South African Tagging Guidelines

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Specific tagging guidelines for South Africa

Uploading GPS track logs

Please always upload gps points with the tag "South_Africa" so other people can search for it Recently Uploaded tracks

Proposed standards for tagging ways:

Road type Keys Description Example Photo
Any freeway highway=motorway
oneway=yes
ref=...
Divided highway with limited access - i.e. on/off ramps. N1, M5 - only where they are freeways
N roads highway=trunk
ref=N..
The primary network of highways connecting the country together - national roads and the main provincial roads. N1, N3 (where they are not freeways)
2-digit R roads highway=primary
ref=R..
Major routes off the national highway network. R27, R43 (where they are not freeways)
3-digit R roads highway=secondary
ref=R...
Minor inter-town routes. R101, R326 (where they are not freeways)
"low-number" M roads highway=primary
ref=M..
The major roads within a metropolitan area. M3, M12 (where they are not freeways)
"high-number" M roads highway=secondary
ref=M..
Smaller main roads within a metropolitan area. M52 (where they are not freeways)
other roads highway=unclassified
or
highway=residential
Everything else.

Also have a look at Map features

Addressing Unnamed Roads Outside of Town Bounds or Suburbs in South Africa

While mapping in South Africa, it's crucial to note that roads located outside town bounds or suburbs oftentimes do not have official street names. To accurately depict this in OpenStreetMap (OSM), we make use of the tagging scheme mentioned below. This page guides on how to apply the attribute noname=yes to such road segments, indicating that the absence of a name aligns with the on-the-ground reality in South Africa.

Why use noname=yes in South Africa?

Following local conventions in South Africa, it's not uncommon to find roads or trails outside town bounds or suburbs that lack official names. The noname=yes tag in OpenStreetMap conveys this fact accurately and prevents any confusion or incorrect naming attempts by other mappers.

Step-by-Step Guide for South Africa

  1. Identify the Road Segment: In the process of mapping areas in South Africa, one might come across road segments outside the boundaries of towns or suburbs that lack a designated name.
  2. Split the Road: If a road extends from within a town or suburb (where it might have a name) to outside the town bounds (where it lacks a name), it should be split at the town boundary. The segment inside the town can retain its name, while the outer segment without a name will need the noname=yes attribute.
  3. Select the Road Segment: Using your preferred OpenStreetMap editor (iD, JOSM, etc.), select the relevant road segment outside the town bounds.
  4. Add the Tag: With the road segment selected, go to the feature's attributes and add a new key-value pair: noname=yes
  5. Save Your Changes: After tagging the road segment, don't forget to save your changes. Include a meaningful changeset comment, such as "Added noname=yes tags to unnamed roads outside town bounds South Africa 2023."

This tagging method applies specifically to roads in South Africa. Adopt the noname=yes attribute only when you're certain that, according to South African conventions, a road lacks an official name. If you're unsure, please consult local mapping communities or refer to South African mapping guidelines.

Conclusion

Adhering to this practice when mapping unnamed roads outside town bounds or suburbs in South Africa significantly enhances the accuracy of OpenStreetMap data for the region. It ensures that our map accurately mirrors ground truth, reinforcing the mission of the OpenStreetMap project in creating collaboratively built, open-source maps.

Translating street-name abbreviations

When using the name=* tag on streets you should use the full name, not an abbreviation (i.e. Main Street, not Main St). The following table lists some abbreviations and their English/Afrikaans equivalents.

English Afrikaans
Abbreviations Name Abbreviations Name
AL Alley Steeg
AVE Avenue LN Laan
BLVD Boulevard Rylaan
CL Close Slot
CRES Crescent SGL Singel
DR Drive RLN Rylaan
PL Place Oord
RD Road Weg
ST Street STR Straat

Frontage Roads

Frontage roads is a local road that is often used to provide access to private properties alongside a more significant, usually high-speed road. These are sometimes referred to as service roads, access roads or parallel road, depending on the region.

A frontage road typically runs parallel to the higher-speed road, allowing local traffic to reach individual properties while separating it from the faster-moving through traffic. They are common in urban areas and along highways.

Frontage roads often carry the same name as the high-speed road they run parallel to. For instance, if the main road is called "Broadway Road", the frontage road might also be referred to as 'Broadway Road".

Frontage roads can be tagged with: highway=residential and frontage_road=yes