Supported Features

Spatial Data Types

• GeoJSON: Points, polylines, polygons (Points and Polylines can be 3D)
  • Edit and write?
• PNG, JPEG: Images
• OSM Tiles: Images
• BlueSpray Pyramids: Point, polylines, polygons, images, raster data (numeric values)
• JSONRasters: Rasters with their original values that can be integer or float and any number of bands
• TINs? (3D only?)
• Spatial Databases (PostgreSQL?)
  • Read and Write?

Spatial Data Rendering Options

• Gradients: 2D only
• Pattern fills: 2D only
• Flat labels; 2D, 3D as SVG overlay (points and label layer only)
• 3D labels: 3D only (points and label layer only)
• Drapped over terrain: 3D only
• 3D Extrusions

Other data types

• Simple 2D Objects - rectangles, ovals, rounded rectangles, lines, polygons, stars, n-gons, etc.
• 3D Extrusions of 2D objects - n-gons, stars, etc.
• Curves - plain, arrows, etc.
• Simple 3D objects - boxes, cylinders, cones, planes
• Label Layer - polyline layer with text that uses the polyline as a baseline
• 2D Map elements - scale bars, graticules, borders, compass roses, north arrows
• 3D Map elements - graticules, graticules, borders? compass rose

3D

Rendering is with triangles in 3 dimensions which are converted to pixels by the hardware.

• Spaital data can be drapped over terrain
• Rasters can have bump maps, specular maps, and transparency maps
• Can have SVG (2D) text over map or text in the scene
  • Text in scene is expensive

2D

Rendering is direct to pixels.

• Text is easier
• Gradients and image fills
• Better control over pixel-level rendering

Both

• Projections (non-flat only in 3D)
• Animations

	2D			3D
Projection	Static	Dynamic	Interpolated	Static	Spherical	Dynamic	Interpolated Flat	Interpolated 3D
Appears	2D	2D	2D	3D	3D	2D	2D	3D
Geo Shape	Flat	Flat	Flat	Flat	Spherical	Flat	Flat	Any?
Intended Extent	Any	Global	Global to Local	Any?	Global	Global	Global to Local	Global to Local
When to use		Global theme that is hard to visualize without rotating the earth	Global theme with local details	3D is important	Global theme when you only need to see < 1/2 the world at a time	Global theme that is hard to visualize without rotating the earth Rasters are imporant	Global theme with local details Rasters are included	Most general solution Just cool, education?
GeoJSON	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Points - Yes Polylines and Polygons - Future	Yes	Yes	Points - Yes Polylines and Polygons - Future
PNG, JPEG Files	Yes	-	-	Yes?	Yes?	Yes?		Yes?
OSM Tiles	Yes	-	-		Yes	Yes?		Yes?
BlueSpray Pyramids	Yes	Point, Polyline, Polygon	All but rasters	Yes
Rasters
Labels	Points - Yes Polylines and Polygons - Future
Label Layer
2D Objects	Yes	Yes	Yes
3D Objects	-	-	-	Yes	Yes	Yes		Yes
Scale Bars	Yes	Yes	Yes	-	-	Future	Future	-
Graticules	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Future	Future	Future
North Arrows	Yes	Yes	Yes	-	-	Future?	Future?	Future
Compass Rose	Future?	Future?	Future?	Future?	Future?	Future?	Future?	Future?
Arrows	Yes	Yes	Yes	Future?	Future?	Future?	Future?	Future?