Proposal:Markers subject refinement
| Markers indication proposal | |
|---|---|
| Proposal status: | Proposed (under way) |
| Proposed by: | fanfouer |
| Tagging: | indication=* |
| Applies to: | 
|
| Definition: | Addition to existing markers tagging with ability to describe what a given marker is referring to (pipelines, valves, hydrant...) |
| Statistics: |
|
| Draft started: | 2023-02-22 |
| RFC start: | 2023-04-17 |
Following Utility markers proposal, it was reported that it's barely possible to clearly state what a given marker is referring to.
It's about distinguishing underground features like pipelines or valves and some distant features like hydrants or even road as well.
This proposal is intended to introduce additional tagging to solve this issue and provides a better solution to map markers' indication.
It doesn't change what was previously introduced and only intend to provide an answer to this particular problem.
Proposal
It is proposed the following changes:
- Introduce indication=* with values like pipeline, cable, valve, hydrant. List isn't closed as markers can actually mark many different things.
- Deprecate utility=hydrant in favour of utility=water + indication=hydrant.
As a side effect, pipeline=marker which is currently replaced by marker=* only will be updated to be replaced by marker=* + indication=pipeline.
This proposal won't challenge pipeline=marker status and it will remain deprecated, as reviewed in marker=* proposal. The vote won't be held about pipeline=marker.
The point is to complete the initial replacement that was reviewed previously.
Rationale
Markers are visual features that indicate the presence of mostly hidden other features. They're not connected to the feature they mark and are mapped as separates nodes in OSM.
Thus, it is necessary to provide a tag to state to which kind of feature they are referring to.
Such information is often written on them to clearly warn of possible danger to anyone passing by them.
indication=pipeline is intended to describe in OSM labels like High pressure gas pipeline underground seen on ground.
indication=* is not used yet and could be defined in general by The nature of a precise feature designated nearby.
pipeline=marker was deprecated by utility markers proposal by the end of 2019 to free pipeline=* from unconnected features. 10k features were moved and 25k remain today.
A complementary solution is now proposed to state a given marker points toward a pipeline and it would improve the removal or remaining items.
Involve markers in relations
An alternative to proposed tagging would be to involve markers in relations with the feature they mark. A similar practice to addresses and associated street relation.
It would be really complex and hard to maintain. It is chosen to give a try to simpler tagging and lesser usage of relations.
Utilities and substances
Proposed indication=* values aren't supposed to mention utilities nor substances.
Proposing gas_pipeline or power_cable for indication=* would break versatility and consistency.
Existing utility=* is already used in combination with marker=* for that and pipeline, cable are better values.
substance=* is actually a property of the pipeline itself. There is no gas or ethylene in markers, but this information could be kept on the marker in description=* if necessary.
Consistency with boundaries
For consistency sake, it would be legit to cover boundaries in this proposal.
Replacement of boundary=marker by indication=boundary was studied and appear to be too big to be done now.
By the way, boundary=* is intended to precise a kind of boundary, not peripheral objects that mark them, just like pipeline=marker that had been deprecated previously.
Consistency with highways
highway=milestone could also be covered by this proposal. It would free highway=* from milestones or distance markers.
Several issues still rise about how to document road's ref referred by a given marker and indication:ref=* could be a suitable option.
Replacement of highway=milestone by indication=road was studied and appear to be too big to be done now.
By the way, highway=* is intended to precise the importance of a road, not peripheral objects that mark them, just like pipeline=marker that had been deprecated previously.
Tagging
Current marker=* tagging practices don't change.
| Key | Value | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| indication | pipeline | A pipeline, often underground, is marked by the marker. |
| cable | A cable, often underground, is marked by the marker. | |
| valve | The marker indicates a valve is found next to it, possibly in a chamber or directly accessible | |
| hydrant | An hydrant, underground or not, is located next to the marker |
Edition management
Affected pages
- Edit indication=*, add use case for markers and add corresponding values
- Edit pipeline=marker and add indication=pipeline in replacement.
- Deprecate utility=hydrant and replace it by utility=water + indication=hydrant.
Tagging to be replaced
| Obsolete tag | Usage | Used for? | New tag(s) to use |
|---|---|---|---|
| utility=hydrant | 742 on 2025-02-19 | A marker referring to a hydrant (underground or not) | utility=water + indication=hydrant |
| subject=pipeline | 14 259 on 2025-02-28 | A marker referring to a gas pipeline (underground or not) | utility=gas + indication=pipeline |
External discussions
- Initial problem reporting on Tagging mailing-list
Examples
Underground features
| Photo | Location | Tagging | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
|
France |
marker=pedestal
|
Such markers are obvious in France and mark buried high pressure gas pipelines. indication=pipeline is appropriate to clearly indicate the marker marks a pipeline. |
 |
UK |
marker=post
|
As Power cable is written on the marker, we use indication=cable here. |
 |
France |
marker=plate
|
This is a typical hydrant marker in Paris. |
Voting
Voting hasn't started yet.