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The Boston MapRaid has come and gone. Thank you to everyone who helped!


MapRaid Mission

Our primary mission is to handle the following (in order of priority):

  • URs -- On day 1, please respond to all URs which do not have enough information.
  • MPs
  • PURs (Places)
  • Routing
  • Road Classification Updates
  • General map verification, restricted turn verification (Shift + Z)

Additionally, we will be looking to identify roads that may need to be divided, for better navigation.


Welcome to Boston!

Ask anyone from Boston and they will confirm that the universe does indeed orbit around the city.

MA Regions

However, this raid encompasses a large chunk of the Eastern MA Metro area. So it's only fair to familiarize you with the area.

Massachusetts is broken up in several informal regions. The raid area will cover several of these regions: South Shore, North Shore, Boston, Brockton, Metro South/West and Metro North. There is some overlap into neighboring areas.

Boston Neighborhoods

Boston itself is broken up into several distinct neighborhoods. Historically these were self-identified ethnic areas. (for instance, the Irish lived in the South End, the Italians in the North End, etc.) Each neighborhood has it's own distinct personality and flavor.

Some other important Boston items to remember:

Chowdah - The only proper way to make clam chowder involves cream. Red sauce is best left to Italian food!

Bean Town - Ancient nickname for Boston. Not widely used any longer Using it marks you immediately as a tourist from the midwest.

The Accent - Either you have it or you don't. And we don't "pahk the cah in the hahvahd yahd." Although, at times, "the weathah heah is wicked bzah".

Wicked - This word is used as a modifier. In order to use it correctly, it must be followed by an adjective. "That club was wicked" is incorrect, and pegs you immediately as a tourist from the Midwest. It does NOT mean evil or bad.


Win Fabulous Prizes!

Ok, maybe not so fabulous to some. But the top 3 finishers of each category (Segments edits, PURs, URs, etc) will each get a Waze T-shirt.

Unfortunately, any Raider starting early will be disqualified from the contest, and possibly blocked from editing.


Local Hosts

These "dedicated," local editors have agreed to act as Local Hosts for the raid. If you have questions about editing, and you can't find the answer in the wiki, or you want to know how it applies in MA, please ask one of these editors.


Editor Location Role
orbitc (PM [Help])   All of Massachusetts Regional Coordinator
MapRaid Manager
Dmcrandall (PM [Help])   All of Massachusetts State Manager
MA MapRaid Organizer
jaywazin (PM [Help])   Boston Area Boston editor and
AM on Cape Cod
SanzClew (PM [Help])   South Shore AM for Plymouth area
mudge42 (PM [Help])   Western Metro Area MetroWest AM
TheLastTatertot (PM [Help])   Providence Area SE MA & Boston editor
GooberKing (PM [Help])   South of Boston State Mgr for RI
Panther37 (PM [Help])   South Shore Area Cape and Islands AM
ZANSR1 (PM [Help])   Boston Area Statewide editor
richt53 (PM [Help])   Metro West Area General Editor


Raid Areas

The MapRaid area is being divided up by teams. Each team will be responsible for FC updates, URs, Map Problems and general map accuracy (Street names, TRs, etc) in their assigned area.


Raid Groups

The map has been broken up into 15 individual groups. They are named for the top 14 greatest athletes in Boston history, as picked by the raid organizer.

01-Boston - 06-Brady - 11-Hannah -
02-Orr - 07-Cousy - 12-Martinez -
03-Russell - 08-Bourque - 13-Fisk -
04-Williams - 09-Havlicek - 14-Pierce -
05-Bird - 10-Yaz - 15-Clemens -


Raid Teams

Instead of creating a space eating grid with all the editor names, we're going to link to the Forum post with team information.

Team Lists


Important!

If you can't find it in this wiki page, check the State Wiki and also the appropriate national wiki page for the subject in question.

Tunnels - I-93 runs through tunnels under Boston. There are underground ramps from the freeway to the surface. Please do not make ANY adjustments to the area without approval from State Management.

Please do not alter any of the following road types without first consulting a Local Host: Freeway, Ramp, Major Highway, Minor Highway, Primary Street. You may edit these roads, but do not change the type of the segment.

Anything locked at 5 or 6? - Please check with a local editor before making changes.
If you are a rank 5 or 6 editor - consider keeping highlights active for locks 5 and 6.

Please do not mass-edit - Do not perform edits which will affect large numbers of segments at once. The edit history of segments is highly valuable in the process of solving URs. Mass editing effectively mass erases this history, permanently. We ask that all necessary processes which might affect large portions of the map, or long stretches of roads, be reserved until near the end of the MapRaid. This includes the “Select entire street” function.

Close nodes - We make use of the "micro-dogleg" technique, where a geometry node is carefully placed, at full zoom, directly next to a junction node, in order to set the angle to create a desired Turn/Stay/Exit prompt. Please watch for these if you move any junction node, and be sure to recreate the same angle at the new location.

Local Guidance

In Massachusetts we have a set minimum standard for locking roads based on segment type. Any road of a certain segment type must be locked at least to the rank (level) in the chart below. Roads may be locked higher for protection and special situations (areas with construction, tricky design, frequent mistakes, imaging inaccuracies, and the like), but should not be locked lower.

A great time to implement these locks is while bringing the road types of an area into compliance with the current US road type standards (FC and highway systems). Lock the roads based on type after they've been set to current US road type standards.

Massachusetts Minimum Locking Rank Standard
Segment Type Statewide
 Freeway  5
 Ramp  Highest rank of connected segments
 Major Highway  4
 Minor Highway  3
 Primary Street  1 (Auto)
 Street  1 (Auto)
 Private Road  1 (Auto)
 • • • • Ferry • • • •   5
 |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| Railroad |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|  2

Note: Do Not Mass Edit just to update locks to these standards, these can be adjusted as you find them while editing other aspects of the segments such as FC, speed limits, naming, etc.

Some segments still warrant higher locks and care should be taken when setting segment lock to these standards to look for and protect these special setups with higher locks. Some examples; segments which are part of BDP, U-turn prevention, or using micro-doglegs, or other complex intersection setups.


City/town Naming

Use only official names for cities/towns on road segments and Places.

You can find the list of Cities and Towns here.


Roads

The naming format for Numbered State Highways in Massachusetts is "SR-###".

Cardinal Direction indicators are only to be used on Freeway Segments (e.g. "I-495 N")


Functional Classification

Functional Classification is partially complete within the state.

FC Information is contained in the main state wiki, located here.


Military Installations

Please do not edit on Military bases without consulting with your Team Leader first.


Tunnels

The City of Boston makes use of tunnels along Storrow Drive, as well as I-90 and I-93. Please do not make adjustments to roads in the tunnels.


Elevations

Freeways are considered to be "Ground Level," except where they cross another freeway. And then that segment is adjusted accordingly. The only other exception to this are the downtown tunnels.

Also, do not increase elevation on segments that go over bridges. If there is no other segment going under it, it should be Ground.


Railroads

While junctioning railroad crossings is not a priority in the raid, you can do so if everything else in your area is completed.

If you encounter railroads mapped underground, delete the underground segments.


Alternate Segment Names

We have a very specific policy regarding Alternate Street Names. Please follow the link for information.


Place Editing

PUR should be reviewed for accuracy, once approved all available relevant information pertaining to the place should be entered. Please use each company's website to gather all information you can.

Please consult the State Wiki for Places info and locking standards.

MBTA Station Naming Standard

For the purpose of harmonizing local railway stations (MBTA or the "T") we have 2 classes. One is for the color-coded subway lines and the other is for longer-distance commuter rails (purple line). The standard will be in the format: MBTA Type - Station Name

Examples:

  • MTBA Subway - South Station
  • MBTA Commuter - Halifax

Additionally they are to be POINT places - not areas and locked to L3. If you have questions please direct them to a local host or the State Manager.


Place Name Harmonization

In an effort to standardize Place Names, Massachusetts uses the following list of Common names. Please note the appropriate category name, as well as the listed spelling. This is necessary for the proper display of any advertising associated with the site (i.e. SUBWAY discounts)

View this list full-screen in Google Sheets

Update Requests (URs)

As of Jul 30th: For the remainder of the MapRaid, the waiting period for URs has been reduced to 24hrs.

For the purpose of the MapRaid we will be using a 4-day response time. Once initial contact is attempted you will be allowed to close the UR after 4 days. Reminder comments can be used after 2 days. The clock used to close the UR will be from the initial MapRaid contact. Reminder comments do not reset the closure clock.

 e.g. 

2015-07-14 UR is opened (sometime in the past)
2015-07-19 Initial MapRaid comment
2015-07-21 MapRaid reminder comment
2015-07-23 UR can be closed (Closing Comment is Mandatory).

Before closing the UR, please make all attempts to solve the UR before closing it as 'Not Identified'. Even if there is no reporter response, use the report type, description, route and GPS traces, streetview and other resources to diagnose the problem.

Do not close URs if the UR contains a tag such as [NOTE], [CLOSURE], or any other [MESSAGE].


Those found closing UR's before 4 days as "Not Identified" will be removed from the Raid.


Communication

The preferred method of communication for this Raid will be a web based program called "Slack". This program has many advantages over Google Hangouts.

If you aren't already a member of the Waze Map Raid Slack then please submit your information on this form: http://bit.ly/Slack_invite

You will receive an invitation in your email within 24 hours.

Plus, all group/team related communications should take place in the Group Slack Channel (e.g., "#mr_boston-03" and not in the main raid channel (#mr_boston). That way the editors most affected will receive all of the communications.


Unlock Requests

Please make all unlock requests in your assigned Slack channel. If you do not get a response, you may post your request in the main raid channel. Please note the current lock level, location of the segment, and what level you wish it to be dropped to.


Mapping Resources

Raid Resources

City Level Mapping Resources

  • Massachusetts (Most of the raid)
  • Rhode Island (2 Cities)
    • Cumberland (GIS) (07-Cousy)
    • Woonsocket (GIS) (07-Cousy)

State Level Mapping Resources

  • Statewide GIS (OLIVER) - When there is a discrepancy between a City's GIS and this one, default to the City GIS (or check Road Inventory Map). If you have any questions, please contact a State Manager.
  • Road Inventory Map - Interactive MassDOT map showing the most commonly requested Road Inventory attributes, Functional Classification, Jurisdiction, National Highway System, Federal Functional classification, and Federal-Aid Eligibility. The Road Inventory Map contains the Precise names of each street segment in the state. This is more current than Oliver.
  • Numbered Routes with Mile Points - MassDOT map showing the numbered routes across the state with the mile points shown in one-mile increments. Both the functional classification and jurisdiction are available to identify the roadway type for each route.
  • Rest Area Map - MassDOT map showing the rest areas located throughout the state owned and maintained by MassDOT Highway. The map highlights rest areas that contain visitor centers, usual located near the state border or in approach to tourist areas such as Cape Cod. In addition, the rest areas are shown on the appropriate side of the road in which they are situated along a highway. (PDF format)
  • Scenic Byways - MassDOT map showing the state-designated Scenic Byways in Massachusetts.
  • Rhode Island state government plans to provide statewide GIS. It would be linked to www.ri.gov/maps. For now, the RI Department of Environmental Management hooks us up on their page www.dem.ri.gov/maps.

Reference Links

The Basics

Recommended Tools for MapRaid

  • The WME Reference Sheet[PDF] is a printable double-sided tri-fold quick reference guide to some of the common topics used in WME.
  • UR Comments - a tremendous time and labor saving tool with automation and integration with URO+, to help with working URs. Read the documentation.
  • Place Browser - In combination with the Place Name Harmonization list, this is an invaluable tool for working on existing places. Be sure to click the About tab to get an overview of the tool.
  • Validator is a script that validates a map area in Waze Map Editor, highlights issues and generates a very detailed report with wiki references and solutions.
  • Boston MapRaid Overlay is a script that places a city layer like overlay to mark out the individual editing groups. A Must Have for the MapRaid

Download links:

* For Chrome browser please download the script at Chrome Web Store
* For Firefox browser please download the script at GreasyFork.org

Note: for Firefox browser you also need Greasemonkey or Tampermonkey installed.

  • WME Chat Addon is a script that improves the WME chat GUI. For a list of all the features check the thread here.
 Tapermonkey/Greasemonkey is required to use this script

Results

The Raid Results have been posted in the Hall Of Fame section of the Waze Forum!!!


MapRaid Promotions

Some editors really let their bright side out, and let their community skills shine. This is even more evident in a concerted group effort with high-density editing like a MapRaid!. Editors of all ranks working closely with each other and the Champs, really lets us everyone get to know each other, and allows certain editors to be recognized for their skills and effort.

When the Champs see someone consistently editing well, interacting well with the community, and knowledgeable of the various details from the Wiki, they can issue promotions. This can be anything from the size of a managed area, to a rank increase, or even a new role.

Without further ado, all the participants in the Boston MapRaid would like to congratulate the following editors on their promotions:

  • JoyRiding: Thank you for your wonderful Place Browser!
  • RickZ: Your Raid Area overlay scripts make it so much easier to function!
  • Enembee: A great big round of applause for an awesome job well done!

And a heartfelt THANK YOU to all the Senior Editors who helped mentor and make this raid a success!

Congratulations, job well done. Keep up the great work!