Vector Tiles Reader QGIS Plugin

2017-04-22T07:02:00Z

MBoos:

QGIS-Plugin '''Vector Tiles Reader''' - This Python plugin reads Mapbox Vector Tiles (MVT) from a local MBTiles file and loads them into a vector layer that is rendered by [[QGIS]].

* A project by [[Geometa Lab]] HSR
* Project Lead: Stefan Keller
* Developed by: Martin Boos
* Github: https://github.com/geometalab/Vector-Tiles-Reader-QGIS-Plugin

>> This is experimental work in progress! Expected an early release as QGIS plugin around 2nd quarter of 2017 <<

Important websites:
* Source Code on Github: https://github.com/geometalab/Vector-Tiles-Reader-QGIS-Plugin
* QGIS plugin directory: http://plugins.qgis.org/plugins/Vector-Tiles-Reader-QGIS-Plugin/

== About ==

About Vector Tiles: Though this is a vector representation, [[Vector Tiles]] are rather specific data targeted to visualization and thus not fully comparable to generic geospatial vector data formats. Because of many optimization issues Vector Tiles are lossy in many respect: Coordinates are converted to integers and thus loose precision, features are filtered at certain zoom levels and geometries like roads are simplified. Moreover they are "overzoomed" which means that they often borrow data from upper zoom levels.

Available data sources (MBTiles):
* Download MBTiles (compatible to "Mapbox Streets v7") from [https://openmaptiles.org/downloads OpenMapTiles] project (see also city extracts).
* There's a possibility to download single tiles from online resources, like "Mapbox Streets v7" (tbd.)

Data model documentation:
* Data model of [https://openmaptiles.org/schema/ OpenMapTiles].
* Data model of "[https://www.mapbox.com/developers/vector-tiles/mapbox-streets-v7/ Mapbox Streets v7]".

Available styles:
* Some default styles are delivered with the plugin. However, some may be missing.

== Known Limitations ==

Limitations in general:
* This plugin is only tested on reading MBTiles containing Vector Tiles according to [https://github.com/mapbox/vector-tile-spec/tree/master/2.1 Mapbox Vector Tile Specification 2.1].
* CRS is always EPSG:3857 Web-Mercator. Though Vector Tiles are in principle not bound to a coordinate reference system ([[CRS]]), currently it's only possible to handle Vector Tiles in Web-Mercator EPSG:3857.
* There's no styling attached to MBTiles nor to Vector Tiles.

Limitations of current plugin:
* Server connections work only with services implementing the [https://github.com/mapbox/tilejson-spec/tree/master/2.2.0 TileJSON specification]

== Enhancements and Ideas ==

The plugin could read Vector Tiles directly from the web. But then - to behave similar to raster tiles - the problem of missing corresponding styling becomes even more prominent.

== Installation and Source Code ==

Intall as local plugin (not yet in QGIS plugin repo -[Install from inside [[QGIS]] as Python plugin (Note: For plugin versions up to 0.9 you have to enable "experimental plugins")]-).

== FAQ ==

=== How can I use the server connection feature? ===

Any vector tile service, implementing the [https://github.com/mapbox/tilejson-spec/tree/master/2.2.0 TileJSON specification] should work.
For the feature to work, you have to create a connection using a URL pointing to the TileJSON of the tile service.

For example you can use http://free.tilehosting.com/data/v3.json?key={API-KEY} and get your own API-Key from [https://openmaptiles.com/hosting/ OpenMapTiles.com]

== Ressources ==

See Categories below.

[[Kategorie:QGIS-Plugin]] [[Kategorie:QGIS]] [[Kategorie:Python]] [[Kategorie:Software]] [[Kategorie:OpenStreetMap]] [[Kategorie:Vector Tiles]]

Vector Tiles Reader QGIS Plugin

2017-04-07T13:30:30Z

MBoos:

QGIS-Plugin '''Vector Tiles Reader''' - This Python plugin reads Mapbox Vector Tiles (MVT) from a local MBTiles file and loads them into a vector layer that is rendered by [[QGIS]].

* A project by [[Geometa Lab]] HSR
* Project Lead: Stefan Keller
* Developed by: Martin Boos
* Github: https://github.com/geometalab/Vector-Tiles-Reader-QGIS-Plugin

>> This is experimental work in progress! Expected an early release as QGIS plugin around 2nd quarter of 2017 <<

Important websites:
* Source Code on Github: https://github.com/geometalab/Vector-Tiles-Reader-QGIS-Plugin
* QGIS plugin directory: http://plugins.qgis.org/plugins/Vector-Tiles-Reader-QGIS-Plugin/

== About ==

About Vector Tiles: Though this is a vector representation, [[Vector Tiles]] are rather specific data targeted to visualization and thus not fully comparable to generic geospatial vector data formats. Because of many optimization issues Vector Tiles are lossy in many respect: Coordinates are converted to integers and thus loose precision, features are filtered at certain zoom levels and geometries like roads are simplified. Moreover they are "overzoomed" which means that they often borrow data from upper zoom levels.

Available data sources (MBTiles):
* Download MBTiles (compatible to "Mapbox Streets v7") from [https://openmaptiles.org/downloads OpenMapTiles] project (see also city extracts).
* There's a possibility to download single tiles from online resources, like "Mapbox Streets v7" (tbd.)

Data model documentation:
* Data model of [https://openmaptiles.org/schema/ OpenMapTiles].
* Data model of "[https://www.mapbox.com/developers/vector-tiles/mapbox-streets-v7/ Mapbox Streets v7]".

Available styles:
* Some default styles are delivered with the plugin. However, some may be missing.

== Known Limitations ==

Limitations in general:
* This plugin is only tested on reading MBTiles containing Vector Tiles according to [https://github.com/mapbox/vector-tile-spec/tree/master/2.1 Mapbox Vector Tile Specification 2.1].
* CRS is always EPSG:3857 Web-Mercator. Though Vector Tiles are in principle not bound to a coordinate reference system ([[CRS]]), currently it's only possible to handle Vector Tiles in Web-Mercator EPSG:3857.
* There's no styling attached to MBTiles nor to Vector Tiles.

Limitations of current plugin:
* MBTiles are read from maxzoom (e.g. 14). All data from levels above will be ignored except for empty tiles which are taken from maskLevel (e.g. 8).

== Enhancements and Ideas ==

The plugin could read Vector Tiles directly from the web. But then - to behave similar to raster tiles - the problem of missing corresponding styling becomes even more prominent.

== Installation and Source Code ==

Intall as local plugin (not yet in QGIS plugin repo -[Install from inside [[QGIS]] as Python plugin (Note: For plugin versions up to 0.9 you have to enable "experimental plugins")]-).

== Ressources ==

See Categories below.

[[Kategorie:QGIS-Plugin]] [[Kategorie:QGIS]] [[Kategorie:Python]] [[Kategorie:Software]] [[Kategorie:OpenStreetMap]] [[Kategorie:Vector Tiles]]

Geometa Lab OST - Benutzerbeiträge [de-ch]

Vector Tiles Reader QGIS Plugin

Vector Tiles Reader QGIS Plugin