offlinekartat

offlinekartat is a term used to describe map data and accompanying software that can function without an active Internet connection. It covers both raster and vector representations, as well as tools for offline rendering, storage, and, in some cases, routing. The concept applies to mobile devices, embedded systems, and desktop environments, enabling navigation and geographic search when connectivity is limited or unavailable.

Offline map data are typically built from geospatial data sources such as OpenStreetMap, government portals, and licensed datasets. Data are distributed in formats suitable for offline use, including MBTiles, vector tiles (MVT), GeoPackage, or SQLite databases. Rendering and interaction are performed by client-side engines like MapLibre or similar libraries, which can render tiles and execute lightweight queries without calling online services.

An offline map stack generally comprises a data layer, a rendering layer, and a functional layer for search and routing. Applications download and store data bundles on device storage, render maps locally, and perform offline routing using precomputed graphs or lightweight routing engines. Update strategies range from manual refresh to scheduled downloads triggered by app updates or user actions.

Licensing and data quality are important considerations. Many offlinekartat projects rely on open data with permissive licenses, but commercial datasets may impose restrictions. Community and commercial ecosystems continue to evolve, balancing data freshness, storage constraints, and offline performance to support reliable navigation and geographic information access without online connectivity.