Rest areas: Difference between revisions Discussion View history

m (→‎The main parking area: Added ] to end a link)
m (Text replacement - "Category:Style Guides" to "Category:Style guides")
 
(33 intermediate revisions by 14 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Red|This page is currently under development and being modified currently based on feedback in the forums.}}
This article includes the community recommended guidelines for mapping rest areas.


In Waze, '''Rest Area''' is defined as a convenient stopping place located directly off of a highway, which typically provides, at minimum, parking and restroom facilities. Some may have information kiosks, vending machines, picnic areas or "dump" facilities for RVs.
== Definitions ==
In Waze, the following terms are defined as follows:


A '''Welcome Center''' or '''Visitor Center''' is a special type of rest area, often located near state borders or near major airports.
==== Rest Area ====
:A convenient stopping place located directly off of a highway, which typically provides, at minimum, parking and restroom facilities. Some may have information kiosks, vending machines, picnic areas or "dump" facilities for RVs.


A '''Service Area''' in some states may also include private commercial businesses such as fuel stations, and restaurants. These rest areas are typically found along the East Coast.
==== Welcome Center or Visitor Center ====
:A special type of rest area, often located near state borders or near major airports.


A rest area or '''Rest Stop''' with limited or no public facility is a '''Parking Area''', '''Scenic Area''', '''Wayside Park''', '''Roadside Park''', or '''Picnic Area''' can cause false traffic reports if not mapped, so include them as a rest area when editing the map.
==== Service Area or Service Plaza ====
:A type of rest area which may include private commercial businesses such as fuel stations, and restaurants. These rest areas are typically found along the East Coast.


Our recommended guidelines for mapping rest areas is as follows:
==== Other related terms ====
:A rest area or '''Rest Stop''' with limited or no public facility is a '''Parking Area''', '''Scenic Area''', '''Wayside Park''', '''Roadside Park''', or '''Picnic Area'''. These also have navigational value, and provide drivers a safe place to pull off the highway to rest, or do other tasks. These should be included as a rest area when editing the map (with special guidelines below).


== Exiting the highway ==
== Mapping guidelines ==
'''Road type'''
=== Exiting the highway ===
[[Image:Alabama_Welcome_1.jpg|right]]'''Road type'''


In general follow the standard guidelines for road types leaving the highway as seen nearby the rest area.
In general follow the standard guidelines for road types leaving the highway as can be seen along the highway nearby the rest area.


If the exit from the highway is a one-way road that can be taken at speed, it should be a ramp.
If the exit from the highway is a one-way road that can be taken at speed, it should be a ramp.
Line 20: Line 26:
If the main entrance is a two-way road, just use a parking lot type.
If the main entrance is a two-way road, just use a parking lot type.


As with all newly created roads, be sure to [[Creating_and_Editing_street_segments#Confirm_the_road_by_updating_details|confirm the roads]] so they appear on the client map.
As with all newly created roads, be sure to [[Creating_and_Editing_street_segments#Confirm_the_road_by_updating_details|confirm the roads]] so they route properly on the client map.


'''Naming'''
'''Naming'''


Follow the guidelines for your area when naming the exits from the highway. In the [[Road_Naming_(USA)#Exit_ramps_and_Entrance_ramps_.28on-ramps.29|US follow these guidelines]]. For example a typical exit ramp would be named "Exit ##: Rest Area" (if numbered), or "Exit to Rest Area" if not numbered.
Follow the guidelines for your area when naming the exits from the highway. In the [[Road_Naming_(USA)#Exit_ramps_and_Entrance_ramps_.28on-ramps.29|US follow these guidelines]]. For example a typical exit ramp would be named "Exit ##: Rest Area" (if numbered), or simply "to Rest Area" if not numbered. If the Rest Area has a unique name or additional information, posted on signs at or approaching the area, common to plazas, and welcome centers, that should be included in the ramp name.
 
Basically Entrance ramps should be named matching their signs, according the Road Names wiki guidance.
{| class="wikitable"
|+A few examples
|-
!Sign Says
!Ramp Name
|-
|Rest Area => || to Rest Area
|-
|Parking Area => || to Parking Area
|-
|Rest Area<br>Louisiana Welcome Center || to Rest Area / Louisiana Welcome Center
|-
|Rest Area<br>Tourist Information Center || to Rest Area / Tourist Information Center
|-
|Exit 34<br>Beckley Travel Plaza || Exit 34: Beckley Travel Plaza
|-
|Rest Area<br>Trucks Only || to Rest Area / Trucks Only
|-
|Truck Haven || to Truck Haven
|}


=== The main parking area ===
=== The main parking area ===
'''Road type'''
[[Image:Alabama_Welcome_3.jpg|right]]'''Road type'''


Inside the parking area there should be at least one segment using the parking lot road type that links between the ''exit from'' and ''return to'' the highway. Follow the general guidelines for [[Best_map_editing_practice#Parking_Lots|mapping a parking lot]] meaning only the main roads of the rest area should be mapped.  
Inside the parking area there should be at least one segment using the parking lot road type that links between the ''exit from'' and ''return to'' the highway. Follow the general guidelines for [[Best_map_editing_practice#Parking_Lots|mapping a parking lot]] meaning only the main roads of the rest area should be mapped.  
Line 35: Line 63:
'''Naming'''
'''Naming'''


Generally the parking lot roads are not named, but if inside the city limits be sure to include the name.
Generally the parking lot roads are not named, but if inside the city limits be sure to include the city name.


=== Returning to the highway ===
=== Returning to the highway ===
'''Road type'''
[[Image:Alabama_Welcome_4.jpg|right]]'''Road type'''


When selecting the road type, generally follow the same guidelines as was done for the exit from the highway unless it is significantly different from the exit and would not make sense to match the exit type.
When selecting the road type, generally follow the same guidelines as was done for the exit from the highway unless it is significantly different from the exit and would not make sense to match the exit type.
Line 44: Line 72:
'''Naming'''
'''Naming'''


Also follow the standard convention as was used for the exit. For interstates the typical convention would be "to I-5 N" (to Highway_Name Cardinal) and if a control city is shown on the local signs use "to I-5 N / Sacramento".
Also follow the standard convention as was used for the exit. For interstates the typical convention would be "to I-5 N" (to Highway_Name Cardinal) and if a control city is shown on the local signs use "to I-5 N / Sacramento". If other information is displayed on the signs at the entrance back to the highway, add those to the name as appropriate according to the guidelines.
 
=== Adding a Place ===
[[Image:Alabama_Welcome_2.jpg|right]]
The Rest Area Place area should be covered by an Area Place, drawn to the borders, and along right-of-way of the adjacent highway, but not snapped to the highway. Use two separate Places if there are two separate rest areas which are not connected by driveable roads on opposite sides of a single highway.
 
==== Place categories ====
* '''Rest Area''' (under Transportation) should be set as the primary category.
:''This category result is triggered anytime a Wazer searches for the words <code>Rest stop</code>, or <code>Rest area</code>, therefore to ensure the rest areas will appear in the search results for these search terms, this category needs to be included.
* '''Any other appropriate categories for the venue''' based on other services available there, i.e. ATM, Food, Shopping, etc., '''except for Gas station'''. ''Gas stations should be mapped as a separate place area following the [[Places/Gas_Station|Gas Station place guidance]], and mapped to the boundaries of the gas station area.''
 
==== Place naming ====
 
The standardized name format has been optimized for both instant and regular search results.
* The name begins with '''"Rest Area"''' to facilitate the instant search results, which are based on the first words of the search term.
* If the rest area only allows certain types of vehicles, or has no facilities (restrooms),  that information should be made immediately apparent to Wazers in the search results. this information comes next in lowercase in parenthesis e.g '''"(trucks only)", "(no facilities)"''', or '''"(trucks only, no facilities)"'''. ''The term "no facilities" has been chosen to be polite, based on character width to keep the names as short as possible.''
** Rest areas with no facilities should also specify that as the first line of the description saying '''"No restrooms"''' ''to accommodate those who are not familiar with the term facilities''.
* The name of the highway comes next in the place's name, following a hyphen (-). If the rest area is only accessible from one direction of the highway, then include the direction cardinal in with the highway name. Rest areas which can be accessed from either side of the highway should just have the highway name, with no direction cardinal, e.g. '''" - I-75 N"''', or '''" - I-10"'''.
* The mile location is the next component of the name, however MP, and MM are used in different regions to mean the same thing, and using either one exclusively nationwide could lead to confusion. It has therefore been decided to use '''"mile"''' exclusively for this purpose. ''The word "mile" only uses 2 more pixels width than "MM" when displayed in the client.''
** Welcome centers, which will typically already have long names, and be very close to a state's border, should not include the mile in the place name. The mile should be entered as the first line of the description instead so it is still readily displayed to those who want to see it.
* Unique information comes last, starting with the official unique name of the rest area, ''if'' there is one visible on signage at or leading up to the rest area. e.g. '''"Atchafalaya Welcome Center"'''
** Colloquial, official given, and common names should be entered as alternate names, and as the first line of the description. ''This ensures the  names are both searchable, and apparent to Wazers who view the place details.''
* Finally any special rest area type is placed at the very end of the name using lowercase in parenthesis. e.g. '''"(scenic view)", "(lookout point)".'''
** Parking areas don't need to be specifically identified as such at the end of the name, because it should be apparent from the "(no facilities)" statement earlier, that the area is only for parking.
 
 
Name the Place using the highway name, cardinal direction, mile marker, and unique name in the following format: (Items in curly brackets {} are only used if applicable)
 
'''Rest Area {([vehicle type] only, no facilities)} - [highway] {direction} mile [mile] {Rest Area unique name} {([special type])}'''.
 
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Rest area place names examples
|-
! <small><small>Rest<br>room</small></small>
! <small><small>Vehicle<br>type<br>only</small></small>
! <small><small>Access<br>from<br>both<br>sides</small></small>
! <small><small>Welcome<br>center</small></small>
! <small><small>Unique<br>name</small></small>
! <small><small>Special<br>type</small></small>
! Place name
<!--! Rationale-->
|-
| <big>•</big> || || || || || || Rest Area - I-59 N mile 152 <!--|| Generic Rest Area sign with no additional info, accessible only from the northbound lanes of I-59-->
|-
| <big>•</big> || || <big>•</big> || || <big>•</big> || || Rest Area - I-77 mile 45 Beckley Travel Plaza <!--|| Named travel plaza accessible from both directions of travel on the freeway.-->
|-
| || || || || || <big>•</big> || Rest Area (no facilities) - I-75 S mile 15 (Scenic View) <!--|| Scenic view sign, no facilities avaailable, accessible only from the southbound lanes.-->
|-
| <big>•</big> || || || <big>•</big> || <big>•</big> || || Rest Area - I-65 S Alabama Welcome Center <!--|| Accessible only from the southbound lanes of I-65, this is a welcome center so the mile is not mentioned in the name, it has an official name added at the end-->
|-
| <big>•</big> || || <big>•</big> || <big>•</big> || <big>•</big> || || Rest Area - I-10 Atchafalaya Welcome Center <!--|| Accessible from either direction of the highway,  this is a welcome center so the mile is not mentioned in the name, it has an official name added at the end-->
|-
| <big>•</big> || || <big>•</big> || || || || Rest Area - I-10 mile 96 <!--|| Generic area, accessible from either direction of the highway-->
|-
| || <big>•</big> || || || || || Rest Area (trucks only, no facilities) - I-65 N mile 24 <!--|| Parking area for trucks only, no restrooms, accessible only from the northbound lanes-->
|-
| <big>•</big> || <big>•</big> || || || || || Rest Area (trucks only) - I-23 S mile 76 <!--|| Rest area for trucks only with a restroom, such as a 'Truck Haven'-->
|}
 
==== Setting the stop point ====
 
[[File:Rest area stop point.png|300px|thumbnail|right]]
'''The stop point should be placed just before the first fork inside the area (usually at the end of the entrance ramp).'''
 
To ensure proper routing through the individual PLRs in the area, the stop point has to be placed in a location common to all vehicles entering the area. Otherwise, in areas which divert certain vehicle types to specific sets of road segments, a stop point farther in to the road network would force routing all vehicles through one set of segments (the closest to the stop point).
 
Routing past that point can be handled with partial restrictions on the segments, set for vehicle type. If the users add the rest stop as a stop along the navigated route to their destination, the navigation will continue past the stop point towards their destination, forcing it to try to find a route back to the highway, thereby giving directions past the stop point only along the unrestricted segments for that vehicle type.
 
==== Additional places ====
 
Some Rest Areas, particularly Service Plazas, will house individual businesses in them (e.g. a coffee shop, fast food restaurant, convenience store, information kiosk, etc.). These can be mapped as additional [[Places#Point Place|Place points]] with all their unique details, and positioned over the building they reside in.


== Adding a landmark ==
If fuel is offered, [[Places/Gas_Station#Add_a_Gas_Station|add a Gas Station]] using a [[Places#Area Place|Place Area]] over that location in the service plaza.
The Rest Area should be covered by a landmark, drawn to the borders, and along right-of-way of the adjacent highway, but not snapped to the highway, and should not cross a highway if the rest area is on both sides. A landmark type of "Museum/Visitor Center/Monument" should be used. The landmark should be named as follows, using the highway name and cardinal direction as part of the name for POI search purposes: "I-10 W Rest Area", "Pennsylvania Turnpike E Service Area" if commercial restaurant/fuel is offered, or "Tennessee Welcome Center" for official state welcome centers. If the rest area is given a name by the state D.O.T., it may be used, e.g., [https://www.waze.com/editor/?zoom=5&lat=30.86664&lon=-89.16449&layers=BFTFFTTTTTTTFTFTTTFTTTTFT&landmarks=392579 "Dizzy Dean Rest Area"].


If fuel is offered at the rest area [[Gas_Stations#Add_a_station|add a Gas Station landmark]] over that location in the rest area.
[[Category:USA]]
[[Category:Style guides]]

Latest revision as of 06:25, 14 August 2022

This article includes the community recommended guidelines for mapping rest areas.

Definitions

In Waze, the following terms are defined as follows:

Rest Area

A convenient stopping place located directly off of a highway, which typically provides, at minimum, parking and restroom facilities. Some may have information kiosks, vending machines, picnic areas or "dump" facilities for RVs.

Welcome Center or Visitor Center

A special type of rest area, often located near state borders or near major airports.

Service Area or Service Plaza

A type of rest area which may include private commercial businesses such as fuel stations, and restaurants. These rest areas are typically found along the East Coast.

Other related terms

A rest area or Rest Stop with limited or no public facility is a Parking Area, Scenic Area, Wayside Park, Roadside Park, or Picnic Area. These also have navigational value, and provide drivers a safe place to pull off the highway to rest, or do other tasks. These should be included as a rest area when editing the map (with special guidelines below).

Mapping guidelines

Exiting the highway

Road type

In general follow the standard guidelines for road types leaving the highway as can be seen along the highway nearby the rest area.

If the exit from the highway is a one-way road that can be taken at speed, it should be a ramp.

If the main entrance is a two-way road, just use a parking lot type.

As with all newly created roads, be sure to confirm the roads so they route properly on the client map.

Naming

Follow the guidelines for your area when naming the exits from the highway. In the US follow these guidelines. For example a typical exit ramp would be named "Exit ##: Rest Area" (if numbered), or simply "to Rest Area" if not numbered. If the Rest Area has a unique name or additional information, posted on signs at or approaching the area, common to plazas, and welcome centers, that should be included in the ramp name.

Basically Entrance ramps should be named matching their signs, according the Road Names wiki guidance.

A few examples
Sign Says Ramp Name
Rest Area => to Rest Area
Parking Area => to Parking Area
Rest Area
Louisiana Welcome Center
to Rest Area / Louisiana Welcome Center
Rest Area
Tourist Information Center
to Rest Area / Tourist Information Center
Exit 34
Beckley Travel Plaza
Exit 34: Beckley Travel Plaza
Rest Area
Trucks Only
to Rest Area / Trucks Only
Truck Haven to Truck Haven

The main parking area

Road type

Inside the parking area there should be at least one segment using the parking lot road type that links between the exit from and return to the highway. Follow the general guidelines for mapping a parking lot meaning only the main roads of the rest area should be mapped.

Using only the parking lot road type will prevent the Waze server from sending cars off and on the highway through the rest area to avoid traffic.

Naming

Generally the parking lot roads are not named, but if inside the city limits be sure to include the city name.

Returning to the highway

Road type

When selecting the road type, generally follow the same guidelines as was done for the exit from the highway unless it is significantly different from the exit and would not make sense to match the exit type.

Naming

Also follow the standard convention as was used for the exit. For interstates the typical convention would be "to I-5 N" (to Highway_Name Cardinal) and if a control city is shown on the local signs use "to I-5 N / Sacramento". If other information is displayed on the signs at the entrance back to the highway, add those to the name as appropriate according to the guidelines.

Adding a Place

The Rest Area Place area should be covered by an Area Place, drawn to the borders, and along right-of-way of the adjacent highway, but not snapped to the highway. Use two separate Places if there are two separate rest areas which are not connected by driveable roads on opposite sides of a single highway.

Place categories

  • Rest Area (under Transportation) should be set as the primary category.
This category result is triggered anytime a Wazer searches for the words Rest stop, or Rest area, therefore to ensure the rest areas will appear in the search results for these search terms, this category needs to be included.
  • Any other appropriate categories for the venue based on other services available there, i.e. ATM, Food, Shopping, etc., except for Gas station. Gas stations should be mapped as a separate place area following the Gas Station place guidance, and mapped to the boundaries of the gas station area.

Place naming

The standardized name format has been optimized for both instant and regular search results.

  • The name begins with "Rest Area" to facilitate the instant search results, which are based on the first words of the search term.
  • If the rest area only allows certain types of vehicles, or has no facilities (restrooms), that information should be made immediately apparent to Wazers in the search results. this information comes next in lowercase in parenthesis e.g "(trucks only)", "(no facilities)", or "(trucks only, no facilities)". The term "no facilities" has been chosen to be polite, based on character width to keep the names as short as possible.
    • Rest areas with no facilities should also specify that as the first line of the description saying "No restrooms" to accommodate those who are not familiar with the term facilities.
  • The name of the highway comes next in the place's name, following a hyphen (-). If the rest area is only accessible from one direction of the highway, then include the direction cardinal in with the highway name. Rest areas which can be accessed from either side of the highway should just have the highway name, with no direction cardinal, e.g. " - I-75 N", or " - I-10".
  • The mile location is the next component of the name, however MP, and MM are used in different regions to mean the same thing, and using either one exclusively nationwide could lead to confusion. It has therefore been decided to use "mile" exclusively for this purpose. The word "mile" only uses 2 more pixels width than "MM" when displayed in the client.
    • Welcome centers, which will typically already have long names, and be very close to a state's border, should not include the mile in the place name. The mile should be entered as the first line of the description instead so it is still readily displayed to those who want to see it.
  • Unique information comes last, starting with the official unique name of the rest area, if there is one visible on signage at or leading up to the rest area. e.g. "Atchafalaya Welcome Center"
    • Colloquial, official given, and common names should be entered as alternate names, and as the first line of the description. This ensures the names are both searchable, and apparent to Wazers who view the place details.
  • Finally any special rest area type is placed at the very end of the name using lowercase in parenthesis. e.g. "(scenic view)", "(lookout point)".
    • Parking areas don't need to be specifically identified as such at the end of the name, because it should be apparent from the "(no facilities)" statement earlier, that the area is only for parking.


Name the Place using the highway name, cardinal direction, mile marker, and unique name in the following format: (Items in curly brackets {} are only used if applicable)

Rest Area {([vehicle type] only, no facilities)} - [highway] {direction} mile [mile] {Rest Area unique name} {([special type])}.

Rest area place names examples
Rest
room
Vehicle
type
only
Access
from
both
sides
Welcome
center
Unique
name
Special
type
Place name
Rest Area - I-59 N mile 152
Rest Area - I-77 mile 45 Beckley Travel Plaza
Rest Area (no facilities) - I-75 S mile 15 (Scenic View)
Rest Area - I-65 S Alabama Welcome Center
Rest Area - I-10 Atchafalaya Welcome Center
Rest Area - I-10 mile 96
Rest Area (trucks only, no facilities) - I-65 N mile 24
Rest Area (trucks only) - I-23 S mile 76

Setting the stop point

The stop point should be placed just before the first fork inside the area (usually at the end of the entrance ramp).

To ensure proper routing through the individual PLRs in the area, the stop point has to be placed in a location common to all vehicles entering the area. Otherwise, in areas which divert certain vehicle types to specific sets of road segments, a stop point farther in to the road network would force routing all vehicles through one set of segments (the closest to the stop point).

Routing past that point can be handled with partial restrictions on the segments, set for vehicle type. If the users add the rest stop as a stop along the navigated route to their destination, the navigation will continue past the stop point towards their destination, forcing it to try to find a route back to the highway, thereby giving directions past the stop point only along the unrestricted segments for that vehicle type.

Additional places

Some Rest Areas, particularly Service Plazas, will house individual businesses in them (e.g. a coffee shop, fast food restaurant, convenience store, information kiosk, etc.). These can be mapped as additional Place points with all their unique details, and positioned over the building they reside in.

If fuel is offered, add a Gas Station using a Place Area over that location in the service plaza.