Travel Mapping

Web Design Discussion => General Web Design Discussion => Topic started by: Jim on June 24, 2021, 02:42:55 pm

Title: Updating map tile options
Post by: Jim on June 24, 2021, 02:42:55 pm
As part of this summer's work on METAL, I'm planning to add a few of the new map tiles now available through leaflet providers (http://leaflet-extras.github.io/leaflet-providers/preview/).  It looks like I can add the ones from Jawg and possibly the ones from CartoDB.

However, our list is already quite long and I expect there are some options that no one would miss if they went away.  A few no longer work.  I'm almost definitely going to cut back the default list on HDX to just a handful, and probably will choose something other than OSM Mapnik for the default there.  I'm willing to leave a more lengthy list on TM maps, but would like to keep the list to only those tile sets that are useful to someone.

Are there tile sets you definitely think are useless that should be removed?

Are there ones you like and use a lot that would be annoying to you to have removed?

Are there ones on the leaflet-providers demo page that we don't currently have that you'd like to see added?  Note that not all are available for free, so your favorite might not be possible.
Title: Re: Updating map tile options
Post by: michih on June 24, 2021, 03:09:08 pm
I agree that we currently have too much tiles.

I frequently use:
- Open Street Map Default
- Esri WorldImagery

I sometimes use:
- TM Blank White
- TM Blank Black

I sometimes used:
- Open Street Map German Style (when I had that annoying loading issue with OSM Default)
Title: Re: Updating map tile options
Post by: si404 on June 24, 2021, 03:19:27 pm
Are there tile sets you definitely think are useless that should be removed?
There's the ones that are just artsy renderings of other maps we have. They don't add anything really and the maps aren't particularly useable
Quote
Are there ones you like and use a lot that would be annoying to you to have removed?
Mapnik, German OSM (though if that was replaced by French OSM, I wouldn't mind as it does the same thing, just with a different appearance and a different default language), ESRI World Imagery.
Quote
Are there ones on the leaflet-providers demo page that we don't currently have that you'd like to see added?  Note that not all are available for free, so your favorite might not be possible.
OSM.France - OK, it's benefits are similar to OSM.DE, namely the transliteration of non-Latin characters where possible and the showing of proposed routes. Arguably it's not as good as the German version (less transliterations available), but I'm still bitter that Mapnik changed from that cartography and it was very nice to see that colour scheme again!

If free, then GeoportailFrance / GeoportailFrance.ignMaps would be great. Similarly there's USGS layers.
Title: Re: Updating map tile options
Post by: Markkos1992 on June 24, 2021, 05:05:50 pm
The HERE Hybrid Day maps are very useful to me personally as they include satellite imagery.  I definitely want to keep those.
Title: Re: Updating map tile options
Post by: vdeane on June 24, 2021, 09:52:40 pm
Do all the current tile options even work?  Mapbox and Hydda don't seem to.

I agree that we currently have too much tiles.

I frequently use:
- Open Street Map Default
- Esri WorldImagery

I sometimes use:
- TM Blank White
- TM Blank Black

I sometimes used:
- Open Street Map German Style (when I had that annoying loading issue with OSM Default)
I think that's a good core set.
Title: Re: Updating map tile options
Post by: mikeandkristie on June 25, 2021, 12:56:05 am
Personally, I prefer the look of Esri WorldStreetMap by a lot over OpenStreetMap Default.  That's my primary one.  And the two satellite ones (Esri WorldImagery and HERE Hybrid Day) are important.  And ocassionally I will use some of the topo/landscape ones.

Mike
Title: Re: Updating map tile options
Post by: oscar on June 25, 2021, 09:10:45 am
My primary one is OSM default, and I would like that to stay as the HB default option. ESRI WorldStreetMap and WorldImagery. and the HERE sets, are useful supplements.

I would like to get Mapbox to work as another satellite imagery option.

Most of the ESRI options, besides the two above, seem unhelpful. Ditto Thunderforest.
Title: Re: Updating map tile options
Post by: Jim on June 25, 2021, 09:22:32 am
Unfortunately, Mapbox likely can't return.  The problem we had before

https://forum.travelmapping.net/index.php?topic=3049

where once you exceed the free tier, you don't get cut off, you get billed, seems to remain.
Title: Re: Updating map tile options
Post by: osu-lsu on June 25, 2021, 11:40:37 am
I will concur with others here to get rid of Mapbox, the lower half of the Esri collection, and all of the thunderforest maps, with one lone exception.
Keep the Spinal map. Yeah, it serves no real purpose. But I like to view it just for the laughs of the Black metal fonts and with Cleveland's history of burning rivers, seeing a flaming Lake Erie isn't much of a stretch.
We tend to stay TOO serious on here, so view the Spinal Map does get (at least) a smile out of me every time.
Title: Re: Updating map tile options
Post by: theFXexpert on June 25, 2021, 01:36:15 pm
I do like using the German OSM as an alternate style to the default.

Sometimes I want something more minimalist to make the route polylines stand out more and I'll use the blank ones, or Esri WorldShadedRelief and Esri WorldGrayCanvas for a little more geographical context.
I like the idea of the TransportDark tiles but the rail lines are too strong and overwhelm the route polylines. Either CartoDB.DarkMatter, CartoDB.DarkMatterNoLabels or Jawg.Dark would be good substitutes. I think I lean towards the no labels one if only one of those is included.
Title: Re: Updating map tile options
Post by: Jim on June 25, 2021, 03:48:17 pm
A first pass at this is now on tmstage.teresco.org.  I've removed broken and seemingly unpopular options, and added a few new ones.  I plan to add a few more if I can figure out CartoDB (should be able, they appear to be free for non-commercial use).

Opinions on the changes so far are welcome.
Title: Re: Updating map tile options
Post by: michih on June 25, 2021, 04:01:03 pm
Opinions on the changes so far are welcome.

Can we change the order? When drafting or reviewing routes, I frequently switch between "Open Street Map Default" and "Esri WorldImagery". OSM is the first one, can we move the satellite tile to the end of the list?
Title: Re: Updating map tile options
Post by: Jim on June 25, 2021, 06:24:07 pm
I can order them however people like.
Title: Re: Updating map tile options
Post by: Duke87 on June 25, 2021, 06:32:59 pm
My recommendation is to only remove the ones that don't actually work, or that we've had to disable for the sake of avoiding being billed (Mapbox).

Any options that are less popular but still work, just bury them at the bottom of the list. I see this as a "why remove functionality if it presents no burden to keep it" situation.
Title: Re: Updating map tile options
Post by: michih on June 26, 2021, 03:13:53 am
I can order them however people like.

I'd like to see "Open Street Map Default" and "Esri WorldImagery" kinda outstanding so that we can quickly change between them - in wpt editor and HB!
Title: Re: Updating map tile options
Post by: froggie on June 26, 2021, 09:45:25 am
The ones I typically use or see functionality with:


Though I don't currently use it for TM, Thunderforest OpenCycle would useful if we ever branch into USBR.

HERE Hybrid would be useful to keep as an alternative set of imagery.

I agree with Sandor's comment regarding Thunderforest Spinal.

Title: Re: Updating map tile options
Post by: si404 on June 26, 2021, 10:26:10 am
Though I don't currently use it for TM, Thunderforest OpenCycle would useful if we ever branch into USBR.
Likewise a Transport Map should rail be branched into.
Title: Re: Updating map tile options
Post by: mapcat on June 27, 2021, 08:39:37 am
My recommendation is to only remove the ones that don't actually work, or that we've had to disable for the sake of avoiding being billed (Mapbox).

Any options that are less popular but still work, just bury them at the bottom of the list. I see this as a "why remove functionality if it presents no burden to keep it" situation.


My thoughts exactly.

Also I use ESRI World Gray Canvas a lot for trip planning (highlight untraveled, and even really short unclinched segments pop) and would prefer to see it remain.
Title: Re: Updating map tile options
Post by: Jim on June 27, 2021, 10:09:06 pm
I've added a few more Jawg tiles and some Carto tiles to the version on tmstage.teresco.org .
Title: Re: Updating map tile options
Post by: Jim on June 29, 2021, 11:26:19 am
The new set of tiles is on the production server.  The immediate concern is to make sure I didn't break anything.  But also, if I removed something that was working and that would be useful to you, let me know and I can likely restore.
Title: Re: Updating map tile options
Post by: Markkos1992 on June 29, 2021, 11:43:05 am
The pages and maps in the HB do not seem to be loading.  This may be why.  (see this (https://travelmapping.net/hb/showroute.php?units=miles&u=markkos1992&r=in.i074))
Title: Re: Updating map tile options
Post by: michih on June 29, 2021, 12:41:25 pm
Works fine, thanks!

I can order them however people like.

I'd like to see "Open Street Map Default" and "Esri WorldImagery" kinda outstanding so that we can quickly change between them - in wpt editor and HB!

"Esri WorldImagery" was the last "Esri" entry but it is more hidden now :(
Title: Re: Updating map tile options
Post by: Jim on June 29, 2021, 01:35:39 pm
The pages and maps in the HB do not seem to be loading.  This may be why.  (see this (https://travelmapping.net/hb/showroute.php?units=miles&u=markkos1992&r=in.i074))

I'm not seeing any problems from multiple browsers here.  What is the "this" in "This may be why."?
Title: Re: Updating map tile options
Post by: Markkos1992 on June 29, 2021, 02:34:51 pm
It must be a Chrome issue.  The page starts to load, but stops before any labels are shown and it says "URL Placeholder".

I just checked Edge and everything opened as normal.  TMStage works fine on Chrome as well.
Title: Re: Updating map tile options
Post by: yakra on June 29, 2021, 03:27:54 pm
Works fine for me here in Chromium now; did not previously.
Maybe a JavaScript caching issue? Force reload? Ctrl+F5?
Title: Re: Updating map tile options
Post by: Markkos1992 on June 29, 2021, 04:41:00 pm
Thanks yakra.  That worked perfectly.
Title: Re: Updating map tile options
Post by: vdeane on July 01, 2021, 09:10:03 pm
I'm particularly liking the Stamen Toner Lite option.  Both traveled and especially untraveled routes show up REALLY well on that one!
Title: Re: Updating map tile options
Post by: nezinscot on July 09, 2021, 12:38:23 pm
I just tried all the new tile options using the Maine map.  I was pleased to see that Thunderforest Spinal Map changed Bangor to "Headbangor".
Title: Re: Updating map tile options
Post by: yakra on July 09, 2021, 04:53:33 pm
LMAO! The two in the Metal Kingdom also get the same treatment.
Title: Re: Updating map tile options
Post by: si404 on July 09, 2021, 05:52:13 pm
LMAO! The two in the Metal Kingdom also get the same treatment.
Not the one in Ireland though, which remains plain "Bangor". Probably too small.

"City" seems to mutate into "City of Rock", so there's stuff like "City of Rock of London", as well as the less clunky and more-what-they-were-going-for "Oklahoma City of Rock" formation.

And there's nothing at Stonehenge - which is surely a disgrace for a map named after Spinal Tap!
Title: Re: Updating map tile options
Post by: yakra on July 10, 2021, 01:05:56 am
And there's nothing at Stonehenge - which is surely a disgrace for a map named after Spinal Tap!
How far did you zoom in? It's really tiny.