Introducing the new Raster Tile API v3

Earlier this year we released the new HERE Raster Tile API v3, you may be asking, what is Raster Tile API? The Raster Tile API v3 is a REST API that allows you to request map tile images for all regions in the world. These map tiles, when combined in a grid, form a complete map of the world using the Mercator Projection.

By the way, this is the replacement service for the HERE Map Tile v2 service. If you are migrating from v2, please refer to this migration guide.

Note
Accessing HERE Raster Tile API v3 requires a HERE platform account. Previously used HERE developer accounts do not work for HERE Raster Tile API v3.

Oh, this is how a complete map of the world is created, map tiles images that are combined in a grid, very interesting. I have so many questions:

What can I use the Raster Tile API for?

The high level use cases of the HERE Tile Raster API are as follow:

	Description
Retrieve a map tile image	The HERE Raster Tile API allows you to request different types of map tiles such as basic tiles or aerial tiles by providing details such as the position, format, or zoom level.
Customize the look and feel of a map tile image	The HERE Raster Tile API lets you specify scheme, zoom level, and resolution of a map tile image.
Retrieve map tiles with HERE premium content	The HERE Raster Tile API allows you to request map tiles with HERE premium content, such as truck restriction links and road signs to power application development for T&L and Fleet Management use cases.

How can I change the appearance of the map tile?

The HERE Raster Tile API provides a style parameter that you can use to select the content and appearance of the rendered map tile. To request the list of available styles, use the info endpoint. For more information, see the API Reference documentation. The HERE Raster Tile API supports the following base styles: explore.day, explore.night, explore.satellite.day and satellite.day. See the comparison image below of all 4 styles against a map tile in Hamburg, Germany.

Below are several examples of map tiles request around the world with various styles:

Get a map tile in Sydney, Australia, with a style explore.day.

Request:

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        https://maps.hereapi.com/v3/base/mc/10/941/614/png?style=explore.day&ppi=400&size=512&apiKey={API_KEY}

Response:

Get a map tile in Sao Paolo, Brazil, with a style explore.night.

Request:

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        https://maps.hereapi.com/v3/base/mc/11/758/1162/png?style=explore.night&ppi=400&size=512&apiKey={API_KEY}

Response:

Get a map tile in Berlin, Germany, with a style satellite.day.

Request:

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        https://maps.hereapi.com/v3/base/mc/15/17589/10747/png?style=satellite.day&ppi=400&size=512&apiKey={API_KEY}

Response:

Get a map tile in Tokyo, Japan, with a style explore.satellite.day.

Request:

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        https://maps.hereapi.com/v3/base/mc/15/29102/12903/png?style=explore.satellite.day&ppi=400&size=512&apiKey={API_KEY}

Response:

Any optional tile content?

The HERE Raster Tile API provides a features parameter that you can use to select optional tile content. Available features are defined per style - each style supports a different set of features. A feature has a set of modes. Only one mode can be active at a time. If you do not specify any mode for a feature, the feature is using a default mode. The default mode depends on the feature. For example, for pois feature the default mode is all and for environmental zones feature the default mode is disabled.

For example, a user wants to display a map with environmental zones information, but without POIs. In order to do so, add a features parameter that specifies the mode for each feature.

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        https://maps.hereapi.com/v3/base/mc/9/272/177/png?size=512&features=environmental_zones:all,pois:disabled

The response renders the following tile:

Another example, a user want to display truck restriction tiles in Chicago, USA. In order to do so, we need to include the vehicle_restrictions feature to the request.

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        https://maps.hereapi.com/v3/base/mc/11/525/761/png?style=explore.day&ppi=400&features=vehicle_restrictions:active_and_inactive&size=512&apiKey={API_KEY}

The response renders the following tile:

Advanced Features
Requests that include the `vehicle_restrictions` feature, for example, requests containing the `features=vehicle_restrictions:active_and_inactive` parameter value, fall into the transaction category based on the `Raster Tile Advanced`. For more information, see HERE Map Rendering service rates on the HERE platform pricing page.

Touchy subject, how about geopolitical views?

The HERE Raster Tile API provides a pview parameter that you can use to render the map with boundaries based on international or local country views (geopolitical views). The values follow ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country codes schema. If the pview parameter is specified, the boundaries of the selected country view are shown; otherwise the default boundaries view is shown.

A typical use case is that a particular area of the world is considered as disputed by two or more countries. Therefore, each country shows that area as part of itself. If you request a particular tile with the geopolitical view of country A, the response shows the area as belonging to A. Similarly, if you request the tile with the geopolitical view of country B, the response shows the area as belonging to B.

For example, a user wants to see a certain location in South Patagonia. The first request (on the left) shows the default view (international view) with a dashed border showing the South Patagonian Ice Field between Chile and Argentina. Requesting the same tile using the Argentinian view (on the right) on the area shows a solid border representing Argentina's view on the ice field. And the only difference between the two requests is the additional pview=AR parameter.

One more thing, how about languages?

The HERE Raster Tile API provides two language specific parameters:

lang: Request a tile with primary labels displayed in that particular language
lang2: Request a tile with secondary labels displayed in that particular language

For example, we want to get map tile from India with primary language set to Hindi and secondary language set to English, and the request would need to include the parameter lang to indicate the primary language and lang2 for the secondary language, as shown below:

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        https://maps.hereapi.com/v3/base/mc/12/2926/1707/png?lang=hi&lang2=en&apiKey={API_KEY}

The response renders the following tile:

Raster tile india language hindi english

Conclusion

The HERE Raster Tile API v3 is a REST API that allows you to request map tile images for all regions in the world. It is the successor of the classic Map Tile API v2, inheriting all its best functionality and going beyond, offering detailed map tiles of Japan (GeoTechnologies, Inc. data), a new Explore style, matching other HERE map visualization products, featuring more HERE Places categories and advanced HERE content. The service supports base, satellite and hybrid satellite map views, day and night map schemes, supports multiple languages and geopolitical views, offers an option to visualize truck restrictions and environmental zones.