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openstreetmap-carto/USECASES.md

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This file describes some use cases of the style sheet. For each use case, it is indicated which features we need to render because they are the subject of the use case, and which features we should render as context for the subject feature(s). Also, for each use case is indicated at what zoom level the use case is relevant.

The end goal should be that for everything we render on a given zoomlevel, we have a use case that mentions that feature either as map subject or map context on that zoomlevel. We can accomplish this either by adding use cases, or removing features.

As we are still experimenting with this way of design, this document is restricted for now to zoom levels 5, 6 and 7.

Use case Map subject Map context Zoom level
Looking up country location Country names, country borders Coastlines z5, z6
Looking up U.S. state location state names and borders in USA Coastlines, country borders z5, z6, z7
Looking up province/state location Province/state names and borders Country borders z6, z7
Looking up city location City names Coastlines, country names, country borders z5, z6, z7
Long distance road trip planning Motorways City names z6, z7
Understanding what the area looks like Natural areas (woods, grass, scrubs, heath, ice, lakes, rocks, sands etc.)
natural lines (big rivers)
semi-natural areas (farmlands, vineyards, orchards, parks etc.)
semi-natural lines (big canals)
Coastlines, relief z5, z6, z7

This gives us the following features:

  • z5: Map subject: Country names, country borders, city names, (semi-)natural areas+lines. Map context: seas, oceans, relief.
  • z5 in USA: Map subject: Province/state names and borders, (semi-)natural areas+lines. Map context: Country names, country borders, seas oceans, relief.
  • z6: Map subject: Country names, country borders, province/state names and borders, motorways, city names, (semi-)natural areas+lines. Map context: Seas, oceans, country borders, city names, relief.
  • z7: Map subject: Province/state names and borders, city names, motorways, (semi-)natural areas+lines. Map context: Seas, oceans, country names, country borders, relief.

Some features that we currently render for which we do not (yet) have a use case:

  • Province/state names and borders (except USA) on z5
  • Island names on z5/6/7