Add a road

The following chapter provides an overview on adding road geometry and the most common types of road features.

1 Adding a single digitized road

Single digitized roads have one road bed.  Direction of travel could be 1- or 2-way. To add a single digitized road:

1.1 Connected to an existing road

1) Zoom to the location where you want to add a new road.

2) Right-click on an existing road and select “Add new road”.

Fig.: “Add new road” from an existing road

1.2 Connected to an existing node or shape point

1) Zoom to the location where you want to add a new road.

2) Right-click on an existing node or shape point and select “Add new road”.

Fig.: “Add new road” starting from an existing node

1.3 From a location within the map

1) Zoom to the location where you want to add a new road.

2) Right-click on the location within the map and select “Add new road”.

Fig.: “Add new road” from a location within the map

1.4  From the activation bar

1) Zoom to the location where you want to add a new road.

2) Click on the “Add road” button in the activation bar and add the road to the map.

Fig.: “Add road” button in the activation bar

 
A few points to keep in mind when adding geometry:

1) When adding a road, follow the road’s center line (the median axis of the roadbed).

Fig.: Center line digitization (blue line – correct center line; red road segment – inaccurate center line)

 
2) Each click inserts a new shape point.  Use shape points to accurately represent the road’s shape.

3) Use shape points sparingly to avoid wobbling and incorrect representation.

Fig.: Shape points should be used sparingly (left – correct shape point usage; right – excessive shape point usage)

 
4) When finished adding the road, double click at the location where the road ends.

5) If the newly added road crosses any existing roads, a pop-up window appears asking for the crossing type of the two roads.

Fig.: Defining road crossings

 
6) Add more information about the new road segment in the “Road attributes” panel.

Fig.: “Road attributes” panel

2 Adding a multi digitized road

A multi digitized road is a road with the two opposing directions of travel digitized separately.  Typically, multi digitized roads can be identified by the following:

  • A significant solid line or physical barrier separates the road into two road beds with opposing directions of travel.
Fig.: A physical barrier separates the road

 

  • A significantly wide road bed (+ 50 m) exists in reality.
Fig.: A wide road exists in reality (e.g. from side to side the road bed is greater than or equal to 50m wide)

 
If one of these road characteristics is present, add the road as multi digitized:

1) Separately digitize two road beds (one for each direction of travel).  Follow the roadbed’s center line.

2) Add the correct direction of travel to the new road segments.

3) Add the same street name(s) to the new road segments.

4) Adjust other road attributes for both sides as needed.

3 Adding a roundabout

Roundabouts are traffic features characterized by the following:

  • A circular or oval road shape.
  • The direction of travel is the same for the complete loop (counter-clockwise in right-side driving countries and clockwise in left-side driving countries).
  • The roundabout has three or more roads connected to it.
Fig.: Roundabout example

 
To add a roundabout, zoom to level 18 or higher.

If a junction already exists where there should be a roundabout:

1) Remove the junction by selecting one of the connecting roads and right-clicking on its end node. In the pop-up menu, select “Remove junction”.

Fig.: “Remove junction” functionality

 
2) Move the the road outside of the roundabout.

Fig.: Moving the road outside of the roundabout

 
3) Repeat this step for all other roads.

Fig.: All connecting roads have been moved outside of the roundabout

 
4) Right click on the center of the new roundabout and select “Add new roundabout.” A resizable roundabout sketch appears.

Fig.: “Add new roundabout” functionality

 

Fig.: Resizable roundabout sketch

 
5) Adjust the dotted frames of the roundabout sketch to the center lines of the roundabout as reflected in the satellite imagery.

Fig.: Adjust the roundabout sketch to the center line of the roundabout

 
6) Adjust the position of the roundabout sketch by dragging the center point to the center of the roundabout in reality.

Fig.: Adjusting the center point of the roundabout sketch

 
7) Make all relevant attribute edits to the roundabout before re-connecting roads.

  • Highlight the two roundabout segments by clicking one segment, hold “Shift” and click on the other segment.
  • The “Road type” should match the highest Road type of the connecting roads (e.g. if “Local access” and “Residential” road types connect to the roundabout, the roundabout should receive “Local access” Road type).
  • If no speed information is known then use speed information from the connecting road with the lowest speed.
  • If the roundabout has a name, add it.
  • Do not add route numbers to the roundabout.
  • The direction of travel is automatically set according to the driving regulations in the country.
  • Edit other attributes as necessary.
Fig.: Editing roundabout attributes

 
8) Re-connect roads to the new roundabout:

  • Click on one of the side roads.
  • Move the node to the point it connects to the roundabout.
  • Repeat for all connecting roads.
Fig.: Re-connecting oads to the roundabout

 
Note:

  • Do not connect multiple roads to the same node on the roundabout
  • Be careful to maintain consistency of the roundabout attributes and connected roads (e.g. Road Type, Speed Limit/Category, Lane Category, etc.).
Fig.: Common roundabout coding errors

4 Define crossings

Accurately defining crossings is necessary for correct routing. If you create a new road segment that crosses another road or if the new road is near another road then Map Creator will ask you to define a crossing type. There are three options:

  • “Intersects with the other road” when roads meet at grade.
  • “Is an overpass” when a road passes above another road.
  • “Is an underpass” when a road passes below another road.
Fig.: Define crossings

 
If multiple roads are crossed when adding a new road you can click “Apply suggestions to all” to apply the same crossing type to all newly created crossings.

Fig.: “Apply suggestions to all” functionality

5 Accurately representing intersections

Accurately representing intersections is critical for correct routing. When creating new intersections, consider the type of routing guidance a driver requires to navigate the intersection safely. Below are a few examples of different types of intersections and how they should be represented in Map Creator.

Fig.: Road junction types (click to enlarge image)

6 Turn restrictions and divider

Add turn restrictions in Map Creator when they are present in reality and not conflicting with an existing divider (see end of the chapter).

Fig.: Turn restriction (e.g. no left turn allowed)

 
Three types of turn restrictions can be edited:

  • No continuation allowed.
  • No right turn allowed.
  • No left turn allowed.

To activate turn restrictions you need to make a left mouse click on the road segment.

Fig.: Activating turn restrictions with a left mouse click

 
Once turn restrictions are displayed, follow these steps to edit:

1) Hover your mouse over the icon to identify the driving direction. This is indicated by a line on the road segment:

  • blue line = allowed driving direction, and
  • red line = forbidden driving direction.
Fig.: A blue line indicates the allowed driving direction

 
2) Click on the icon and toggle between “allowed” and “forbidden”:

  • blue circle with white arrow = allowed maneuver, and
  • red circle with white filling = forbidden maneuver.
Fig.: Change turn restrictions by clicking on the icon

 
In some situations turn restrictions cannot be modified because the maneuver is restricted by default.  A couple of examples:

  • a walkway is connected to a junction, or
  • a one way road with oncoming traffic exists.
Fig.: Icons cannot be switched when related to walkways or one-ways

 
Another feature complement turn restrictions are divider. In reality, a divider can be a solid line or a small physical wall/barrier along the center line of the road bed. In Map Creator, divider are displayed by a black dotted line. They are not editable.

Fig.: Solid line divider

 
In case you see a divider in the map, then this may imply already information about forbidden turns at an intersection. This depends if the intersection/divider is considered as closed or open which is at the moment not possible to distinguish via the display. If you enter a turn restriction in addition to a closed intersection/divider, then your edit will be reviewed because of doubled information. The image below gives you an overview about closed and open intersections/divider.

Fig.: Closed and open intersections/divider at a T-junction (click to enlarge image)