Orienteering
This page details tags for use with the sport & leisure activity of Orienteering.
Permanent Markers
Permanent Orienteering Courses (POCs) consist of a number of markers within an area.
POCs can contain either one course (visit as many of the markers as you like, in any order) or several courses which visit a selection of the markers, in a particular sequence. These can be represented by relations in OpenStreetMap. Please note that adding relations is more advanced and so do not worry about adding relations for your POC markers, if you are just starting out with OpenStreetMap.
Individual Markers
Markers should be nodes and should contain the following tags:
- sport=orienteering
- orienteering=marker - The marker contains the reference and answer, and is often square, split diagonally into white and red.
- marker=post - Markers are often attached or drawn on to dedicated wooden poles or posts driven into the ground, sometimes with an angled top. If this is the case, use this tag. If instead the marker is attached to another object such as a (amenity=bench) or on a node that forms part of a fence, wall or building, use marker=plate, to indicate the orienteering-relevant object is just the marker plate itself. marker=ground or marker=pole may also be appropriate.
- ref=* - Typically a number, printed on maps and markers. Often placed in the centre of the top left of the marker.
- answer=* - Typically one or more letters, printed only on markers as a visit confirmation. Often placed below the reference number.
An example marker is at: https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/7530226839
The Permanent Orienteering Course (POC)
Create a single relation for the POC, containing the markers, and then if necessary this relation can also contain relations for the individual courses.
The following tags should go on the POC relation:
- name=* - The name of the POC.
- type=site
- sport=orienteering
- orienteering=course
- operator=* - The name of the club or organisation that placed and manages the markers and likely publishes a dedicated orienteering map of the POC. The map may simply show all markers in the area, to be visited in any order, or there may be multiple linear courses defined.
- owner=* - The owner of the markers, if different from the operator. This might be the landowner who commissioned the POC.
- website=* - A website where people can go to find out about the POC and/or download a dedicated orienteering map.
Each marker can have a role in the relation as "start" or "finish" as appropriate. Or leave the role blank.
An example POC relation is at: https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/11124153
Linear Courses within the POC
You can also create relations for individual courses that are designed to have some or all of the markers visited in a set order, within the POC. These relations should be contained within the POC relation.
- name=* - The name of the course.
- type=route
- route=orienteering
- orienteering=course
- website=* - A website where people can go to find out about this particular course in the POC and/or download a dedicated orienteering map for this course.
Each marker can have the role in the relation as "start", the control number (1, 2, 3 etc), or "end" as appropriate. Order the markers in the relation (start, 1, 2, 3, finish).
An example linear course relation is at: https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/11129114
Some example Permanent Orienteering Course (POC) Markers
| marker=plate | marker=post | marker=post |
| A node on a barrier=fence | answer=H | ref=78 |
See also
- IOF mapping for when considering production of orienteering maps that conform to international standards.
- OpenOrienteeringMap as an example of a map renderer and service for creating simple orienteering maps.