Moving vs. Deleting Points
Sometimes when editing you'll encounter points placed in the wrong location. Most of the time, incorrectly located points only need to be moved a short distance, but occasionally they'll need to be moved much further. Can these points be moved great distances, or should they just be deleted?
In those instances where you need to move a point a great distance, it can be tempting to instead delete it and recreate it in a new location. Given that the data may contain important historical information such as a GNIS ID, we prefer that you move points, even if they have to be moved a long ways. But of course, there are other legitimate reasons to delete points. So when (and how) should you move a point and when should you delete it?
Let's break it down.
When to move points
- The point is located on the wrong building.
- The point is in the incorrect physical location (such as the middle of a road).
- The business is operating but has moved to a new physical location.
Moving Points Long Distances
While editing you may come across a point that needs to be moved a long distance. To move points long distances use the click and drag method. A cyan line connecting a point from its original location to a new location makes it easier to track where you’re moving points to and from.
When moving points long distances, it can be helpful to zoom out as much as possible so you can better see where you're moving the point to. Keep in mind that you'll only be able to move (and edit) points up to zoom level 13, which is the maximum editing extent. This is visible within the URL in the address bar of your web browser. Remember that once you’ve located the correct building on which to place a point, it’s important to then zoom in all the way to ensure the point is centered on the building footprint (or cemetery grounds). Use a combination of multiple imagery sources at various scales to support your edits.
When to delete points
- The point represents a structure that is no longer in business.
- The point represents a structure that we do not collect.
Before deleting any point be sure you’ve done sufficient research using authoritative sources to confirm that the structure is no longer in operation or that it does not meet our collection criteria.
Existing points that only need to be updated
Do NOT delete existing points that only need to be updated (i.e., need to be moved or have their name and / or address updated)! If a structure has a different name but still serves the same function (such as a school), update the existing structure point with the new information rather than deleting the original point and creating a new one.