Surface=fine_gravel - is it for loose gravel or duplicate of surface=compacted

[Mateusz_Konieczny]

@tonyf1

So the current wiki definition of gravel (4-8cm) does not match road construction practices or use of the English language in Sweden or Australia.

where wiki claims such definition?

@tonyf1

OK here’s my suggestion. Mappers will not be required to make a judgement about whether a road is compacted or not (though we expect that most are compacted). There are 3 classifications based on the largest and most obvious particle sizes, large_gravel >40mm, gravel 20mm and fine_gravel<5mm.

we are not trying to define what values mean and dictate how people should use it - far too late for that

we are trying to find out how fine_gravel is used in practice

@tonyf1

compacted is a synonym for gravel (20mm) but its use discouraged

compacted has actually clear meaning and deprecating it helps noone

compacted is a distinct surface and is actually used for that

gravel is sadly often used where compacted is correct value and for massive range of grain size

@Map_HeRo

I don’t know where this information comes from, but if you make the base of a road out of mud with fine gravel in it, you will sink into it every time it rains. You don’t get a weatherproof substructure by using mud. A compacted road base is constructed like this:

in many cases you succeed with this, especially where soil/mud depth is not great

@Map_HeRo

To my understanding it would not be too difficult to distinguish between

• compacted = a dense and firm surface you cannot brush aside by hand, with none or few loose gravel scattered on top (as to be seen in the sample pic linked above). Easy and smooth bike ride.
• gravel = a surface more or less completey covered by loose gravel of different size from 2 up to some 50 mm (and more), either produced like that (low price) or emerged out of deterioration of a former compacted surface. Sample pic above “Tamsa” road. Rough and shaking bike ride.
• fine gravel = a surface completely covered by fine gravel of sized in between 2 and 8 to 10 mm. Sample pic by @Matija_Nalis #14. Sometimes difficult to ride by bike due to “sinking in”, depending on the thickness of the gravel layer.

If the road is subject to corrugations or potholes and the like these tags can further be refinded by adding smoothness=*.

+1 to that