+ bbox = bbox.split(',')
+
+ min_lon = bbox[0].to_f
+ min_lat = bbox[1].to_f
+ max_lon = bbox[2].to_f
+ max_lat = bbox[3].to_f
+
+ # get all the nodes
+ nodes = Node.find(:all, :conditions => ['latitude > ? AND longitude > ? AND latitude < ? AND longitude < ? AND visible = 1', min_lat, min_lon, max_lat, max_lon])
+
+ node_ids = nodes.collect {|node| node.id }
+ segments = Array.new
+ if node_ids.length > 0
+ node_ids_sql = "(#{node_ids.join(',')})"
+ # get the referenced segments
+ segments = Segment.find_by_sql "select * from segments where node_a in #{node_ids_sql} or node_b in #{node_ids_sql}"
+ end
+ # see if we have nay missing nodes
+ segments_nodes = segments.collect {|segment| segment.node_a }
+ segments_nodes += segments.collect {|segment| segment.node_b }
+
+ segments_nodes.uniq!
+
+ missing_nodes = segments_nodes - node_ids
+
+ # get missing nodes if there are any
+ nodes += Node.find(missing_nodes) if missing_nodes.length > 0