There are many local, region-specific, map features that went unrendered on OSM's default map tile. Most of them even still undocumented on OSM Wiki. Mappers, not finding suitable tag to identify them, trying to encode this information inside some generic tags, like name:* or description:*
Proposing (and defending) new tagging scheme on OSM Wiki is hard and painful. Even if we are successful in doing that, there is still a long way ahead until it finally rendered on OSM's default map tile.
In short, casual mappers dont see any point in mapping, if their contributions didn't show up at all on the maps. They collect the data in the hope that this information would be useful to someone out there. Even the time lag between data upload and tile update + re-render is quite frustrating to some mappers.
So, what's the solution? First, make it easier for anyone to create their own map style. For tags that is still not rendered on OSM default map tile, they can design their own style for that tags. Second, use vector tile instead of raster tile, so the tile update will cost less time.
While stumbling across EWG's minutes, i found these passages :
- Facilitate a framework to use localized styles for osm-carto: e.g. a Polish variant of the style could show parcel lockers on zoom levels only showing parts of Poland, without showing parcel lockers elsewehere and so on.
- Offer universal vector tiles, i.e. vector tiles that everywhere contain all OSM data in that tile. This should relieve the technical burden such that people with design focus easier can design new styles.
- Write a good tutorial of cartography. If more mappers get capable of designing a style for the cartographic point of view then there should be more and more diverse styles.
I hope they really prioritize this move.
Epilogue : I'm still experimenting the first idea by using Tileserver GL but some reason, there is an unsolved critical bug. I'm gonna throw in the towel, for now.