

At a maximum for most places lock level, not under Vandalism or any special circumstances, should be 3. See the table below for more detail.

Examples:

Petrol station with all data filled out and complete, L3.

Petrol station with name and minimal info, L2.

Park in the suburbs, with no data, L1

Park with all relevant data added and nothing left to add, L2.

Sydney Harbour (complex geometrical shape, necessary for orientation on Waze map), L3.

Common Issues

  • For your first 10 Places, you will need the changes reviewed by another editor. Once you have 10 approvals, you may create places without immediate moderation.
  • External Providers can be added only by L2 or higher editors. If you try to as L1, your Place will not Save.

Table of Places (in progress)

Parent category type Lock Level comments
min max
Car Services - Point 1 3
Car Services Petrol Station Area 2 3 Naming Standard: Brand + Suburb Name (Direction)

If there is more than one Petrol Station of the same brand in the same area, name it with direction as well. (e.g. Caltex Cronulla Sth)

These should be Area Places, and cover the entire land owned by the Petrol Station.

Car Services Garage / Car Mechanic Point 1 2
Car Services Car Wash Point 1 2
Car Services Charging Station Point 1 3 These are electric car charging points. If a Petrol Station is fitted with these, please add this as a secondary category.
Transportation - Point 1 3
Transportation Airport Area 3 3 Airports should be mapped carefully. This is a very highly travelled area, and directions to these need to be precise. Please only use these Places in corroboration with your local experts.
Transportation Bus Station Point 1 2
Transportation Ferry Terminal Area 2 3 Point if Private, Area if Public
Transportation Marina / Harbour Area 2 3 Point if Private, Area if Public
Transportation Underground Station Point 2 3 Since these are underground a Point place is necessary to ensure that it's not shown on the map. Appropriate Entry points must be set for these stations.
Transportation Railway Station Area 2 3 Naming Standard: Station Name + "Train Station". (e.g. Hurstville Train Station)

Area is over the entire platform.

Transportation Bridge Area 2 3 Use only to represent a named road bridge with local or navigational significance, preferably indicated with a signage at each approach.

Bridges without names are not to be mapped.

Transportation Tunnel Area 1 2 We do not map Tunnels in Australia unless they are significant landmarks.
Transportation Taxi Rank Point 1 2 Naming Standard: Road Name + Taxi Rank (e.g. Stone Rd Taxi Rank)

Use only to represent actual taxi ranks designed for use by the public.

Transportation Junction / Interchange Area 2 3 Use only to represent significant landmark interchange areas, such as the Sir Roden Cutler VC Interchange.
Professional and public - Point 1 3
Professional and public College / University Area 2 3
Professional and public School Area 1 3 Use full school name. Any acronyms can be places as an alternative name. (e.g. Burraneer Bay Public School, alt "BBPS").

For places such as Driving, Art, Music, Tuition Centres and Training Centres, use Professional and Public as Primary category and School as Secondary category

Professional and public Conventions / Event Centre
Professional and public Government
Professional and public Library
Professional and public City Hall
Professional and public Organisation or Association
Professional and public Prison / Detention Centre
Professional and public Courthouse
Professional and public Cemetery
Professional and public Fire Station
Professional and public Police Station
Professional and public Military
Professional and public Hospital / Urgent Care
Professional and public Doctor / Clinic
Professional and public Offices
Professional and public Post Office
Professional and public Religious Centre
Professional and public Playgroup / Nursery
Professional and public Factory / Industrial
Professional and public Embassy / Consulate
Professional and public Information Point
Professional and public Emergency Shelter
Shopping and services -
Shopping and services Arts & Crafts
Shopping and services Bank / Financial
Shopping and services Sporting Goods
Shopping and services Bookshop
Shopping and services Photography
Shopping and services Car Dealership
Shopping and services Fashon & Clothing
Shopping and services Shop
Shopping and services Personal Care
Shopping and services Department Store
Shopping and services Pharmacy
Shopping and services Electronics
Shopping and services Flowers / Gardening
Shopping and services Furniture / Home Store
Shopping and services Gift Shop
Shopping and services Gym / Fitness
Shopping and services Swimming Pool
Shopping and services DIY / Hardware Store
Shopping and services Market
Shopping and services Supermarket / Grocery
Shopping and services Jewellery
Shopping and services Laundry / Dry Clean
Shopping and services Shopping Centre
Shopping and services Music Shop
Shopping and services Pet Shop / Veterinarian
Shopping and services Toy Shop
Shopping and services Travel Agents
Shopping and services Cash Machine
Shopping and services Currency Exchange
Shopping and services Car Rental
Food and Drink -
Food and Drink Restaurant
Food and Drink Bakery
Food and Drink Dessert
Food and Drink Coffee Shop / Cafe
Food and Drink Fast Food
Food and Drink Food Court
Food and Drink Pub / Bar
Food and Drink Ice Cream
Culture & Entertainment -
Culture & Entertainment Art Gallery
Culture & Entertainment Casino
Culture & Entertainment Club
Culture & Entertainment Tourist Attraction / Historic Site
Culture & Entertainment Cinema
Culture & Entertainment Museum
Culture & Entertainment Music Venue
Culture & Entertainment Performing Arts Venue
Culture & Entertainment Game Club
Culture & Entertainment Stadium / Arena
Culture & Entertainment Theme Park
Culture & Entertainment Zoo / Aquarium
Culture & Entertainment Racing Track
Culture & Entertainment Theatre
Other -
Other Construction Site
Lodging -
Lodging Hotel
Lodging Hostel
Lodging Camping / Caravan Park
Lodging Cottage / Cabin
Lodging Bed & Breakfast
Outdoors -
Outdoors Park
Outdoors Playground
Outdoors Beach
Outdoors Sports Pitch / Court
Outdoors Golf Course
Outdoors Plaza
Outdoors Promenade
Outdoors Pool
Outdoors Services / Layby

(Scenic Lookout / Viewpoint)

Outdoors Ski Area
Natural Features -
Natural Features Island
Natural Features Sea / Lake / Pool
Natural Features River / Stream
Natural Features Forest / Wood
Natural Features Farm
Natural Features Canal
Natural Features Marsh / Bog
Natural Features Dam
Residence / Home -
Car Park -