alternative maps

Topic: alternative maps (Read 927 times) previous topic - next topic

alternative maps

April 04, 2023, 06:40:39 AM

I wonder how to use "Use Ordnance Survey Maps"? Thanks

Re: alternative maps

Reply #1 – April 04, 2023, 07:08:22 AM

Just check Use Ordnance Survey Maps in settings. There is nothing else needed. The setting only shows for UK users since those are UK only maps.

Re: alternative maps

Reply #2 – April 04, 2023, 08:06:05 AM

thanks

Re: alternative maps

Reply #3 – May 02, 2023, 05:38:18 PM

I'd like to use the more detailed 1:50000 annd 1:25000 Ordnance Survey Maps. I have a personal key, but can't get the URL recognised.
I suspect this may be because Bing uses a quadkey rather than {z}/{y}/{x).
I presume Geooh uses this to display OS maps, so what should it look like?

The URL format that works in similar apps is https://t{s}.ssl.ak.tiles.virtualearth.net/tiles/r{q}.png?g=3440&productSet=mmOS&key=PERSONALKEY

Re: alternative maps

Reply #4 – May 02, 2023, 06:00:17 PM

Geooh is using their {z}/{y}/{x) server with a key assigned to Geooh and Android's tile server mapping software. Google doesn't have anything like the format you listed to retrieve tiles. What is {s} and {q}? How do they relate to zyx? The format you provided doesn't have a zoom level?

Re: alternative maps

Reply #5 – May 03, 2023, 07:09:10 AM

I forget where the syntax came from originally, but one source is from GME (Geocaching Map Enhacements)
https://geo.inge.org.uk/gme_maps.htm#os
which specifies
{"alt":"Ordnance Survey","tileUrl":"https://t{s}.ssl.ak.tiles.virtualearth.net/tiles/r{q}.png?g=3440&productSet=mmOS&key=PRIVATE_KEY", "subdomains": "0123", "minZoom":10, "maxZoom": 17, "attribution":"Ordnance Survey imagery from <a href='https://www.bing.com/maps/'>Bing Maps</a>", "name":"osbing"}

The {q} represents Bing's quadkey value which combines {z}/{y}/{x}. I dont know what the s means, but it may be a server as my GCDROID phone app uses http://ecn.t(l-0,1,2,3}.tiles.vitualearth.net

There must be a virtualearth URL format documented somewhere that allows {z}/{y}/{x} instead. I'll keep looking

Re: alternative maps

Reply #6 – May 03, 2023, 08:00:24 AM

should have been l=0,1,2,3

I have read that Bing doesn't support x,y,z tile format. Conversion is possible using a java routine like
function tileXYToQuadKey(xTile, yTile, z) {
var quadKey = "";
for (var i = z; i > 0; i--) {
var digit = "0",
mask = 1 << (i - 1);
if ((xTile & mask) != 0) {
digit++;
}

if ((yTile & mask) != 0) {
digit = digit + 2;
}
quadKey += digit;
} // for i return quadKey;

return quadKey;

Not sure if I can incorporate this into my own server in any way, but it would be interesting to try.

You mention Google. I assume this doesn't provide access to the OS maps I'm after?

Re: alternative maps

Reply #7 – May 03, 2023, 08:09:46 AM

I can try to made a variation of the OS map setting in Geooh to use the Bing implementation by entering a personal key and then Geooh converts zxy to the sq equivalent. The function you showed... how are the sq parameters obtained from QuadKey? If you can provide a link to a reference source where you got the function, I could research more.

Re: alternative maps

Reply #8 – May 03, 2023, 08:46:26 AM

OK, I found the Bing reference to all the above. {s} is a subdomain and {q} is the quadkey using the function you provided. I also found that in Bing's documentation. I'll get my own personal key and give it a go. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction!

Re: alternative maps

Reply #9 – May 03, 2023, 11:20:14 AM

I was able to implement Bing OS maps. Let me know if this is what you are looking for. The first 2 screenshots are using the OS tile server and the last 2 are using the Bing OS tile server.

Re: alternative maps

Reply #10 – May 03, 2023, 12:00:17 PM

Thanks for investigating this
The Bing OS server sounds like the right place, but the map should look like this.

What URL are you using? It might need an approved key appended

Re: alternative maps

Reply #11 – May 03, 2023, 01:16:32 PM

The Bing OS server is like you provided and is the copy of what Locus supposedly uses: "http://ak.t{subdomain}.tiles.virtualearth.net/tiles/r{quadkey}.png?g=3455&lbl=l1&productSet=mmOS&key="

The image you showed is what I typically get when NOT using Bing's OS tile server.

Re: alternative maps

Reply #12 – May 03, 2023, 01:38:29 PM

I can't follow that. My understanding is that it is the productSet=mmOS option that sets the map display I use elsewhere.
I don't see that form when I select your OS map option.

The mm may relate to the MemoryMap application.

I'm now slightly worried about the Bing tiles article stating that apps must use Bing Maps Imagery REST service first to get the latest tile URL as I have 3 apps for which I have defined the same URL that I specified earlier so it seems they could stop working!

Anyway, it would be far better for me if you can embed the required links in your code rather than me having to type in the URL I want to use. There maybe an issue in that I can use my key an unlimited number of times for personal use, whereas a key you obtain is likely to have usage restrictions

If you can produce a quadkey parameter option, then it would be the best of both worlds.

ps Locusmaps was one of the apps I used with that URL format.

Re: alternative maps

Reply #13 – May 03, 2023, 01:48:32 PM

There is some confusion... I did all that. The new implementation uses an internal tile server URL (like the one you gave and what Locus uses) with a key assigned to Geooh by Microsoft. I am calculating the quadKey. There is nothing you need to provide. See how settings will look in the new release.

Re: alternative maps

Reply #14 – May 03, 2023, 02:26:04 PM

Many thanks. I look forward to trying it out.

Meanwhile, I have all the existing options to explore as I only recently obtained your app and haven't yet used it in the field