[hyperknot]

Hi,

OpenAndroMaps is used by the #1 paraglider and hangglider app, (XCTrack) which means there are probably 100.000+ users. I contributed a custom render theme for it, to both simplify features and show important hazards during flights.

My problem is that the zoom levels set in OAM is set in such a way that we can only see these features while zooming a _lot_ in. Unfortunately you almost never fly soo much zoomed in, you prefer to have an overview of the area.

My feature request would be to move the zoom levels of these features a bit lower, so that we have much more chance of seeing them. These include:
– power lines
– cables, cablecars, ​ski-lifts, etc.
– wind turbines

I hope it wouldn’t add too much for the filesize, and that it could avoid serious accidents within the paraglider community, which unfortunately happen from time-to-time with cables.

[mbe57]

At least wind turbines and power stations are included in the world raster maps, from ZL 10 upwards. To me they seem the most frequent ones in these days.
Re. OAM raster maps Christian can comment.

[hyperknot]

We are using the vector maps, with different themes for the device being used (LCD, OLED, eInk), etc. custom preference.

[Tobias]

OpenAndroMaps data is saved in three intervals: 0-7, 8-11, 12-21
So adding something a lower ZLs that at the moment only is contained at 12-21 will increase map size, rendering time etc. when being added to 8-11 a lot. So adding those things at low zoom levels is not really a good idea, as we already have big problems balancing out map data and rendering issues.
We already had to delete previously existing content, and adding something which isn’t useful for the purpose of the maps (cycling and hiking) is very low on the agenda. We’re also in a transitioning process at the moment so except for this there won’t be a lot of changes for some time.
Probably it also might be a good idea, if there are so many users, to have purpose built maps for this use case – as the OAM contain lots of stuff which is probably useless, and makes the maps much larger than they have to be for this.

Developer of Elevate mapstyle

1 user thanked author for this post.

ChristianK

[mbe57]

Situation is:
– those objects are visible from ZL 12 on – just checked. Consistent with the intervals Tobias explained.
– the raster maps do offer this information up to ZL 11/12/13, depending on region of the world, starting with ZL 10
– adding raster map support into XCTrack should be a pretty easy thing
– I am able and willing to add exposed towers if they can tell me the selection criteria. Power line “towers” will not do – way too frequent.

hyperknot, what do you think?

Cheers
Michael

[hyperknot]

I hoped that it’d be possible to move those down 1 level only, say to level 11. But if the levels are grouped then it wouldn’t work, I understand that moving them to level 8-11 would increase the size too much.

Raster isn’t really an option. I’ll need to look for some custom solution then, to export those cables from OSM directly.

About exposed towers, I think they are mostly already done, aren’t they? Wind turbines are the most important and I think they are present on 12+, aren’t they?

For other towers, I just played around with iD Editor and here is what it generates:

man_made=mast
tower:type=communication

man_made=tower
tower:type=communication

location=tower

man_made=windmill

man_made=windpump

generator:method=wind_turbine
generator:source=wind
power=generator

power=generator

[mbe57]

Yes, as I wrote, visible from 12 upwards.

If your app can overlay more than one vector map, you can generate an additional vector map with only those kind of POIs that you directly filter from the OSM dataset.

[mbe57]

PS: you would adapt the theme file of course for those objects. Nothing from OAM below 12, but coming from your vector map (with the specific tag transform and interval settings).

[hyperknot]

It’s interesting idea if I can display 2 maps in the same app, I’ll have to ask the developers.

[Author]

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