Italy – POI Evaluation tips and common mistakes

POI Validity: No – closed (3.2.)

Often, it will be difficult to confirm that a POI has permanently closed, due to insufficient or inconsistent information from online sources. Follow the steps 1-4 to verify the validity:

STEP 1: Verify validity using OFFICIAL SOURCES.

“Official sources” are official websites or official social media sites maintained by the POI. If there are no official sources proceed to STEP 2 “Reliable Source”.

For POIs with an official website/social media site rate the POI as Yes – Valid if the official site/social media site has a matching name and address for the POI and is not “stale” (see note below).

For POIs with an official website/social media site rate No – Closed if:

•there is a direct statement of POI closure

•the POI has moved or has changed their name

•the POI is part of a chain, but the location is not listed

  For POI’s that have “stale” official sites/social media sites:

•For official sites, “staleness” is discretionary based on appearance, updated info etc.

•For official social media sites, staleness may be determined based on activity such as user reviews that abruptly stop.

POI Validity: No – closed (3.2.)

STEP 2: Verify validity using RELIABLE SOURCES & USER REVIEWS (as needed).

“Reliable sources” are news articles from primary publications that do their own reporting, crowdsourced user review sites (Trip Advisor, Yelp, etc.), government business registries or unofficial social media.

is needed. Go to STEP 3. This point and the one above are represented in guidelines section 3.3.2.

POI Validity: No – closed (3.2.)

STEP 3: Provide additional support using RECENT STREET VIEWS (as needed) “Recent street views” are images dated less than one year old.

• IF a recent street view indicates the POI no longer exists at the address (the building is empty, for sale or the POI has

been replaced); then rate “No-Closed.”

POI Validity: No – closed (3.2.)

Rating Example: No – Closed

POI:

Farmacia Santalucia Dottor Egidio

Via della Libertà 2,

75010 Oliveto Lucano MT

Italia

Pin: 40.535537, 16.185327

Explanation: This business has no official sources. There are no recent reviews. The latest street imagery of the address is from 2011, therefore it cannot be used to verify the validity. However, a recent news article shows that this business changed name to Farmacia Dott.ssa Maria Ventura https://giornalemio.it/cronaca/la-farmacia-di-oliveto-lucano-ha- una-nuova-titolare/ and it can also be confirmed by using official site of the Association of Pharmacists.

.POI Validity: No – closed (3.2.)

It is important that the category is accurate and the best fit category available to represent the primary identity of the POI.

• Official Sources: Official websites and/or social media pages owned by the POI.

The following are sections of an official website that may help in your research:

Reliable Sources: User reviews on official sources or crowdsource user review sites.

• The Category Reference List

• Local Knowledge

.POI Validity: No – closed (3.2.)

The following rules will help you determine the best fit category:

Category Reference List (8.1.4.): ALWAYS refer to the Category Reference List to identify the best fit category for the POI.

Do Not Rely on Categories Assigned by Other Sources: SERPs, map services, and crowdsource review sites may assign categories to POIs, but these are not necessarily accurate. These may be assigned following different rules than we are to follow based on our available categories for this evaluation.

Searching the Category Reference List:

•When determining if a listed category is too general or too specific, begin searching the Category Reference List by one of the top-levels in the category string, to see a list of related categories that are available.

•Use a variety of keywords from the category string, as well as from individual POIs to explore the category list.

•Better fit categories can exist outside the top-level category that is assigned, so do not limit your search for them to the existing top-level category.

•Always review the category description before providing a final category correction.

Category Accuracy (8.)

Rating Example:

Approximate –

Category is too General

POI:

Lo Stornello

Via Cavour 35, 28838 Stresa VB Italia

Category: Cucina Italiana

Rating Explanation: Research on the official POI website (https://www.ristorantelostornello-stresa.it/) reveals that this POI serves Italian cuisine, specifically Piedmont region cuisine. It would be appropriate to start the category research in the Category Reference List using the same category that was returned (Cucina Italiana/Italian Cuisine). A large list is populated, a portion of which is seen in the first list above. The description of “Cucina Italian” is: “A food establishment specializing in cuisine from Italy.” While this description does not seem wrong, more research should be completed to determine if there is a more specific category available for a piedmontese restaurant. Entering the word “piedmont” shows that there is a specific category called “Cucina Piemontese”. It is described as: “A restaurant specializing in the cuisine of the Piedmont region in Northern Italy.” This description more accurately reflects the dominant role of the POI and is the Best Fit category for Lo Stornello. Therefore, the appropriate rating is Approximate –Category too General.

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Rating Explanation: Research on the official POI website (https://www.sevillamia.it/) reveals that this POI serves Spanish cuisine, specifically Andalusan cuisine. It would be appropriate to start the category research in the Category Reference List using the same category that was returned (Cucina Mediterranea/Mediterranean Cuisine). A large list is populated, a portion of which is seen in the first list above. The description of “Cucina Mediterranea” is: “A food establishment specializing in cuisine from the Mediterranean. Dishes commonly include olive oil, bread and wine.” This description appears very reductive and misleading for specifically Spanish Andalusan cuisine, which also doesn’t appear among the sub-categories. Users would also expect a different kind of menu at Mediterranean restaurant. Entering the word “spanish” shows that there is a specific category called “Andalusan Cuisine”. It is described as: “A restaurant specializing in the regional cuisine of Andalusia in Spain.” This description more accurately reflects the dominant role of the POI and is the Best Fit category for Sevilla Mia. Therefore, the appropriate rating is Incorrect.

Hours Accuracy (10.)

When rating POI hours, it is important to verify the returned hours using official resources only.

Official Resources:

10.8. – If the Hours were rated Correct, Incorrect, or Missing, you will be asked to provide the official source that you used to verify the POI’s hours. Please provide the webpage’s URL and a screenshot of the webpage at the time of your rating.

DO NOT verify a POI’s hours from unofficial social media pages, claimed or unclaimed crowdsourced user review sites, online street imagery or SERPs (Search Engine Result Pages). These are NOT considered reliable resources for verifying POI hours.

Hours Accuracy (10.)

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URL Accuracy (7.).

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.When rating the URL, it is important that the most specific and accurate URL is returned:

URL Accuracy (7.).

Rating Example:

Post

; Filtri

Ok Without

POI:

Elettrauto Infernetto

Via Salorno 135, 00124 Roma

URL: /

Rating Explanation: Research reveals that this POI is open and valid. It has multiple very recent reviews that confirm that it is open. There is no official URL listed, and the search engine research shows that this business has a Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ElettrautoInfernettoTamasiEnrico. As per Gls section 7.1. if POI does not have an official website, then official social media pages may also be considered an official URL. However, the requirement is that the social media page has been updated within the past 6 months. Quick check of the Facebook page of the POI shows that the last update was in 2020, therefore significantly outside the 6 months time frame. Therefore, this page cannot be considered official URL. Since no other official sources are found for this POI, we can confirm that this business has no official site, and hence the correct rating for URL is OK Without, not Missing.

Address Accuracy (5.)

When rating for Address Accuracy, it is important to remember that some types of POIs that may not have an official address (5.2.). These may be located in non-conventional areas, such as underground or on the side of the road, or are large or notable enough that an official address is not necessary.

• Pay close attention to:

–Transit POIs (bus stops, light rail stops, subway stations etc.)

–EV Chargers

–Bike share racks

–Bridges

–Squares

–Monuments

–Natural features

–Airports

If POIs is without an official address and the contains less specific information than usual (e.g. only locality, admin area, postal code) the correct rating is Ok Without.

Address Accuracy (5.)

Rating Example:

Ok Without

POI:

Via Montegani Via Neera

Milano

Italia

Pin: 45.432841, 9.177773

Category: Fermata Tram

in arrive >

ARRIVA QUI

Rating Explanation: Research on the official POI website (https://giromilano.atm.it/) reveals that this POI is a tram stop and it doesn’t have an official address. Street imagery shows that it is located on the side of the street and is not expected to have a street number and street name as part of the address due to the POI’s non-conventional location. Therefore, the appropriate rating is OK Without.

Address Accuracy (5.)

Please refer to CSGLs section 1.2. when evaluating if all the expected components are present in the listed address:

Address Accuracy (5.)

Rating Example:

Incorrect – Locality

POI:

Hotel Amburgo

Via Venere, 19

30028 Bibione VE

Italia

Pin: 45.635324, 13.064083

Category: Hotel

Rating Explanation: Research on the official POI website (https://www.hotelamburgo.com/) confirms the listed address. However, by verifying with Poste Italiane we can confirm that the locality Bibione is a sub-locality of San Michele al Tagliamento municipality. As per CSGLs section 1.2. when POI is located in a postal village, both the postal village and the municipality should be included in the address. Therefore, the address is Incorrect for missing municipality. In addition, the postal code listed on the official website is also not correct, while the one in the listing is.

When rating for Name Accuracy, it is important to pay close attention to differences between the returned name and the POI’s official website or other official resources.

Name Accuracy (4.1.2.)

Any of the following names should be rated Partially Correct:

Name Accuracy (4.1.2.)

Rating Example:

Partially Correct

POI:

Unipolsai Assicurazioni Agenzia Di Firenze

Via Il Prato 58/R, 50123 Firenze Italia

URL: https://www.unipolsai.it/trova-agenzie

.

Trova Agenzie

Cerca la tua agenziei UnipolISai Assicurazioni

Trova il punto d’interesse a te piú vicino tra le 2.000 agenzie UnipolSai, le carrozzt i centri di riparazione cristalli UnlpolGlass e il Centro Servlzi.

Rating Explanation: Research on the official POI website (https://www.unipolsai.it/trova-agenzie) reveals that the letter S in UnipolSai is always capital. Street imagery shows that the storefront sign also has capital S in the name. In addition, the name includes “Agenzia Di Firenze”. It is not used officially but it is a correct location modifier, therefore it is not considered incorrect. However, the preposition “di” is capitalized, which isn’t the correct formatting according to the CSGLs section 2.2.1. Therefore, the appropriate rating is Partially Correct.

Phone Accuracy (6.)

When rating for Phone Accuracy, it is important to remember that some types of POIs do not require phone number to be returned (6.1.). POIs that are unattended, such as:

–Transit POIs (bus stops, light rail stops, subway stations etc.)

–EV Chargers

–Bike share racks

–Bridges

–Squares

–Monuments

–Natural features

do not require phone, and if no phone is listed it should be Ok Without.

However, if a phone number is listed for an unattended POI, the phone MUST be confirmed through official resources.

Phone Accuracy (9.)

Rating Example:

Ok Without

POI:

Parcheggio Oberdan

Via Oberdan,

27100 Pavia

Italia

Phone: /

URL: https://www.asm.pv.it/soste-parcheggi/parcheggio-oberdan/

Rating Explanation: Research using the street imagery and official website shows that this parking lot is not attended.

Since no phone is listed, it is not required to be returned and as per Gls section 6.1. it should be rated OK Without.

Phone Accuracy (9.)

The location of the pin should reflect the most accurate location of the POI based on the available information. Perform research using official resources and street imagery to determine the best-known pin location.

In dense areas it may be difficult to find boundaries between parcels. In these case, divide the space between the street or the next building in half to create a boundary. Remember, that everything outside the Perfect, Approximate and Next Door area of the “Half ‘n Half” is considered Wrong. This includes pin that falls on the opposite side of the road, outside the “Half ‘n Half” portion of the road.

When there is a difference between where the pin drops in satellite imagery and the standard map, always use the map layer in the Rating Tool that is more generous towards the pin (9.2.2.).

Phone Accuracy (9.)

Rating Example:

Wrong

POI:

Bella Napoli Bergamo

Via Sant’Alessandro 28/A, 24122 Bergamo

Italia

Rating Explanation: TryRating returns a pin on the street in the area where the restaurant Bella Napoli is. Research in other map providers shows the POI is located in the building near the pin but outsidethe Half ‘n Half imaginary boundary on the street. Using recent streetview, it can be confirmed that Google’s pin placement is correct and that the TryRating pin is on the wrong side of the street from the correct portion of the Half ‘n Half. Since the pin falls in both satellite and standard imagery across the street it should be rated Wrong.

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