Time zones in the Global Gazetteer

[Alan Pritchard]

members of this list may be interested in the following extract from a 
recent newsletter that I sent out:

<snip>
TIME ZONES

I have now included canonical time zone names in the Global Gazetteer.
The canonical name (e.g. America/New_York) is then the key to time zone 
offset from GMT, and also the daylight saving time rules (date and time on 
and off), using the tztab format.
There are still some gaps, most notably where the rule for assigning the 
name cuts across established administrative boundaries and also where I do 
not yet know the province and/or lower administrative areas within which 
the place falls.
I am currently carrying out research to resolve these problems, but about 
90% of records (including 'trains and boats and planes') now have 
canonical names assigned. Changes to zones and DST are regularly monitored 
and the records updated.
There is a short paper on the web site that explains this in a bit more 
detail, describes all the various fields that are available, and explains 
the tztab format for DST rules.
Other formats can be output if required.

<end snip>


I am not attempting to hold the wealth of historical data that the tz 
database holds. I am only interested in the current and future situation.

There are two major problems that I am tackling:

1. the rather generic descriptions that are sometimes used in the tz data 
and trying to match these to my hierarchy of country/province/lower level 
admin area/town. For example 'far western Texas' or 'eastern Lugansk'. I 
am trying to clarify these where possible and will report back, if I find 
any useful information.

2. Completing the data that is in the Global Gazetteer, so that I can use 
the tz rules. This especially applies to countries such as Indonesia where 
many places do not yet have province name assigned, or in trying to find 
out which settlements fall within the county of Yancowinna in Australia


Best wishes
Alan Pritchard
The GLOBAL GAZETTEER: the world on file
http://www.allm-geodata.com
Tel: +44 (0) 1202 417 477