User:Moweez/Place categories View history

Place categories

The Place categories used in Waze are not always directly applicable in BeLux, for they are global categories. At this time, it is not possible to adapt these categories to local customs.

Waze has several major categories, which in turn includes quite a number of sub categories. If you choose a main category within WME, you automatically get to see the sub-categories to choose from. It is also possible to directly type in a category. If you cannot find an applicable sub category, just use the main category and start the name with the missing category.

This overview shows the categories used for the Waze Places, with a description and a guideline for mapping. Also, there is an indication to the use of a Point or an Area Place. In general, a point is used, unless the Place is large and distinctive for drivers to help visual orientation. Note that circumstances may require a different approach. General regional guidelines are described below and indicated with a * in the category tables. The given lock levels are always minimum levels; if a Place needs more protection, a higher lock level can be used.

Regional differences

Regional guidelines
Flanders Brussels Wallonia Luxembourg
Name The use of picto's in the name is discouraged Use French as main name, Flemish as alternate name preference for the use of picto's in the name if available
type Large places that are significant and helpful for orientation to the driver can be mapped as an Area Place Large places that are significant and helpful for orientation to the driver can be mapped as an Area Place Places with minimum area size of 500 m2 are always mapped with an Area Place. Places with minimum area size of 500 m2 are always mapped with an Area Place.
lock If a lock is required, the minimum lock level is described in the tables below. If a lock is required, the minimum lock level is described in the tables below. Places that are considered complete, aka contain all relevant information available, are locked to L3, to prevent unwanted edits. Places that are considered complete, aka contain all relevant information available, are locked to L3, to prevent unwanted edits.

Categories

Parking Lot

Sub-category Description / Examples Naming type min. Lock
Fl W
Parking Lot For distinctive parking areas {Name} area 2 3


Car Services link to this section

Sub-category Description / Examples Naming type Lock ≥
check out the Regional Guidelines
*
**
Gas Stations Use the Brand and official name. If there is a locally different name in use, put it in alternative name field.

The use of the picto ⛽️ before the name is optional
{Brand} + {Name}, e.g.,
⛽️ Shell VanPé
area 3
Garage / Automotive Shop Technical inspection, Tire center, Independent garage, Body Shop. Official brand, choose dealer {Brand} + {Name} point
Car Wash {Name} point
Charging Stations Essent 20kW (2) {Provider} + {MaxPower} + ({Amount} point 3

* if the place is larger than 500 m2 and distinctive/helping visual orientation, you can use an Area type. See the Regional Guidelines for details
** If the place needs to be protected, a higher lock level can be applied. See the Regional Guidelines for details

Transportation link to this section

Sub-category Description / Examples Naming type Lock ≥
check out the Regional Guidelines
*
**
Airport You can replace "airport" in the name with the picto ✈, but the picto should be in front {Name}, e.g.,
Brussels Airport
✈ Brussels
area 3
Bus Station
  • Fl?: {Location} + {Name}
  • Br, Wal & Lux:
-in large cities:
{station name} + ({operator})
-outside large cities:
{city} + {station name} + ({operator})
area
Ferry Pier area
Seaport / Marina / Harbor area
Subway Station Underground Station for or Metro. Put the city name in front of the station name if different
  • Fl?: {City} + {Station Name}
  • Br, Wal & Lux: {station name}
point
Train Station e.g., Station Antwerpen
  • Fl?: "Station" + {station name}
  • Br, Wal & Lux: {station name}
alternate name:
"Station" + {station name}
area
Bridge Use only to represent a named road bridge with local or navigational significance {Name} area
Tunnel {Tunnel Name} area
Taxi Station point
Junction / Interchange Junction {Name} area
Rest area area
Carpool spot
others / without sub category all other POIs belonging to transportation, and not to car services. Examples:
Car Sharing & Bike Sharing Stations {operator} + {station name} point

* if the place is larger than 500 m2 and distinctive/helping visual orientation, you can use an Area type. See the Regional Guidelines for details
** If the place needs to be protected, a higher lock level can be applied. See the Regional Guidelines for details

Professional and public

For public buildings or services such as fire departments, town halls and the like, we set the location of the name after the name, e.g., Stadhuis Antwerpen. For Organisations that have several locations, specify the location after a hyphen, after the general name of the organisation, e.g., UZ leuven - campus Gasthuisberg.

Sub-category Description / Examples Naming type Lock ≥
check out the Regional Guidelines for details
*
**
Cemetery area
City Hall local name use {Municipality} area
College / University area
Conventions / Event Center area
Courthouse area
Doctor / Clinic Use this category for non-urgent medical care. See for urgent medical care Hospital / Medical Care below point
Embassy / Consulate point
Emergency shelter point
Factory / industrial area
Fire department {City} {department} area
Government Only large ones are Area point
Hospital / Urgent Care Hospitals, First Aid Posts and other places that offer emergency aid. Use Doctor / Clinic for non-urgent medical care area
Information point point
Kindergarten point
Library {City} {location} point
Military area
Offices point
Organization or Association point
Police Station {City} {department} area
Prison / Correctional Facility area
Post Office point
Religious Center Big centers are often well recognisable and can be drawn as Area point
School area

* if the place is larger than 500 m2 and distinctive/helping visual orientation, you can use an Area type
** If the place needs to be protected, a higher lock level can be applied

Shopping and services

Sub-category Description / Examples Naming type Lock ≥
check out the Regional Guidelines for details
*
**
Arts and Crafts point
ATM Use the translation for ATM, followed by the brand, e.g., "Geldautomaat SNS Bank" ATM {Brand} point
Bank / Financial {Brand} point
Bookstore point
Car Dealership In case there is a gas station, use Gas Station as the primary category unless they have different opening times {Brand} {Name} point
Car rental Rental-car facilities and returns, including at airports, should be marked as a Point with the “Rental Car” Place category. If the return location is a normal Parking Lot, then mark it with the Parking Lot category and the building with the Car Rental category point
Convenience Store like a kiosk point
Currency Exchange point
Department Store like De Bijenkorf? point
Electronics point
Fashion and Clothing point
Flowers point
Furniture / Home Store area
Gifts point
Gym / Fitness point
Hardware Store point
Jewelry point
Laundry / Dry Cleaning point
Market {City} {Location} area
Music Store point
Personal Care point
Pet Store / Veterinarian point
Pharmacy point
Photography point
Shopping Center area
Sporting Goods point
Supermarket / Grocery Delhaize. Intermarché, Lidl {Brand} {Location} point
Swimming Pool solely public swimming pools point
Toy Store point
Travel Agency point

* if the place is larger than 500 m2 and distinctive/helping visual orientation, you can use an Area type
** If the place needs to be protected, a higher lock level can be applied

Food and Drink

Sub-category Description / Examples Naming type Lock ≥
check out the Regional Guidelines for details
*
**
Bakery point
Bar Note: a "Plaza" is not a Place (in French) but a food court/food market. point
Coffee shop point
Dessert point
Fast Food McDonald's may include drive-thru, then draw Parking Lot Road point
Food Court Can be used for a caterer or a wholesaler point
Ice Cream point
Restaurant {Name} point

* if the place is larger than 500 m2 and distinctive/helping visual orientation, you can use an Area type
** If the place needs to be protected, a higher lock level can be applied

Culture and Entertainment

Sub-category Description / Examples Naming type Lock ≥
check out the Regional Guidelines for details
*
**
Art Gallery point
Casino point
Club point
Game Club point
Movie Theater point
Museum point
Music Venue point
Performing Arts Venue point
Racing Track area
Stadium / Arena area
Theme Park area
Theater point
Tourist Attraction / Historic Site If the place functions as a landmark it may be represented as an Area Place point
Zoo / Aquarium area

* if the place is larger than 500 m2 and distinctive/helping visual orientation, you can use an Area type
** If the place needs to be protected, a higher lock level can be applied

Other

Sub category Description / Examples Naming type Lock ≥
check out the Regional Guidelines for details
*
**
Construction Site Construction sites are not necessariliy mapped but it may be useful for editors checking roadworks under way. Ask your Country Manager in case of doubt area
General category for all landmarks you can't find an existing suitable category for; add the missing category in front of the name {missing category} {Name} point

* if the place is larger than 500 m2 and distinctive/helping visual orientation, you can use an Area type
** If the place needs to be protected, a higher lock level can be applied

Lodging

Sub-category Description / Examples Naming type Lock ≥
check out the Regional Guidelines for details
*
**
point
Bed & Breakfast point point
Camping / Trailer Park point area
Cottage / Cabin point point
Hostel point point F1 hotel Waalwijk; Used for Motels and Inns in the BeLux.
Hotel point point

* if the place is larger than 500 m2 and distinctive/helping visual orientation, you can use an Area type
** If the place needs to be protected, a higher lock level can be applied

Outdoors

Sub-category Description / Examples Naming type Lock ≥
check out the Regional Guidelines for details
*
**
Beach area
Golf Course area
Park area
Playground point
Plaza area
Pool area
Promenade Probably not used in the BeLux
Scenic Lookout / Viewpoint point
Ski Area area
Sports Court area

* if the place is larger than 500 m2 and distinctive/helping visual orientation, you can use an Area type
** If the place needs to be protected, a higher lock level can be applied

Natural features

Sub-category Description / Examples Naming type Lock ≥
check out the Regional Guidelines for details
*
**
Farm Farmlands should never be mapped as areas. Editors should remove farmland areas immediately.?? point
Forest / Grove area
Island area
River / Stream Use only if water itself is visually obvious to drivers on nearby roads.?? Features under approximately 20 meters wide will not be visible in the Waze app. Handy tool for drawing rivers: street to river area
Sea / Lake / Pool Use only if water itself is visually obvious to drivers on nearby roads.?? area
Canal area
Swamp / Marsh area
Dam area

* if the place is larger than 500 m2 and distinctive/helping visual orientation, you can use an Area type
** If the place needs to be protected, a higher lock level can be applied

Tools

  • WME Place Interface Enhancements (WMEPIE) Script adding functionality Places,such as showing the size and possibility to resize area Places, buttons to zoom and center, quick categorization, auto set address, verify link with GM, etc.
Install and description
Discussion on the forum.
  • WME Split POI script This script adds a button to the WME that allows you to split or cut Places from the category Natural Features into two, keeping the specifics. Can be used for all Natural Features like Island, Sea/Lake/Pool, River/Stream, Forest/Grove, Farm, Canal, Swamp / Marsh, Dam
Description and discussion on the forum
Install
  • WME Color Highlights Adds color highlighting to Places according to their status and type. Shows rivers blue in WME.
- Install
- Discussion on the forum
  • WME Toolbox can select and filter Places, and show the area size. And many more other tools, see Toolbox
  • Place Browser



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