Proposal:Obstacle

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Obstacle
Proposal status: Abandoned (inactive)
Proposed by: KonfrareAlbert
Tagging: obstacle=yes, vegetation, fallen_tree, unevenness, precipice, hole, heap
Applies to: node, way and only for «hole» and «heap» values: area
Definition: Objective obstacles in a path (or highways) that difficult the passability
Statistics:

Rendered as: no render
Draft started: 2012-10-12
RFC start: 2012-10-13

Proposal

This proposal derives from Proposed_features/Difficult_Passability (see the discussion page), and aims to know\avoid obstacles in a trail. I want that people can discern between trails without obstacles or objective difficulties and adventure\difficult trails. Also the key must be verifiable and for this motive I assigned values that I think that are concretes values.

Rationale

The goal of this tag is that people can select obstacles in a navigation applications that they want to avoid when calculate routes. Some navigation applications like OsmAnd can avoid routes with bumps, tolls, ferries or motorways for calculating routes for vehicles, but not can personalize calculating routes in paths, tracks, etc. and can't avoid important obstacles that could make impossible the route.

The Humanitarian OSM Team, for example, considers the key obstacle.

Examples

In the municipally term of La Palma de Cervelló (5,47Km², a very little municipally term in Catalonia, wikipedia), I calculate that there are approximately ten highway=* (paths and tracks) that could be tagged with with obstacle=vegetation, three obstacle=fallen_tree that impede the passability could be added, two highway=path could be complemented with obstacle=precipice, and two nodes with obstacle=unevenness could be added. There are much trails mapped and the pedestrian navigation experience improve with this key. I think therefore that this key could be very useful, and could be apply to a lot of places of the world, for example the key obstacle=fallen_tree could be more used when a disaster occurs like a hurricane, earthquake... (La Palma de Cervelló was affected for extratropical Klaus cyclone in January 2009 and there were hundreds of trees fallen, a lot of them impeded the passability in trails). In Catalonia there are hard wind frequently, topcoat the Tramuntana wind (see the Wikipedia).

Tagging


Values for key obstacle=*

Value Elem. Description Additional tags Photo
yes node

way

Static elements in the trail (in front or around) that difficult the passability[1]
vegetation node

way

There are big shrubberies, brambleberry, very high and dense grass, big branches, lianas, etc that difficult de passability and force you to move careful[2]
Obstacle-Dense vegetation.JPG
fallen_tree node There is a big fallen tree that completely hinders passability, and you only can continue the path if you cross the tree (cross it above or below)

Ambox warning pn.svg See elements.

Obstacle-Fallen tree.JPG
precipice node

way

There is an important precipice alongside the trail (at least one side) that your eyes can't avoid see if you look forward and you see the falling. There are a minimal risk of falling[4], but it's an important difficulty for people with dizziness. You can't move over away from the precipice and take out it of your visual field
Obstacle-Path with precipice.JPG
unevenness node

way

In front of the trail you must use hands for continue the route[6], and can't be avoid.
Obstacle-Unevenness.JPG
hole node

way

area

There is a big hole in the trail that you must cross for continue the route and difficults the passability, that can't be avoid.

Ambox warning pn.svg See subkeys.

Ambox warning pn.svg See elements.

Obstacle-Hole.JPG
heap node

way

area

There is a heap of rocks, grit, debris, etc. in the trail that you must cross for continue the route and difficults de passability, that can't be avoid.

Ambox warning pn.svg See subkeys.

Ambox warning pn.svg See elements.

Obstacle-Heap.JPG

Notes:

  • [1] i.e. For a pedestrian, you can't walk erect and with stretched arms and in beeline, evidently following the path traced ;)
  • [2] i.e. For pedestrian, when you walk the personal space is limited and force you to duck or to dodge, and you must walk careful. There are risk of scratches in arms and legs, and stumbles.
  • [3] If the fallen tree takes a long time is there (almost always, because wouldn't be unwise than you mark a tree that has fallen recently, since it could be cleaned).
  • [4] The risk could be major for people with a tendency to fall over, small children, etc.
  • [5] If there is a wall in one side, could be important.
  • [6] It can be because there is a big stone, a margin that must be crossed or simply the terrain begins to be very steep.
  • [7] If you need safety measures, you can combine with the proposed key Safety measures on hiking trails.

Subkeys

This key was defined for huge obstacles than difficults the pass for all types of transport. If the obstacle difficults the passability only for some (for example, heaps and holes probably aren't an obstacle for pedestrians), you can use these subkeys:

Obstacle for Key
Sinnbild Fußgänger.svg Pedestrians obstacle:foot=*
Wheelchair symbol.svg Wheelchairs obstacle:wheelchair=*
Sinnbild Radfahrer.svg Cyclists obstacle:bicycle=*
Sinnbild Kraftrad.svg Motorcycles obstacle:motorcycle=*
Sinnbild Reiter.svg Horse riders obstacle:horse=*
Sinnbild PKW.svg Automobiles/cars obstacle:motorcar=*
Sinnbild LKW.svg Heavy goods vehicles obstacle:hgv=*

For exceptional cases (I do not know what) you could use a negative tag, for example:

Obstacle description

If you want to mark an obstacle that doesn't coincide with tags descrited, you could use a description tag that contents text. You must add the key obstacle=yes for calculating routes purpose.

Key Value
obstacle_description=* Free text with description of the obstacle. Short and concise.

Other obstacles

Compatible keys

Other keys like trail_visibility=*, sac_scale=*, smoothness=*, tracktype=* are compatible with the key obstacle=* proposed.

Applies to

This key always must be in a way with the key highway=* (generally in highway=path, highway=footway, highway=cycleway, highway=bridleway or highway=track). The key obstacle=* could be a node in this way, or a key added to highway=* in the way or in a stretch of the way (if the difficulty is along five meters).

Elements for fallen tree

Ambox warning pn.svg The key obstacle=fallen_tree must be only a node because always is a puntual obstacle. If a long fallen tree obstaculizes two trails, the best option would be add a node with obstacle=fallen_tree in each trail. If we mark the fallen tree like a way that affects two trails, then we lose the calculating routes proposal for avoid obstacles.

Elements for hole and heap

Ambox warning pn.svg The keys obstacle=hole and obstacle=heap could be a node, a way or an area (if the hole/heap is very big, diameter > 5 meters). For calculating routes purpose could be better to use a node or a way added in the highway=* than an area. If the hole/heap affects two trails, you must proceed like obstacle=fallen_tree that affects two trails.

Differences with other keys

  • barrier=* is made on purpose to hinder movement, and obstacle=* are made for other purposes or have natural origins.
  • hazard=* indicates the probability of risk, and obstacle=* indicates the presence of an objective elements that could difficult the passability (according yor habilities or capacities). Please, see the Proposed_features/hazard.


Statistics

Obstacle

Rendering

This key no needs to be rendered.

Examples of rendering

Features/Pages affected

If this proposal is approved most of the highway=* pages must includes this key for add.

Related proposition

See also

Comments

Please use the discussion page for comments.

Voting

Not yet open.