Well, I've updated the descriptions in the wiki for ground, dirt and earth: http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/w/index.php?title=Template%3AMap_Features%3Asurface&diff=1000653&oldid=978363
Does it look ok? On Thu, Mar 13, 2014 at 6:31 PM, David Bannon <dban...@internode.on.net> wrote: > > In Australia, we refer to a "dirt road" meaning just about any unsealed > road. Very rarely use "earth" or "ground". Ground sounds to me more like > the level than the surface, I'd argue most roads are at ground level ! > > We often describe a gravel road as a dirt road, as such a road goes > through its normal maintenance cycle, the gravel can become almost > invisible, lost in the dust or mud if it rains. > > At the risk of complicating the matter, I'd rather distinguish between > "made" and "unmade" dirt roads. A road that has been graded and made > dome shaped (as the Roman's taught us) is "made" - usually an easy > drive. Some drivers get nervous on unmade roads as they develop pot > holes much quicker and the surface can deliver "surprises". > > So I suggest 'dirt', 'earth' and 'ground' are really not very > informative terms. > > David > > > On Thu, 2014-03-13 at 16:57 -0300, Fernando Trebien wrote: >> So: >> - "earth" is a close synonym of "soil" (though it's not exactly the same >> thing) >> - "ground" could refer to: soil/earth (no vegetation), soil/earth + >> vegetation (say, grass) >> - "dirt" could refer to: soil/earth, clay, sand, arguably gravel (it >> may not be correct but it may be a good idea to clarify this in the >> wiki) >> >> So earth, grass, clay, sand, and gravel, are much more specific than >> ground and dirt, both of which are just slightly more specific than >> unpaved. >> >> Could "dirt" involve "mud"? >> >> Could "ground" involve "rock"? (Similar, but likely flatter, than >> this: http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Proposed_features/bare_rock) >> >> On Thu, Mar 13, 2014 at 4:04 PM, Murry McEntire >> <murry.mcent...@gmail.com> wrote: >> > >> > >> > >> > On Thu, Mar 13, 2014 at 11:01 AM, Fernando Trebien >> > <fernando.treb...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >> >> >> It seems that: >> >> - if a surface can be grass or paved, asphalt, concrete, >> >> paving_stones, etc., then it seems the only reason to state "the >> >> surface consists of ground" is if it's unpaved and without vegetation, >> >> right? >> >> - the American usage of "dirt" (as in "your car will get dirty") is a >> >> broad description for 3 more specific values: earth, gravel and >> >> compacted (different from loose gravel or soil) >> >> >> > >> > Ground has multiple meanings some of which are very broad. When speaking of >> > "I walk the ground", "breaking ground" (as in construction or farming), >> > "above ground", or "below ground"; it would seem to fit the Oxford >> > definition of: the solid surface of the earth (world). The dictionary also >> > gives a definition of ground as a generic term to be qualified, such as >> > "marshy ground". (And to muddle things, when you think it might mean a >> > natural surface - the Oxford gives the (British) definition of "the floor >> > of >> > a room".) >> > >> > Upon seeing surface=ground for a road, my first reaction is to wonder what >> > is meant by that? Upon pondering, it is a land surface of the world that is >> > not raised or improved but may be worn and could be almost any natural >> > surface which may include ruts through vegetation. >> > >> > Of course I could ponder more and give another dozen definitions; many >> > conflicting. >> > "Ground" is a poor term because it has so many similar, but still different >> > meanings (very ambiguous) when used to describe a surface; with its most >> > common meaning being very general and not describing the material of the >> > surface. >> > >> > As to American usage of "dirt", the example is poor -- if you stick with >> > the >> > noun, not the related adjective, saying "your pants have dirt on them" >> > would >> > likely be interpreted as loam, clay, soil, or the like; not gravel. To me, >> > a >> > "dirt road" is most often a natural soil (clay, loam, sand, etc.). It may >> > be >> > compacted or graded. I would refer to a road surfaced with gravel as a >> > "gravel road". >> > >> > _______________________________________________ >> > Tagging mailing list >> > Tagging@openstreetmap.org >> > https://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/tagging >> > >> >> >> > > > > _______________________________________________ > Tagging mailing list > Tagging@openstreetmap.org > https://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/tagging -- Fernando Trebien +55 (51) 9962-5409 "The speed of computer chips doubles every 18 months." (Moore's law) "The speed of software halves every 18 months." (Gates' law) _______________________________________________ Tagging mailing list Tagging@openstreetmap.org https://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/tagging
