Peculiarities in Norwegian mapping
There are two official map sources for topographic maps in Norway, "Toporaster" which is raster based, and "Topographic", which is vector based. Only one of these is made available in Locus store. What is made available there is Toporaster for the lower zoom levels, but when I expect to see Toporaster zoom level 17 with a different level of details, it suddenly switches to Topographic, i.e. the vector version. Level of details and readability is different between the two map types, and at zoom level 17 and upwards is actually bether for the Toporaster (this has quite recently changed).
Would it be possible to make the Norwegian topographic map provided in Locus store consistent as Toporaster throughout all zoom levels? Or even better, make both Toporaster and Topographic available and not mixing them.
To illustrate and for you to better understand I add the two different map types as xml code and WMS links below:
Toporaster:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<customMapSource>
<name>Statkart_Raster</name>
<minZoom>0</minZoom>
<maxZoom>17</maxZoom>
<tileType>jpg</tileType>
<tileUpdate>IfNoneMatch</tileUpdate>
<backgroundColor>#000000</backgroundColor>
</customMapSource>
or as WMS service
https://openwms.statkart.no/skwms1/wms.toporaster4?
Topographic:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<customMapSource>
<name>Statkart_Vect</name>
<minZoom>0</minZoom>
<maxZoom>17</maxZoom>
<tileType>jpg</tileType>
<tileUpdate>IfNoneMatch</tileUpdate>
<url>http://opencache.statkart.no/gatekeeper/gk/gk.open_gmaps?layers=topo4&zoom={$z}&x={$x}&y={$y}</url>;
<backgroundColor>#000000</backgroundColor>
</customMapSource>
or as WMS service
The same question
Hi,
thank you for the message. Well, that's a strange situation. We used to use only toporaster layer a couple of years ago. But some users reported that for detailed zooms the vector-based is better and raster-based is better for small scales. So we set this combination raster - vector map.
You're right we could add both services separately but honestly, I'm not sure if it's a good approach. Lot's of the user doesn't know that exist raster or vector map and only need a good topo map. I'm worried about confusing the user if we add these two maps that are quite similar.
Anyway, do you really think that vector map is too bad for detailed zooms?
Thank you
Petr
Hi,
thank you for the message. Well, that's a strange situation. We used to use only toporaster layer a couple of years ago. But some users reported that for detailed zooms the vector-based is better and raster-based is better for small scales. So we set this combination raster - vector map.
You're right we could add both services separately but honestly, I'm not sure if it's a good approach. Lot's of the user doesn't know that exist raster or vector map and only need a good topo map. I'm worried about confusing the user if we add these two maps that are quite similar.
Anyway, do you really think that vector map is too bad for detailed zooms?
Thank you
Petr
Hi.
And thanks for prompt response.
As I indicated in my original post, it has quite recently been a major change of quality in the raster maps from zoom level 17 and upwards, and I mean major. It is really a tremendous improvement from the old maps in black and white line drawings from last century, in particular on small cellular screens in sunshine. I will kindly ask you and strongly recommend that you reverse the mixed presentation and stick to pure raster maps (if don’t include both).
Best regards
Jon Reisegg
Hi.
And thanks for prompt response.
As I indicated in my original post, it has quite recently been a major change of quality in the raster maps from zoom level 17 and upwards, and I mean major. It is really a tremendous improvement from the old maps in black and white line drawings from last century, in particular on small cellular screens in sunshine. I will kindly ask you and strongly recommend that you reverse the mixed presentation and stick to pure raster maps (if don’t include both).
Best regards
Jon Reisegg
Hi again
Just to supply my other mail with examples, and I might have been over focused on zoom level 17. Below are six screen clips from my mobile. The upper three are vector maps zoom level 15-16-17. The lower three are same zoom levels from raster. It should be quite apparent what is most readable in the field…
Kindly regards
Jon Reisegg
Hi again
Just to supply my other mail with examples, and I might have been over focused on zoom level 17. Below are six screen clips from my mobile. The upper three are vector maps zoom level 15-16-17. The lower three are same zoom levels from raster. It should be quite apparent what is most readable in the field…
Kindly regards
Jon Reisegg
Hi.
I’m not aware of any differences. I thought address searches were not searching the map, but some external register to get the coordinates, which then will hit the same point. Same with POIs. When it comes to integrated map elements, they will be different, as you can see in my examples. My view is that map elements have a better presentation in the raster and it is (of course) closer to the paper maps we are used to.
But bear in mind, as I understand, the mixed presentation was triggered by a user comment, which I believe was based on the old raster presentation, and that was terrible, only with black and white.
Regards
/JonR.
Hi.
I’m not aware of any differences. I thought address searches were not searching the map, but some external register to get the coordinates, which then will hit the same point. Same with POIs. When it comes to integrated map elements, they will be different, as you can see in my examples. My view is that map elements have a better presentation in the raster and it is (of course) closer to the paper maps we are used to.
But bear in mind, as I understand, the mixed presentation was triggered by a user comment, which I believe was based on the old raster presentation, and that was terrible, only with black and white.
Regards
/JonR.
Hi again
I have tested a bit more. At zoom level 18, I see that the vector map contains more info, e.g. about street names and house numbers, which could be of importance for «urban use». I suggest then that you switch from raster to vector when you’re going from zoom level 17 to 18, then everybody would be happy. As it is now, the switch is too early and I am actually forced to use WMS services for the zoom levels I use most when hiking. WMS is not optimal with less functionality and dependency on network.
Best regards
Jon Reisegg
Hi again
I have tested a bit more. At zoom level 18, I see that the vector map contains more info, e.g. about street names and house numbers, which could be of importance for «urban use». I suggest then that you switch from raster to vector when you’re going from zoom level 17 to 18, then everybody would be happy. As it is now, the switch is too early and I am actually forced to use WMS services for the zoom levels I use most when hiking. WMS is not optimal with less functionality and dependency on network.
Best regards
Jon Reisegg
Hi Jon,
thank you for the detailed testing. That sounds as a good compromise. I'll discuss it with others in team and prepare some improvements for the next release.
Thanks, Petr
Hi Jon,
thank you for the detailed testing. That sounds as a good compromise. I'll discuss it with others in team and prepare some improvements for the next release.
Thanks, Petr
Hi Petr.
Two months have passed and I have seen updates to Locus, but no update as discussed above. Do you have an update for me?
Hi Petr.
Two months have passed and I have seen updates to Locus, but no update as discussed above. Do you have an update for me?
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