Project of the week/2010/Aug 01
Out on a Limb - Adding trees to OpenStreetMap
Trees? You really want to add trees to OpenStreetMap?
There is unrest in the forest,
There is trouble with the trees,
For the Maples want more sunlight,
And the Oaks ignore their pleas.
-- The Trees, Rush
Why not? Perhaps not everywhere. In some regions mappers have their hands full with other primary navigation landmarks and larger features. But in some places a nice shrubbery is exactly what is needed for the map.
To be clear, we're not talking about adding every tree in every forest. In fact, we do want to be able to see the landuse=forest for the natural=trees. But sometimes, in the concrete jungles of our cities, a tree might be the only other living thing in view. And that might be worth putting on the map.
Very old trees (officially registered tree monuments) are for sure worth of beeing mapped with the additional tag denotation=national_monument. Hints to such tree locations are often given by local tourism agencies, often even available on their web sites.
There are places in OpenStreetMap where trees have been added to good effect.
Add a single tree
Required tags
Suggested tags
- height=(number in meters)
- circumference=(number in meters)
- type=broad_leafed/conifer
- species=(in Latin)
- denotation=urban/landmark/natural_monument/avenue
Example: oak tree
Example: linden tree
This Project of the Week was suggested by Komzpa on IRC.