Places

Introduction

This forms part of UK Editing Best Practice. Editors are encouraged to follow these guidelines. Please read in conjunction with the generic page on Places, which has more specific information about how to use the editor and moderate Update Requests.

Only actual "Landmarks" should be mapped, i.e. those which help the driver to find their bearings.

Generally, area places should be drawn as simply as possible. Most structures can be represented by a basic rectangle. Do NOT attempt to accurately match the shape of a building or parking lot, as much of the detail will be lost on the client.

General Guidelines

Generally, Areas are for landmarks that should appear on the map, while Points are for places that are only visible when searching for them.

Area Places

Global Guidelines say: If buildings form a unified complex or campus with an overall identity, the boundaries of the Area Place should encompass the entire property (i.e., "mapped to the fence line").

Area Places whose property lines are substantially identical with a single destination structure may be drawn, if desired, to approximate the structure's outline or footprint.

UK Guidelines

• If there is a cluster of related buildings, then surround them with a single shape.

For example, schools and hospitals

• If a place relates to a single building, then only map the building
• Draw outline with as few points as possible - client will only show simple shapes
• Buildings below 1600m² (40m x 40m) should be mapped as a Point instead
• Position the navigation point on the nearest Parking Lot Road, near to the entrance if possible

Point Places

• Individual businesses should be points, unless they occupy the entire building
• Points should be positioned over the entrance for that place
• Ensure that it is close enough to the appropriate street or PLR for correct navigation

Locking

• Natural features (parks, forests, should be locked at 3
• Proper car parks and gas stations should be locked at 3
• Any places which have been edited with correct name, category and address, lock at 2.

This forces any updates from low rank users to appear as requests

Special Landmarks

Car Parks

See dedicated page on Car Parks for more information.

Shopping Centres / Malls

• Draw the outline of the building, and name it according to the name of the centre or mall
• Add Point places for each business within the place
• Enter the name of the building in the address for the point places within it. This means put the name of shopping centre as the street name in the address
• If there is a Pharmacy or Optician within the store, add it as a category (not a point)

Examples:

• large mall
• large shopping centre

Exception: High Streets

A typical in-town shopping district will be wall-to-wall buildings, with very many different businesses. It would look odd to map only a few of the buildings, or to map all of them. They often also have limited or no access/parking available.

Only use Points for these businesses

Supermarkets

• Supermarkets should be a single area place, covering the main building
• Don't include the car park or petrol station
• Supermarket car parks should be mapped with minimum of PLRs (as per usual)
• Navigation point should be moved to as close to the car park entrance as possible

Examples:

• ???

Petrol Stations

Petrol Stations should be mapped according to the following guidelines:

• A Landmark of "Gas Station" type should be placed over the entire forecourt, so it's visible on the map and prevents any Wazers from creating a false Map Problem.
• Routes in and out should be mapped with roads of "Parking Lot Road" type, they should not be named (city name is optional) and they should have appropriate directions and turn restrictions.
• The landmark should be named appropriately (not just Petrol Station or Shell etc).
• The brand should be selected correctly.
• Include full street name in address, with road direction where applicable
• The phone number should be added if known.
• Also add other applicable categories, e.g. shop, atm, car wash

The example below shows a properly mapped Petrol Station and can be found here:

Service Areas

This advice applies to Motorway Services, and other large service areas on major roads that include several facilities and businesses.

Single area place is to be drawn over entire site, split in to two if separated by the motorway. The shape of the area should be simple as possible, and include the ends of the ramps to provide maximum visibility for drivers.

The Navigation Point for the place is to be positioned at end of exit ramp, so that routing stops as soon as drivers arrive and they can then find their own way to appropriate parking.

The primary category should be Services / Layby with any other relevant secondary categories such as Fast Food, Restaurant, Coffee shop / Cafe, Shop (excluding Fuel or Hotel). Users will then be able to search for "services" along their route. Do NOT add Car Park category!

Name should be like "Suchandsuch Services", with direction as necessary, e.g. (N) or (S) Do not include brand name, or "Motoryway" or "Northbound". Alternate names can be added as required.

In the Description of the place, enter the main brand of the services on first line (Moto, Welcome Break, etc), and then put other businesses on the second line, separated by commas. Add other details and services as applicable.

In the Addres section, set the Street name to "Mx (N)" or "Mx Jx" as applicable.

Petrol Stations and Hotels should be marked with their own *point places*, positioned at the front of the property. They should then be named like "Brand - Location (N)". For example: "Shell - Tibshelf" or "Days Inn - Woodall". The address should match that of the main services area.

Ramps that enter the services directly from the motorway or dual-carriageway should be named simply as "Services". Ramps that then rejoin the carriageway can be left unnamed, as they aren't needed for navigation.

If there is a main route through the services that doesn't provide parking, these segments can be marked as Street. All other segments should be Parking Roads, as per usual guidelines for Car Parks.

Use Private Road for limited access roads (with no public right of way), typically connecting the rear of the site to local roads.

Examples:

• Wetherby Services on A1
• Heartshead Moor on M62
• Leicester Forest East on M1
• Woodall Services on M1

Natural Features

Generally mapping natural features only serves to improve the visual appearance of the App. In some cases they can provide a useful reference along a journey when crossing major rivers or passing lakes or woodlands. When fully mapped with an Area Place these should be locked to 3.

• Parks, forests, lakes - these should be mapped using an Area Place, named if they have one, and the appropriate category set.
• Rivers, canals - these should be mapped using an Area Place, named, and the appropriate category set.
• Seas / shorelines - these should not be mapped as they are provided by an external source.
• Farms - these should not be mapped as Area Places. If they provide public services, such as a farm shop or camping, then they can be mapped as a Point Place.

You may wish to use the Street to River Plus script to help create rivers and canals.

Residential Place Points

When reviewing a Place Point Update for a residential dwelling it should only be accepted if it contains a house number, this should be verified using Google Street View or a local authority map. Adjust the position to the correct location. You should review any photo(s) and delete any that do not clearly show the residence.

If the residential place has been submitted as anything other than a Residential Place Point it should be converted to one using the link in the left-hand panel.

Categories

You should check the Waze Map Editor language in the settings tab. Using English (UK) will provide British translations to place categories.

Do not use primary category groups for places, instead use the secondary categories. Primary categories include; Car Services, Transportation, Professional and public, Shopping and services, Food and drink, Culture and entertainment, Other, Lodging, Outdoors, Natural Features.

Always check the category on newly approved places as they are frequently wrong. Many Hotels are incorrectly categorised as Hostels

Missing categories

Missing Category	WME Category to use
Community centre	Conventions / Event centre
Village hall	Conventions / Event centre
Garden centre / Nursery	Flower / Gardening
Dentist	Doctor / Clinic
Newsagent	Shop