Michigan/Places/Main View history

Working Places in Michigan

Michigan has a standard when working with our Places. In order to ensure consistency and data integrity we enforce the following standard (considered "completing" a place):

• The name should be in a correct format (i.e. Proper capitalization, spelling, grammar)

There is a national standard being developed by the US State Managers for naming common Places. No current ETA.

• The address should be completely and correctly filled out.

• Under the "More Info" tab:
  • The phone number needs to be in the format of: XXX-XXX-XXXX
  • The website needs to be in the format of: www.example.com
    • If it is a business that has multiple locations with corresponding websites, then use the site specific website. Employing the format of: www.example.com/sub-site
  • Check any applicable services
  • Attempt to get the hours and input them

• Once these criteria are met, either lock the Place to rank 3 or contact an editor who can lock it for you from the Michigan Area Managers
• Shopping Center has been defined in Michigan to mean a place with all of the following
  • A Website or an advertising campaign to market the center as a destination
  • Minimum of 10 separately operated stores
  • Parking for 100 vehicles minimum

Shopping Centers not meeting the above criteria may be mapped as a point place only

Fast food chains or businesses that can sometimes be nested inside other businesses should be labeled as such. For example, if a Starbucks is inside Target or a Subway is inside Walmart, you would list it as Starbucks (inside Target) or Subway (inside Walmart) as the primary business name. This will allow for Wazers searching for a Starbucks or Subway to immediately know they may be routing to a coffee shop or sandwich shop with no drive-thru or standalone business as they may want or expect.

Specific Michigan Place lists and Standards

Click the [Expand] link to the right of each list you wish to view.

• Rest Area/Welcome Center Standardization

View this list full-screen in Google Sheets

Parking Lot Area (PLA) Standards

Do not create a non-public PLA with no name. They cannot be seen by users unless the name of the parking lot is specifically searched for. Due to the lack of user education on the parking feature and nature of the feature preventing proper categorization of parking lot types for lots associated with businesses, we do not map them.