To understand the implications and uses of this feature, you’ll first need to understand what map tiles are. Briefly, web maps use a tile server to obtain map tiles for display. 

The term “map rendering” refers to creating a visual map from raw geospatial data. Custom map tiles allow you to use different map tiles from various GIS (Geographic Information System) service providers that provide map tiles, allowing you to use maps better suited for your purposes than the default maps in our platform. 

Our platform uses default mapping sources for iOS (Apple Maps), Android (Google Maps), and for Windows and Web (Thunderforest).

Custom map tiles can be globally set on an organizational level on your Organization’s Setup or individually when designing screens. The screens and fields that support this feature are:

• Mapping Screens
• Data Entry Forms
  • Location Field
  • Media Field
    (when you specify “Include GPS Information”)
  • Gallery Field Media
    (when you specify “Include GPS Information”)  

Tile loading times can be affected by poor device connectivity, the provider, or the type of tiles being used.

Examples

Below are some examples of what custom tiles look like when viewed on Android.

Google Maps

National Geographic

Esri.WorldImagery

OPNVKarte

As can be seen, custom tiles offer a “world” of possibilities regarding the types of maps you can render in your applications and output in your reports.

To test the examples used in the screenshots above, below are the custom tile URLs you can use (instructions on how to implement can be found further on in this article):

• National Geographic Custom Tile https://server.arcgisonline.com/ArcGIS/rest/services/NatGeo_World_Map/MapServer/tile/{z}/{y}/{x}
• Esri.WorldImagery
  https://server.arcgisonline.com/ArcGIS/rest/services/World_Imagery/MapServer/tile/{z}/{y}/{x}
• OPNVKarte
  https://tileserver.memomaps.de/tilegen/{z}/{x}/{y}.png

For more information on custom map tiles, here are some helpful links:

• https://openmaptiles.org/about/
• https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Tiles
• https://switch2osm.org/the-basics/

Adding a Custom Tile Source (Global)

Navigate the platform’s side menu to Organization & Users > Organization Setup > Integrations. Under the Global Service Endpoints section is the Mapping Tiles for App property.

You’ll be able to specify a URL template that must contain {z}, {x}, and {y} placeholders.

• {z} representing the zoom level
• {x} and {y} decimal coordinates to be passed to your tile source provider

Examples:

• https://tile.openstreetmap.org/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
• https://[host]/arcgis/rest/serv/map/tile/{z}/{y}/{x}

Adding a custom tile source on an organisational level globally applies that source to the app.
Overriding the platform’s default mapping source.

Configuring Screens

Mapping Screens

When viewing the designer of a Map a Data Source screen, under Basic Properties, the Map Type dropdown allows for a Custom Tile Source to be selected. Once selected, the source’s URL option becomes available, where you can enter the specific URL template pointing to the tile’s source that the screen will use.

Once you click on Custom Tile Source, you can enter a custom tile URL from your GIS provider (or use the example URL provided above).

Remember to save your design changes, jump into the app, force sync, and test.

Adding a custom tile source to a Mapping screen only applies that source to the Mapping screen.
Overriding the platform’s default or custom global source.

Configuring Fields

When viewing a Data Entry Form’s design, the following fields display Custom Tile Source options.

Location Field

Under the field’s Layout & Styling properties, the Display Map Type dropdown allows for a Custom Tile Source to be selected. Once selected, the source’s URL option becomes available, where you can enter the specific URL template pointing to the tile’s source that the field will use. 

Media and Gallery Field

Under the field’s Basic Properties, if the Include GPS information is ticked, the Display Map Type dropdown allows for a Custom Tile Source to be selected. Once selected, the source’s URL option becomes available, where you can enter the specific URL template (examples above) pointing to the tile’s source that the field will use. The option to include GPS information is available for all media types, ie. Image, Audio, and Video. 

Media Field

Gallery Field

Adding a custom tile source to any field only applies that source to that field.
Overriding the platform’s default or custom global source.

In-App Behaviour

While using this function, you might encounter a few hurdles from time to time, and when these occur, one of the following in-app Error Messages should appear.

API Integrations

Most of the above-mentioned functionality is configurable via the platform’s web portal. However, if the need arises to interact externally with a screen that has a custom map tile, you are able to update the URL used by making use of our Screen API.