webmapping

Webmapping is the process of creating, rendering, and delivering geographic data through web browsers or web applications. It combines geographic information systems (GIS) with web technologies to display maps, geospatial data, and interactive features over the internet.

Core concepts include basemaps, overlays, and layers. The slippy map technique uses tiled map images served by tile servers to enable smooth panning and zooming. Data can be delivered via web services and formats such as WMS, WFS, WMTS, GeoJSON, and KML. Technologies commonly used in webmapping include client-side libraries such as Leaflet, OpenLayers, and Mapbox GL JS, which render maps in the browser; vector tiles and WebGL enable high-performance rendering. Server-side options include GIS servers and tile caches.

Standards and interoperability are supported by Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) specifications like WMS, WMTS, and WFS, which promote cross-platform data sharing. Projections are standardized, with Web Mercator (EPSG:3857) widely used for compatibility.

Workflow typically involves data preparation, tiling or vector tiling, styling, and web delivery. User interactions commonly include zooming, panning, layer toggling, and feature querying. Considerations include access control, licensing, data provenance, and privacy.

Applications span navigation, urban planning, disaster response, environmental monitoring, and location-based services. Webmapping also supports crowdsourced data and open data portals, enabling broad dissemination of geographic information.

Challenges facing webmapping include performance, scalability, data privacy, accessibility, and copyright. The field continues to evolve with mobile-first design, offline capabilities, and advanced vector-tile technologies for richer styling and compact payloads.