WikiProject United Arab Emirates
This section has been established to optimize the efforts to map the United Arab Emirates.
Contents |
General
Getting started
First of all, before starting to map, be sure to read the guidelines and all available info. Can seem like a lot initially but really isn't that much: Map_Making_Overview
Also read and understand the different Map Features. There is also an Arabic version of the Map Features page. This translation is not yet complete, please help if you can.
For editing, JOSM is highly recommended.
For a daily updated Garmin/MapSource map of the entire GCC area, check the Maps section below.
Obeserved mapping errors
Preparing weekly compilations of the map have revealed a few problems with the current mapping being done. Please check the following:
- That roads are correctly connected via nodes, merge nodes at intersections instead of leaving them close to each other, intersecting roads have to be connected to the SAME node to be valid (MUST BE IN ORDER FOR MAPS TO LOOK RIGHT AND AUTOROUTING TO WORK CORRECTLY).
- Don't use excessive amounts of nodes on straight roads, it just makes them seem curvy for no reason (if the road is straight you only need 2 nodes, one for the start of the road and one for the end of it (not taking into account any intersections of course)).
- There has also been numerous occassions of DUPLICATE ROADS AND NODES, when uploading, check that you don't upload the same data several times since this creates erronous duplicates. (Record so far is 7 duplicated roads on top of each other, be careful with submitting over and over again!)
- Adding a node and only giving it a name does NOT create a valid POI (Point Of Interest). Be sure to use the right category, for locations that are not suburbs but worth mentioning, use: place=locality.
- And one more time; check again that roads are CONNECTED CORRECTLY!!
UAE tag scheme
Naming
For different locations, cities etc. use English as the default naming since it's more likely that more people currently using these maps will be able to interpret latin letters and english names. But still, if you are able to enter the arabic name be sure to do so to enable a pure arabic compilation of the map (though currently not supported by Garmin devices). Name tags to be used:
- name=<default name> This should be the english name for easier understanding by non-arabic people
- name:en=<english name> Be sure to add this one also for all places
- name:ar=<arabic name> If you know it, add it!
Please join the discussion for other opinions on this one Talk:WikiProject United Arab Emirates
Locations
For places that aren't suburbs, tourist attractions or any other kind of amenity, use: place=locality
Roads
highway=motorway
Major highways connecting cities and regions.
Characteristics: dual carriageway with central reservation, tends to have emergency phones for use in case of breakdown.
Lanes: multiple (3-6) traffic lanes, emergency lanes on the outside
Traffic signals: none except in temporary construction areas
Roundabouts: none or very few
Speed limit: 120 km/hour
Exits: limited and tend to be numbered
Some examples:
- Mashreq international roads
- Major E roads, e.g. Sheikh Zayed Road (E10 Abu Dhabi->Dubai)
highway=trunk
Important roads that aren’t motorways. Often suitable for long journeys at relatively high speed and connecting cities and major towns.
Characteristics: dual carriageway with central reservation
Lanes: multiple (3-5) traffic lanes
Traffic signals: few or none
Roundabouts: few or none
Speed limit: 100 or 120 km/hour
Exits: frequent
Some examples:
- Smaller E roads, e.g. E-33 (Abu Dhabi->Al Ain)
- Longer D roads
- Abu Dhabi International Airport Road
highway=primary
A major highway within a city.
Characteristics: dual carriageway with central reservation
Lanes: multiple (2-4) traffic lanes
Traffic signals: limited
Roundabouts: limited
Speed limit: 80 or 100 km/hour
Exits: frequent
Some examples:
- Abu Dhabi Corniche Road
- Shorter D roads, e.g. D611 in Dubai
highway=secondary
A major road within a city.
Characteristics: dual carriageway with central reservation
Lanes: multiple traffic lanes
Traffic signals: frequent
Roundabouts: frequent
Speed limit: 80 km/hour
Examples:
highway=tertiary
A minor road within a city.
Characteristics: usually single carriageway but sometimes dual carriageway
Lanes: one lane in each direction
Traffic signals: frequent
Roundabouts: frequent
Speed limit: 80 km/hour
highway=residential
Street or road generally used only by people that live on that road or roads that branch off it.
Characteristics: single carriageway
Lanes: one lane in each direction
Traffic signals: frequent
Roundabouts: frequent
Speed limit: 60 or 80 km/hour
highway=unclassified
Small road connecting parts of a town or suburb, but not generally used for access to residential property.
Characteristics: single carriageway
Lanes: one lane in each direction
Traffic signals: frequent
Roundabouts: frequent
Speed limit: 60 or 80 km/hour
- Salik roads: toll=yes
Bing offsets
- Bing has good coverage of lots of the UAE, but sometimes suffers from an offset. Make sure to use GPS traces to check the Bing image alignment and, if necessary, use the JOSM or Potlatch tools to correct the offset before you start tracing
- A lot of Al Ain has been traced from Yahoo images which have a major offset from true coordinates. This offset can be verified from GPS traces or from the more recent Bing images. A major clean up of Al Ain is required to shift all the existing roads to their true positions.
Discussion
Talk:WikiProject United Arab Emirates
Maps
Daily updated Garmin maps for the GCC area (gmapsupp.img and MapSource/BaseCamp map installer)
Monthly updated Garmin maps for the GCC area (gmapsupp.img and MapSource/BaseCamp map installer)
