The names as a node were created for the purpose of placing text on a visual map. If your data is only going to be used with renderers that can automatically place names properly then there would be no reason to keep them. If, however, renderers without that ability are to be used it may be advisable to keep the "point names".
As for why they are they are there - Cartographic text placement on a printed map was always a difficult art. You had to get as much text as possible to make the map complete but without overlapping or interfering text and also without cluttering up the map. It required years of experience as well as a set of rules / guidelines to use. The text points were included in CanVec when it was created to ensure that the existing topographic maps could be recreated from the digital data as well as to provide the results of the significant amount of effort and expertise that went into the placement to the consumers of the CanVec data. My short recommendation - do not import them. Most modern map display software can now render names well. Mike Mepham Federal/Provincial/Territorial Liaison GeoConnections Program Natural Resources Canada E-Mail: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> Ottawa Regina Phone: (613) 992-8549 (306) 780-3634 Fax: (613) 947-2410 (306) 780-5191 Address: 06Ath Floor, Room. 646R 615 Booth Street Ottawa, ON Canada K1A 0E9 100 Central Park Place 2208 Scarth Street Regina, SK Canada S4P 2J6 ________________________________ From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Sam Vekemans Sent: July 14, 2009 09:11 To: Talk-CA OpenStreetMap; Simon Wood; [email protected] Subject: [Talk-ca] name tags for rivers and lakes Hi all, As im going through the 'named features' types, im wondering if it's OK to be keeping river names as a node, and have that 'AS WELL' as having the river with its name. And having lakes as a node as well as an area. .. or maybe not, but i'm looking for a logical explanation for it. :) (When i work on the GeoBaseNHN2osm script, the names will be part of the ways and areas.) Curious, Sam Twitter: @Acrosscanada Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sam.vekemans
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