Travel Mapping
Tracking Cumulative Travels
Travel Mapping Manual: Positioning Waypoints
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Rules of thumb
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At non-intersections (such as hidden shaping points), position the waypoint on the centerline of the highway.
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Usually position the waypoint at the point where the centerlines
of the two highways cross. Often the same coordinates can be used for
both highways.
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These centerlines are defined by through lanes, not by turning lanes at intersections nor the equivalent in interchange ramps.
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The accuracy of the waypoint position depends on the accuracy of the underlaying map.
Check the position with satellite views if possible.
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For couplets and divided highways, usually split the difference between the two roadways.
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There are common exceptions to positioning
at centerline crossings, such as interchanges where ramps connect
nearby, non-intersecting highways, or where a short access road connects
a road to another with a trumpet or similar interchange. In these
cases, the waypoints for the same interchange on the separate highways
cannot be at the same coordinates. Instead, the waypoints should be
where the connecting ramps or access road interchange with each highway.
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Designations of the roadways are irrelevant. The physical configuration of the junction is what matters.
As an example, imagine a cloverleaf interchange where one loop ramp
was replaced by a flyover ramp. Consider the I-97 & MD 3 & MD 32
interchange.
The point should be centered in the middle, and the same point
should be used for I-97, MD 3, and MD 32.. The centerlines are between
the NW-SE and the NE-SW through lanes. One might have expected the point
for I-97's file to be on the apparent SE-NE mainline, or even two
points where MD 32 connects at the SE and MD 3 at the NE. But it is one
interchange, and the point for all three routes should go in the middle.
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Some interchanges have unusual shapes or are stretched-out versions of normal interchanges. Use your best judgment.
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Interchanges
- Diamond interchange: where the centerlines cross.
- Double half interchanges: Usually use one central point and treat
both halves as a single, full interchange. Exceptions: a clear gap of at
least 0.5 mi/0.8 km separates the two halves, or each half connects to
a different highway that we are also mapping.
- Partial cloverleaf interchanges: usually where the centerlines cross.
- Misbehaving diamond/partial cloverleaf interchanges: some cases
are better handled by putting the point where the ramps connect to the
freeway. In this case, the points on the freeway and the cross road will
not line up.
- Cloverleaf interchanges: where the centerlines cross.
- Trumpet interchanges: where the access road centerline crosses the
freeway centerline. Double trumpet interchanges get separate points at
each trumpet.
- 2-way high-speed interchanges: where the centerlines would cross
if it were an at-grade intersection with the same shape. Not where the
ramps of one road connect to the other.
- 3-way high-speed interchanges: in the middle of the central ramp triangle, not necessarily on a ramp.