New NDS.Live MapViewer: Interactive visualization of detailed map data

The NDS.Live MapViewer is now beyond its initial stages and almost set to fully replace the existing version integrated in LiveLab. We would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to this tool. Why not try it out for yourself? Visit the NDS.Live Developer Portal, which is available to you free of charge for testing.

Real-Time Information

A picture is worth a thousand words, as the saying goes. In today’s image-focused world, there is no getting around powerful visualization tools. The importance of visualization in the development of navigation solutions can be seen in the example of MapViewer in NDS.Live. This advanced tool provides interactive visualization of detailed map data, integrating real-time information such as traffic conditions and road closures.

NDS.Live’s MapViewer allows developers to inspect map data in a web browser offering features such as detailed visualization of road and lane data, attribute inspection, filtering, and search functionality. Additionally, MapViewer comes with a Python API, which gives access to maps and allows to develop custom REST services. With its user-friendly interface and advanced filtering options, it provides the means to effectively explore spatial data.

Motivation and Goals MapViewer

MapViewer is a versatile, dockerized web application designed for accessing, visualizing, inspecting, and analyzing NDS.Live data, along being open to other data types. It will eventually be available as a desktop application; however, an easy-to-use Docker image (for x64 and arm64) is currently available, allowing users to use releases without requiring a build environment at this stage. The goals for the MapViewer are aspirational and outline the direction the NDS members are actively working towards to enhance both user and developer experience:

• NDS.Live Support: Aim to support all officially supported modules and versions for complete integration and a unified experience.
• Performance: Develop a scalable solution capable of managing multiple data sources, thousands of tiles, and hundreds of thousands of features.
• User Interface: Continuously refine the interface to balance content prioritization with analytical depth while minimizing visual clutter.
• Styling Flexibility: Implement a flexible style system that adapts to various analysis use cases.
• Data Connectivity: Enhance connections between map features and their originating NDS.Live data sources for deeper data insights.
• Map Comparison Tools: Integrate advanced tools for detailed map comparison to aid comprehensive analysis.
• Automated Data Access: Facilitate easy access to map data for automation, improving workflow efficiency.
• Custom Data Displays: Enable the display of custom data layers, such as annotations and overlays, to enrich the mapping experience.
• Search Functionality: Enhance search capabilities to enable intuitive discovery of locations, tiles, and features.
• Collaborative Environment: Foster a culture of collaborative development by creating a welcoming space for community contributions.
• API Clarity and Documentation: Provide clearer APIs and more comprehensive documentation to support developers.
• Containerized Development: Offer a streamlined, containerized development environment to simplify setup and enhance efficiency.

The NDS.Live MapViewer is essential for modern navigation development as it allows developers to view, debug, and test navigation solutions in real-time, ensuring accuracy and reliability. Its user-friendly interface and seamless integration with other NDS.Live services streamline the development process and enhance productivity. Individual insights are crucial in shaping its development, and we encourage you to explore, experiment, and share your experiences with us. Together, let’s advance the MapViewer as an indispensable tool for our community.

In the NDS.Live Developer Portal you can find out more about the possibilities and functions of NDS.Live. For detailed operational guidance, refer to the User Guide for setup, configuration, and usage instructions. Developers interested in building and debugging the tool can consult the Developer Guide.