Mapping it right
While I may be a fan of the “intuitive” and “idiosyncratic” nature of neogeography, we all recognise the importance of getting the core geographic information right. We’re about to start a comprehensive update of all our mapping tiles, and while we were able to get out a relatively quick fix for the Wellington bypass, it will take a bit of effort to do it properly for the whole country.
While we pay good money for our base data, it’s a fact of life that nothing’s perfect, and the physical world sometimes moves too fast for surveyors, councils and data providers to keep up with. We already have a list of updates and corrections that we’ll probably have to make manually, and we’ve had useful reports from ZoomIn users that we’ve added to the list. But we want to ask you, our blog readers, whether you’ve noticed any errors, out-of-date areas or places that could do with a tweak.
Along with that, I’d like to know if there are any improvements we could make to the appearance of our maps. As just one example, as a supporter of pedestrian-friendly cities it has always seemed odd to me that pedestrian streets like Cuba Mall have the same symbology as dirt tracks through the bush. There’s a field in the raw data that distinguishes “malls” from walkways, and if I get the chance I’d like to represent the difference visually. Are there any visual quirks or infelicities that you’d like us to take a look at?
We can’t guarantee that we’ll get every suggestion into the upcoming map release, but we’re keen to get your feedback on what would make our maps the best they can be.
July 11th, 2007 at 12:54 pm
In the future I’d think twice before giving me an invitation to be a pedantic cartographic nit-picker! Given that, I’d best take advantage of this opportunity:
While I’m not (yet) a resident of Wellington and therefore cannot definitively say that the map is inaccurate, the little one-way cul-de-sac off Hospital Rd. in Mt. Cook would appear to be an unfortunate street to turn onto. Zoom-in to:
http://zoomin.co.nz/?search/index&type=ADDRESS&q=Hospital%20Road%2C%20Mt%20Cook%2C%20Wellington&id=146%3A420%3A2a0%3A%3A
(link)
July 11th, 2007 at 3:47 pm
Pedantic is good! I think that’s the entrance to the blood bank, so maybe that’s the way they lure in unsuspecting punters before draining their veins 😉
There are some strange little culs-de-sac and driveways around the Hospital, but this one certainly looks like it shouldn’t be one-way. Thanks for the tip!
July 11th, 2007 at 7:03 pm
It’s minor, but Tiro Street in Karori should be shown in two halves – although the halves come quite close to meeting, you can’t actually drive through. The little unnamed branch to the south is actually a private driveway, and the base of that is about where the two halves don’t connect. You can walk through, although calling it a path might be glorifying it a little – it isn’t an official, engineered walkway.
http://zoomin.co.nz/?search/index&type=ADDRESS&q=Tiro%20Street%2C%20Karori%2C%20Wellington&id=146%3A2a0%3A11a0%3A%3A
July 12th, 2007 at 12:50 am
SH2 near petone has stuff shown on the map which hasn’t even started construction yet.
July 12th, 2007 at 12:51 am
Also the Mackays Crossing overbridge + minor realignment of the road north of Paekakariki has been finished for a while now.
July 12th, 2007 at 11:34 am
Very minor change in Brooklyn, Wellingtown – There is a walkway from Bell Rd to Dorking Rd that doesn’t show on your maps. If you zoom right in on Dorking Rd (Brooklyn) you can see a gap between two sections (directly above the “g”). The walkway goes down there then meets Bell Rd in the bend just above the walkway that then connects to Bidwill st.
Pedantic I know, but as my only method of getting anywhere is to walk its nice to have shortcuts on maps!