1 # Configuring the Import of OSM data
3 In the very first step of a Nominatim import, OSM data is loaded into the
4 database. Nominatim uses [osm2pgsql](https://osm2pgsql.org) for this task.
5 It comes with a [flex style](https://osm2pgsql.org/doc/manual.html#the-flex-output)
6 specifically tailored to filter and convert OSM data into Nominatim's
7 internal data representation. Nominatim ships with a few preset
8 configurations for this import, each results in a geocoding database of
10 [Import section](../admin/Import.md#filtering-imported-data) explains
11 these default configurations in detail.
13 If you want to have more control over which OSM data is added to the database,
14 you can also create your own custom style. Create a new lua style file, put it
15 into your project directory and then set `NOMINATIM_IMPORT_STYLE` to the name
16 of the file. Custom style files can be used to modify the existing preset
17 configurations or to implement your own configuration from scratch.
19 The remainder of the page describes how the flex style works and how to
22 ## The `flex-base` lua module
24 The core of Nominatim's flex import configuration is the `flex-base` module.
25 It defines the table layout used by Nominatim and provides standard
26 implementations for the import callbacks that help with customizing
27 how OSM tags are used by Nominatim.
29 Every custom style must include this module to make sure that the correct
30 tables are created. Thus start your custom style as follows:
33 local flex = require('flex-base')
36 ### Using preset configurations
38 If you want to start with one of the existing presets, then you can import
39 its settings using the `load_topic()` function:
42 local flex = require('flex-base')
44 flex.load_topic('streets')
47 The `load_topic` function takes an optional second configuration
48 parameter. The available options are explained in the
49 [themepark section](#using-osm2pgsql-themepark).
51 Available topics are: `admin`, `street`, `address`, `full`. These topic
52 correspond to the [import styles](../admin/Import.md#filtering-imported-data)
53 you can choose during import. To start with the 'extratags' style, use the
54 `full` topic with the appropriate config parameter:
57 flex.load_topic('full', {with_extratags = true})
61 You can also directly import the preset style files, e.g.
62 `local flex = require('import-street')`. It is not possible to
63 set extra configuration this way.
65 ### How processing works
67 When Nominatim processes an OSM object, it looks for four kinds of tags:
68 The _main tags_ classify what kind of place the OSM object represents. One
69 OSM object can have more than one main tag. In such case one database entry
70 is created for each main tag. _Name tags_ represent searchable names of the
71 place. _Address tags_ are used to compute the address hierarchy of the place.
72 Address tags are used for searching and for creating a display name of the place.
73 _Extra tags_ are any tags that are not directly related to search but
74 contain interesting additional information.
77 Some tags in the extratags category are used by Nominatim to better
78 classify the place. You want to make sure these are always present
81 Configuring the style means deciding which key and/or key/value is used
84 ## Changing the recognized tags
86 The flex style offers a number of functions to set the classification of
87 each OSM tag. Most of these functions can also take a preset string instead
88 of a tag description. These presets describe common configurations that
89 are also used in the definition of the predefined styles. This section
90 lists the configuration functions and the accepted presets.
94 Some of the following functions take _key match lists_. These lists can
95 contain three kinds of strings to match against tag keys:
96 A string that ends in an asterisk `*` is a prefix match and accordingly matches
97 against any key that starts with the given string (minus the `*`).
98 A suffix match can be defined similarly with a string that starts with a `*`.
99 Any other string is matched exactly against tag keys.
103 `set/modify_main_tags()` allow to define which tags are used as main tags. It
104 takes a lua table parameter which defines for keys and key/value
105 combinations, how they are classified.
107 The following classifications are recognized:
109 | classification | meaning |
110 | :-------------- | :------ |
111 | always | Unconditionally use this tag as a main tag. |
112 | named | Consider as main tag, when the object has a primary name (see [names](#name-tags) below) |
113 | named_with_key | Consider as main tag, when the object has a primary name with a domain prefix. For example, if the main tag is `bridge=yes`, then it will only be added as an extra entry, if there is a tag `bridge:name[:XXX]` for the same object. If this property is set, all names that are not domain-specific are ignored. |
114 | fallback | Consider as main tag only when no other main tag was found. Fallback always implies `named`, i.e. fallbacks are only tried for objects with primary names. |
115 | delete | Completely ignore the tag in any further processing |
116 | extra | Move the tag to extratags and then ignore it for further processing |
117 | `<function>`| Advanced handling, see [below](#advanced-main-tag-handling) |
119 Each key in the table parameter defines an OSM tag key. The value may
120 be directly a classification as described above. Then the tag will
121 be considered a main tag for any possible value that is not further defined.
122 To further restrict which values are acceptable, give a table with the
123 permitted values and their kind of main tag. If the table contains a simple
124 value without key, then this is used as default for values that are not listed.
126 `set_main_tags()` will completely replace the current main tag configuration
127 with the new configuration. `modify_main_tags()` will merge the new
128 configuration with the existing one. Merging is done at value level.
129 For example, when the current setting is `highway = {'always', primary = 'named'}`,
130 then `set_main_tags{highway = 'delete'}` will result in a rule
131 `highway = {'delete', primary = 'named'}`.
135 local flex = require('import-full')
138 boundary = {administrative = 'named'},
139 highway = {'always', street_lamp = 'named', no = 'delete'},
144 In this example an object with a `boundary` tag will only be included
145 when it has a value of `administrative`. Objects with `highway` tags are
146 always included with two exceptions: the troll tag `highway=no` is
147 deleted on the spot. And when the value is `street_lamp` then the object
148 must also have a name, to be included. Finally, if a `landuse` tag is
149 present then it will be used independently of the concrete value when
150 neither boundary nor highway tags were found and the object is named.
154 | Name | Description |
155 | :----- | :---------- |
156 | admin | Basic tag set collecting places and administrative boundaries. This set is needed also to ensure proper address computation and should therefore always be present. You can disable selected place types like `place=locality` after adding this set, if they are not relevant for your use case. |
157 | all_boundaries | Extends the set of recognized boundaries and places to all available ones. |
158 | natural | Tags for natural features like rivers and mountain peaks. |
159 | street/default | Tags for streets. Major streets are always included, minor ones only when they have a name. |
160 | street/car | Tags for all streets that can be used by a motor vehicle. |
161 | street/all | Includes all highway features named and unnamed. |
162 | poi/delete | Adds most POI features with and without name. Some frequent but very domain-specific values are excluded by deleting them. |
163 | poi/extra | Like 'poi/delete' but excluded values are moved to extratags. |
166 ##### Advanced main tag handling
168 The groups described above are in fact only a preset for a filtering function
169 that is used to make the final decision how a pre-selected main tag is entered
170 into Nominatim's internal table. To further customize handling you may also
171 supply your own filtering function.
173 The function takes up to three parameters: a Place object of the object
174 being processed, the key of the main tag and the value of the main tag.
175 The function may return one of three values:
177 * `nil` or `false` causes the entry to be ignored
178 * the Place object causes the place to be added as is
179 * `Place.copy(names=..., address=..., extratags=...) causes the
180 place to be enter into the database but with name/address/extratags
181 set to the given different values.
183 The Place object has some read-only values that can be used to determine
186 * **object** is the original OSM object data handed in by osm2pgsql
187 * **admin_level** is the content of the admin_level tag, parsed into an integer and normalized to a value between 0 and 15
188 * **has_name** is a boolean indicating if the object has a primary name tag
189 * **names** is a table with the collected list of name tags
190 * **address** is a table with the collected list of address tags
191 * **extratags** is a table with the collected list of additional tags to save
195 local flex = require('flex-base')
197 flex.add_topic('street')
199 local function no_sidewalks(place, k, v)
200 if place.object.tags.footway == 'sidewalk' then
204 -- default behaviour is to have all footways
208 flex.modify_main_tags(highway = {'footway' = no_sidewalks}
210 This script adds a custom handler for `highway=footway`. It only includes
211 them in the database, when the object doesn't have a tag `footway=sidewalk`
212 indicating that it is just part of a larger street which should already
213 be indexed. Note that it is not necessary to check the key and value
214 of the main tag because the function is only used for the specific
220 The function `ignore_keys()` sets the `delete` classification for keys.
221 This function takes a _key match list_ so that it is possible to exclude
224 Note that full matches always take precedence over suffix matches, which
225 in turn take precedence over prefix matches.
229 local flex = require('flex-base')
231 flex.add_topic('admin')
232 flex.ignore_keys{'old_name', 'old_name:*'}
235 This example uses the `admin` preset with the exception that names
236 that are no longer are in current use, are ignored.
240 | Name | Description |
241 | :----- | :---------- |
242 | metatags | Tags with meta information about the OSM tag like source, notes and import sources. |
243 | name | Non-names that actually describe properties or name parts. These names can throw off search and should always be removed. |
244 | address | Extra `addr:*` tags that are not useful for Nominatim. |
247 ### Tags for `extratags`
249 The function `add_for_extratags()` sets the `extra` classification for keys.
250 This function takes a
251 _key match list_ so that it is possible to move groups of keys to extratags.
253 Note that full matches always take precedence over suffix matches, which
254 in turn take precedence over prefix matches.
258 local flex = require('flex-base')
260 flex.add_topic('street')
261 flex.add_for_extratags{'surface', 'access', 'vehicle', 'maxspeed'}
264 This example uses the `street` preset but adds a couple of tags that
265 are of interest about the condition of the street.
269 | Name | Description |
270 | :----- | :---------- |
271 | required | Tags that Nominatim will use for various computations when present in extratags. Always include these. |
273 In addition, all [presets from ignored tags](#presets_1) are accepted.
275 ### General pre-filtering
277 _(deprecated)_ `set_prefilters()` allows to set the `delete` and `extra`
278 classification for main tags.
280 This function removes all previously set main tags with `delete` and `extra`
281 classification and then adds the newly defined tags.
283 `set_prefilters()` takes a table with four optional fields:
285 * __delete_keys__ is a _key match list_ for tags that should be deleted
286 * __delete_tags__ contains a table of tag keys pointing to a list of tag
287 values. Tags with matching key/value pairs are deleted.
288 * __extra_keys__ is a _key match list_ for tags which should be saved into
290 * __extra_tags__ contains a table of tag keys pointing to a list of tag
291 values. Tags with matching key/value pairs are moved to extratags.
293 !!! danger "Deprecation warning"
294 Use of this function should be replaced with `modify_main_tags()` to
295 set the data from `delete_tags` and `extra_tags`, with `ignore_keys()`
296 for the `delete_keys` parameter and with `add_for_extratags()` for the
297 `extra_keys` parameter.
301 `set/modify_name_tags()` allow to define the tags used for naming places. Name tags
302 can only be selected by their keys. The import script distinguishes
303 between primary and auxiliary names. A primary name is the given name of
304 a place. Having a primary name makes a place _named_. This is important
305 for main tags that are only included when a name is present. Auxiliary names
306 are identifiers like references. They may be searched for but should not
307 be included on their own.
309 The functions take a table with two optional fields `main` and `extra`.
310 They take _key match lists_ for primary and auxiliary names respectively.
311 A third field `house` can contain tags for names that appear in place of
312 house numbers in addresses. This field can only contain complete key names.
313 'house tags' are special in that they cause the OSM object to be added to
314 the database independently of the presence of other main tags.
316 `set_name_tags()` overwrites the current configuration, while
317 `modify_name_tags()` replaces the fields that are given. (Be aware that
318 the fields are replaced as a whole. `main = {'foo_name'}` will cause
319 `foo_name` to become the only recognized primary name. Any previously
320 defined primary names are forgotten.)
324 local flex = require('flex-base')
326 flex.set_main_tags{highway = {traffic_light = 'named'}}
327 flex.set_name_tags{main = {'name', 'name:*'},
332 This example creates a search index over traffic lights but will
333 only include those that have a common name and not those which just
334 have some reference ID from the city.
338 | Name | Description |
339 | :----- | :---------- |
340 | core | Basic set of recognized names for all places. |
341 | address | Additional names useful when indexing full addresses. |
342 | poi | Extended set of recognized names for pois. Use on top of the core set. |
346 `set/modify_address_tags()` defines the tags that will be used to build
347 up the address of an object. Address tags can only be chosen by their key.
349 The functions take a table with arbitrary fields, each defining
350 a key list or _key match list_. Some fields have a special meaning:
352 | Field | Type | Description |
353 | :---------| :-------- | :-----------|
354 | main | key list | Tags that make a full address object out of the OSM object. This is usually the house number or variants thereof. If a main address tag appears, then the object will always be included, if necessary with a fallback of `place=house`. If the key has a prefix of `addr:` or `is_in:` this will be stripped. |
355 | extra | key match list | Supplementary tags for addresses, tags like `addr:street`, `addr:city` etc. If the key has a prefix of `addr:` or `is_in:` this will be stripped. |
356 | interpolation | key list | Tags that identify address interpolation lines. |
357 | country | key match list | Tags that may contain the country the place is in. The first found value with a two-letter code will be accepted, all other values are discarded. |
358 | _other_ | key match list | Summary field. If a key matches the key match list, then its value will be added to the address tags with the name of the field as key. If multiple tags match, then an arbitrary one wins. |
360 `set_address_tags()` overwrites the current configuration, while
361 `modify_address_tags()` replaces the fields that are given. (Be aware that
362 the fields are replaced as a whole.)
366 local flex = require('import-full')
368 flex.set_address_tags{
369 main = {'addr:housenumber'},
371 postcode = {'postal_code', 'postcode', 'addr:postcode'},
372 country = {'country_code', 'ISO3166-1'}
376 In this example all tags which begin with `addr:` will be saved in
377 the address tag list. If one of the tags is `addr:housenumber`, the
378 object will fall back to be entered as a `place=house` in the database
379 unless there is another interested main tag to be found.
381 Tags with keys `country_code` and `ISO3166-1` are saved with their
382 value under `country` in the address tag list. The same thing happens
383 to postcodes, they will always be saved under the key `postcode` thus
384 normalizing the multitude of keys that are used in the OSM database.
388 | Name | Description |
389 | :----- | :---------- |
390 | core | Basic set of tags needed to recognize address relationship for any place. Always include this. |
391 | houses | Additional set of tags needed to recognize proper addresses |
393 ### Handling of unclassified tags
395 `set_unused_handling()` defines what to do with tags that remain after all tags
396 have been classified using the functions above. There are two ways in
397 which the function can be used:
399 `set_unused_handling(delete_keys = ..., delete_tags = ...)` deletes all
400 keys that match the descriptions in the parameters and moves all remaining
401 tags into the extratags list.
403 `set_unused_handling(extra_keys = ..., extra_tags = ...)` moves all tags
404 matching the parameters into the extratags list and then deletes the remaining
405 tags. For the format of the parameters see the description in `set_prefilters()`
408 When no special handling is set, then unused tags will be discarded with one
409 exception: place tags are kept in extratags for administrative boundaries.
410 When using a custom setting, you should also make sure that the place tag
411 is added for extratags.
415 local flex = require('import-full')
417 flex.set_address_tags{
418 main = {'addr:housenumber'},
419 extra = {'addr:*', 'tiger:county'}
421 flex.set_unused_handling{delete_keys = {'tiger:*'}}
424 In this example all remaining tags except those beginning with `tiger:`
425 are moved to the extratags list. Note that it is not possible to
426 already delete the tiger tags with `set_prefilters()` because that
427 would remove tiger:county before the address tags are processed.
429 ## Customizing osm2pgsql callbacks
431 osm2pgsql expects the flex style to implement three callbacks, one process
432 function per OSM type. If you want to implement special handling for
433 certain OSM types, you can override the default implementations provided
434 by the flex-base module.
436 ### Enabling additional relation types
438 OSM relations can represent very diverse
439 [types of real-world objects](https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Key:type). To
440 be able to process them correctly, Nominatim needs to understand how to
441 create a geometry for each type. By default, the script knows how to
442 process relations of type `multipolygon`, `boundary` and `waterway`. All
443 other relation types are ignored.
445 To add other types relations, set `RELATION_TYPES` for
446 the type to the kind of geometry that should be created. The following
447 kinds of geometries can be used:
449 * __relation_as_multipolygon__ creates a (Multi)Polygon from the ways in
450 the relation. If the ways do not form a valid area, then the object is
452 * __relation_as_multiline__ creates a (Multi)LineString from the ways in
453 the relations. Ways are combined as much as possible without any regards
454 to their order in the relation.
458 local flex = require('import-full')
460 flex.RELATION_TYPES['site'] = flex.relation_as_multipolygon
463 With this line relations of `type=site` will be included in the index
464 according to main tags found. This only works when the site relation
465 resolves to a valid area. Nodes in the site relation are not part of the
469 ### Adding additional logic to processing functions
471 The default processing functions are also exported by the flex-base module
472 as `process_node`, `process_way` and `process_relation`. These can be used
473 to implement your own processing functions with some additional processing
478 local flex = require('import-full')
480 function osm2pgsql.process_relation(object)
481 if object.tags.boundary ~= 'administrative' or object.tags.admin_level ~= '2' then
482 flex.process_relation(object)
487 This example discards all country-level boundaries and uses standard
488 handling for everything else. This can be useful if you want to use
489 your own custom country boundaries.
492 ### Customizing the main processing function
494 !!! danger "Deprecation Warning"
495 The style used to allow overwriting the internal processing function
496 `process_tags()`. While this is currently still possible, it is no longer
497 encouraged and may stop working in future versions. The internal
498 `Place` class should now be considered read-only.
501 ## Using osm2pgsql-themepark
503 The Nominatim osm2pgsql style is designed so that it can also be used as
504 a theme for [osm2pgsql-themepark](https://osm2pgsql.org/themepark/). This
505 makes it easy to combine Nominatim with other projects like
506 [openstreetmap-carto](https://github.com/gravitystorm/openstreetmap-carto)
507 in the same database.
509 To set up one of the preset styles, simply include a topic with the same name:
512 local themepark = require('themepark')
513 themepark:add_topic('nominatim/address')
516 Themepark topics offer two configuration options:
518 * **street_theme** allows to choose one of the sub topics for streets:
519 * _default_ - include all major streets and named minor paths
520 * _car_ - include all streets physically usable by cars
521 * _all_ - include all major streets and minor paths
522 * **with_extratags**, when set to a truthy value, then tags that are
523 not specifically used for address or naming are added to the
526 The customization functions described in the
527 [Changing recognized tags](#changing-the-recognized-tags) section
528 are available from the theme. To access the theme you need to explicitly initialize it.
532 local themepark = require('themepark')
534 themepark:add_topic('nominatim/full', {with_extratags = true})
536 local flex = themepark:init_theme('nominatim')
538 flex.modify_main_tags{'amenity' = {
539 'waste_basket' = 'delete'}
542 This example uses the full Nominatim configuration but disables
543 importing waste baskets.
545 You may also write a new configuration from scratch. Simply omit including
546 a Nominatim topic and only call the required customization functions.
548 Customizing the osm2pgsql processing functions as explained
549 [above](#adding-additional-logic-to-processing-functions) is not possible
550 when running under themepark. Instead include other topics that make the
551 necessary modifications or add an additional processor before including
556 local themepark = require('themepark')
558 local function discard_country_boundaries(object)
559 if object.tags.boundary == 'administrative' and object.tags.admin_level == '2' then
564 themepark:add_proc('relation', discard_country_boundaries)
565 -- Order matters here. The topic needs to be added after the custom callback.
566 themepark:add_topic('nominatim/full', {with_extratags = true})
568 Discarding country-level boundaries when running under themepark.
570 ## Changing the style of existing databases
572 There is usually no issue changing the style of a database that is already
573 imported and now kept up-to-date with change files. Just be aware that any
574 change in the style applies to updates only. If you want to change the data
575 that is already in the database, then a reimport is necessary.