In section 3.8 Limited Coordinate Precision: The OSM data model uses coordinates with a precision of 7 digits after the decimal point. This allows coordinate

In section 3.8 Limited Coordinate Precision: The OSM data model uses coordinates with a precision of 7 digits after the decimal point. This allows coordinates to be stored in 32 bit integers, so 8 bytes are enough for a coordinate pair. Compared to the common IEEE double precision real numbers this needs only half the space which allows for significant savings in large databases. The 7 digits give a precision of 1 centimeter of better, so in practice this is usually not a problem with the kinds of things OSM is mapping. But with more and more micro-mapping in OSM (for instance for indoor maps) this could in the future become more of a problem. I'm failing to see much benefit from increasing the precision of a point data type which currently allows ~11mm[1] precision when there are bigger untreated problems of both precision and accuracy to deal with: * Skyscrapers can have lateral deflections exceeding 1500mm * Residential building slabs and timber frames can seasonally deflect by over 50mm * Australia is moving ~70mm per year * Jakarta is sinking by ~100-250mm per year * Sand dunes can migrate by 95000mm per year To improve quality of OpenStreetMap data, wouldn't it be more beneficial to first implement support for time-dependent transformation vectors on grids fine enough to distinguish Jakarta from North Jakarta (sinking rates of 100mm vs 250mm respectively) and adding a timestamp to each point data type? In this way, it is possible to automatically transform vector data added to OSM a year ago into more accurate vector data applicable today (based on estimated movement). And would <11mm precision ever be a reasonable possibility for OSM users? If higher precision was needed for mapping interiors of buildings, how would a system handle the width of a room that could reasonably be measured to be 10000mm or 10050mm depending on deflection of the building structure on the day? Or a bridge deck that could differ in elevation above ground by 1000mm depending on load and weather? Or the 100th floor of a skyscraper that has a lateral deflection of 1500mm versus the 10th floor of the building that only has a lateral deflection of 100mm? [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decimal_degrees#Precision https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decimal_degrees#Precision