Tag:surface=tarmac

Sometimes shortened incorrectly to 'Tarmac' (the brand), or contracted to 'tarmac', the full industry name is actually tarmacadam — a combination of tar (a black, sticky organic binder) and ‘macadam’ (a surfacing type using layers of compacted aggregate and/or crushed stone, named after creator John Louden McAdam).

This surface is mostly historical.

Note that "tarmac" is used also for modern asphalt concrete and for airport surfaces, even concrete ones. It is likely that vast majority of uses of this tag are result of such confusion.

In unusual case of actual tar-based surface using surface=tarmacadan may be a better idea.

See also

• surface=chipseal - combines one or more layer(s) of asphalt with one or more layer(s) of fine aggregate, without premixing them
• surface=asphalt - modern asphalt concrete, sometimes referred to as "tarmac"
• surface=concrete - concrete surface at airports are sometimes referred to as "tarmac"