ThinkGeo.com    |     Documentation    |     Premium Support

API REST Services support?

#1

Hi
I am testing vector tiles using ThinkGeo
Does thinkgeo support online vector tiles format from a server ?
Do you have an advice on how to test it?
When I request vector tiles formats this is a replay

Common Vector Tile Formats

  1. Mapbox Vector Tile (MVT)
  • File Format : Encoded in Protocol Buffers ( .pbf ).
  • Standard : Popularized by Mapbox, now an Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) standard.
  • Supported By :
    • Web Mapping Libraries : Mapbox GL JS, OpenLayers, Leaflet (with plugins), CesiumJS.
    • Server Tools : Mapbox, TileServer GL, GeoServer, MapTiler.
    • GIS Software : QGIS, ArcGIS Pro (with plugins).
  • Strengths : Compact, efficient for web use, supports styling and interactivity.
  1. GeoJSON Vector Tiles
  • File Format : JSON-based ( .json ).
  • Supported By :
    • Web Libraries : Leaflet, OpenLayers, Mapbox GL JS (converted on-the-fly).
    • GIS Tools : Many, but less efficient than MVT.
  • Strengths : Human-readable, easy to debug, but larger in size compared to MVT.
  1. TopoJSON Vector Tiles
  • File Format : JSON-based ( .json ).
  • Supported By :
    • Web Libraries : D3.js (via plugins), some Leaflet and OpenLayers workflows.
  • Strengths : Reduces file size by encoding shared geometry efficiently.
  1. GML Tiles
  • File Format : XML-based.
  • Supported By :
    • Some GIS tools like QGIS, GeoServer.
  • Strengths : Supports complex data models but is not optimized for web delivery.
  1. KML Tiles
  • File Format : XML-based ( .kml or .kmz ).
  • Supported By :
    • Google Earth, some web mapping tools.
  • Strengths : Best suited for use with Google Earth; not common for vector tiles.
#2

Hi Gunnar,

We’re actually quite close to supporting the online MVT data. We have all the necessary components, but haven’t had the chance to finalize the implementation. Could you let me know when you need this feature by? If it’s time-sensitive, we can probably prioritize it and deliver it sooner.

As for other formats, it’s possible to support them by customizing classes and overriding methods, but we currently don’t have plans to focus on them in the near future.

Thanks,
Ben

#3

Thank you for a quick reply.

#4

Sure! Keep an eye on our blog and you might find MVT is available anytime.