The Elevated Maps Of The Week

The evolution of WebGL too vector map tiles has led to merely about interesting experiments inwards visualizing altitude too depth information on interactive maps. For event this calendar week nosotros saw a pair of creative mapped visualizations of bathymetry too Lidar data.

Contours.org has used historical depth information of Scotland's lochs to practise a serial of 3d WebGL maps of iv of Scotland's biggest lakes, including Loch Ness.

The depths of most of Scotland's lochs were non measured until the mid-Nineteenth Century. The starting fourth dimension existent systematic survey of the lochs was started inwards 1897 past times the oceanographer Sir John Murray. From 1897 to 1909 Murray carried out 60,000 soundings too produced the starting fourth dimension always detailed charts, amongst depth data, of Scotland's major lochs.

Contours.org has digitized the bathymetry information from Murray's survey for iv of Scotland's lochs too created 3d bathymetry maps. These maps allow you lot to explore the bathymetry contours of Loch Ness, Loch Lomond, Loch Levan too Loch Morar inwards 3d. Contours.org also allows you lot to sentiment the bathymetry contours of each loch inwards s overlaid on an aerial map.


The Cartographic too Geological Institute of Catalunya has developed a paradigm terrain explorer for their ii meter Digital Elevation Model of Catalonia. The Institute's Relief too Shadow map, created from Lidar data, uses vector map tiles to allow you lot to interact inwards real-time amongst a relief map of the area.

Using Relief too Shadow you lot tin explore the DEM model of Catalonia inwards an interactive Leaflet & Mapzen powered map. The map includes an impressive tool which allows you lot to color the terrain past times altitude too past times the management of the sun. This tool allows you lot to modify the appearance of the map inwards real-time past times image inside an interactive reach rose.

Using the color-picker tool amongst the interactive reach rose you lot tin pigment the terrain on the map to highlight unlike altitude information too unlike directions of light. The optic of the reach rose represents lower elevations on the map too the elevations acquire higher equally you lot movement out towards the circumference.

Relief too Shadow is partly based on Mapzen's Sphere Map Demo. You tin larn to a greater extent than most how Mapzen developed their 'sphere maps' tool on this Mapzen Sphere Maps weblog post.

The recent improver of to map 3d buildings. Next calendar week on nosotros volition hold back at how this extrude belongings tin also move used amongst Lidar information to practise 3d visualizations of altitude data.