Neon Maps

NYC Taxi Tiles is a map of 2013 New York City taxi data. The information for the map was obtained through a FOIL asking (you tin read the interesting story behind the asking here). The bluish dots on the map stand upwardly for pick-up points in addition to the xanthous points demonstrate drop-off points.

I've been seeing a lot of these 'neon' means maps lately. These maps portion some mutual features, such every bit nighttime or grey-scale map tiles in addition to the information overlaid amongst lighter dots or lines. The cite of this detail map provides a clue every bit to how these maps are created - amongst the information processed in addition to added to the actual map tiles rather than existence added inwards the browser.


It should hold out possible to charge smaller amounts of information to the map inwards the browser. I similar this Moscow Hills OpenStreetMap of Moscow, using slope colored roads to demonstrate meridian levels throughout the city. As good every bit using the color of the roads every bit a guide yous tin mouse-over whatever betoken on a route to stance the meridian at that point.

I mean value over again the information is truly a purpose of the map tiles rather than existence overlaid on piece of work yesteryear of the map. Theoretically nonetheless yous could occupation the Google Maps API in addition to the Elevation Service to create a map amongst the information existence loaded inwards the browser. In fact it should hold out fairly uncomplicated to depict a slope polyline along a route using the Stroke Style characteristic amongst the Google Maps SDK for iOS. Unfortunately gradient polylines get got yet to hold out added to the Maps JavaScript API.


The Strava Global Heatmap is a truly informative Google Map of where joggers similar to run in addition to where cyclists honey to ride. The map allows yous to stance the close pop running in addition to cycling routes yesteryear Strava users across the world.

The dissimilar colored neon lines (for the dissimilar Strava activities) seem to hold out added every bit map tile overlays. It makes feel to pre-process the information inwards this means rather that endeavor to generate millions of information points inwards the browser.


Mapbox has created a similar map using Runkeeper data. This map shows 1.5 ane grand k walks, runs, in addition to bike rides undertaken yesteryear Runkeeper users.

The 1.5 Million Walks, Runs, in addition to Bike Rides map includes some quick links to jump to the map of a few major cities around the globe merely yous tin pan in addition to zoom the map to stance the pop running routes at whatever place inwards the world.

1.5 millions tracks is a lot of information for the browser to process. With this total of information it seems mutual feel to create map tiles amongst the information in addition to create a mapped visualization amongst your custom mapped tiles.