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
These can be used to make the map look pleasing to the eye but serve no purpose for search or navigation. Natural features should be locked to rank 3.
Parks and Woodland
Parks and forests should be mapped using the appropriate category, but only if they're of significant size.
Farms
Farms should NOT be mapped as area places. If they provide public services (e.g. farm shop, camping, etc), then they can be added as a point place so that address search can find them.
Water Features
- Rivers and canals should be mapped with the appropriate category with their proper names.
- Use the Street to River script for easy river creation.
- Lakes and ponds should be mapped using the type "Sea/Lake/Levee".
- Seas should NOT be mapped, as the coastline is provided via an external source.
Private / Residential
- When reviewing a Place Update for a Residential (Private) Place:
- verify that the house number is correct using Street View
- accept the Update
- adjust the location if necessary
- review the attached photo, and delete it if it doesn't clearly show the residence
- Homes that have been submitted as the wrong type should be changed to Residential
- Residential places without a house number should be rejected or deleted
Categories
- When editing places, ensure you have selected the EN GB language in the editor
- Do NOT use category groups for the category of a place!
- E.g. Car Services, Professional and Public, Shopping and Services, etc
- Many Hotels are incorrectly categorised as Hostels
Missing
- Community Centre → use Conventions / Event Centre
- Village Hall → use Conventions / Event Centre
- Garden Centre / Nursery → use Flowers / Gardening
- Dentist → Doctor / Clinic
- Newsagents → use Shop