Add predefined map features

Add map features

In addition to map schemes, the HERE SDK supports specialized layers called MapFeatures. These features allow you to overlay additional data on the map.

MapFeatures can be configured with different MapFeatureModes to control its visual appearance. For example, 3D landmarks can be displayed using textured or non-textured modes. Landmarks are enabled by default for most map schemes.

To see which MapFeatures and MapFeatureModes are enabled by default for each MapScheme, refer to default features and modes per map scheme in the HERE Style Editor documentation.

Note

Note that not all MapFeatures are available for all licenses. Take a look at the API Reference to know which layers are supported for your licence.

Adding MapFeatures may have a performance impact.

Below you can see how the map feature layers can be enabled:

mapView.mapScene.enableFeatures([MapFeatures.buildingFootprints : MapFeatureModes.buildingFootprintsAll]);
mapView.mapScene.enableFeatures([MapFeatures.contours : MapFeatureModes.contoursAll]); // Only available with the Navigate license.
mapView.mapScene.enableFeatures([MapFeatures.congestionZones : MapFeatureModes.congestionZonesAll]);
mapView.mapScene.enableFeatures([MapFeatures.environmentalZones : MapFeatureModes.environmentalZonesAll]);
mapView.mapScene.enableFeatures([MapFeatures.extrudedBuildings : MapFeatureModes.defaultMode]);
mapView.mapScene.enableFeatures([MapFeatures.landmarks : MapFeatureModes.landmarksTextured]); // Only available with the Navigate license.
mapView.mapScene.enableFeatures([MapFeatures.roadExitLabels : MapFeatureModes.roadExitLabelsAll]); // Only available with the Navigate license.
mapView.mapScene.enableFeatures([MapFeatures.safetyCameras : MapFeatureModes.defaultMode]);
mapView.mapScene.enableFeatures([MapFeatures.shadows : MapFeatureModes.shadowsAll]);
mapView.mapScene.enableFeatures([MapFeatures.terrain : MapFeatureModes.defaultMode]);
mapView.mapScene.enableFeatures([MapFeatures.trafficFlow : MapFeatureModes.defaultMode]); // Only available with the Navigate license.
mapView.mapScene.enableFeatures([MapFeatures.trafficIncidents : MapFeatureModes.defaultMode]);
mapView.mapScene.enableFeatures([MapFeatures.lowSpeedZones : MapFeatureModes.lowSpeedZonesAll]);
mapView.mapScene.enableFeatures([MapFeatures.vehicleRestrictions : MapFeatureModes.defaultMode]); // Only available with the Navigate license.
mapView.mapScene.enableFeatures([MapFeatures.ambientOcclusion : MapFeatureModes.ambientOcclusionAll]);
mapView.mapScene.enableFeatures([MapFeatures.publicTransit : MapFeatureModes.publicTransitAll]); // Only available with the Navigate license.

Note

When a new map scene is loaded (for example, when switching between different map schemes), all previously configured map features are reset to their default state. You must re-enable your desired map features after each scene load operation.

Setting a new layer state is performed synchronously, but it requires a valid map scene that must have been loaded before. Also, setting a new feature state while a new map scene is being loaded, may result in an exception.

Similarly, you can also disable a list of layers like shown below:

mapView.mapScene.disableFeatures([MapFeatures.buildingFootprints,
                                  MapFeatures.extrudedBuildings,
                                  MapFeatures.ambientOcclusion])

Note

When trafficFlow and trafficIncidents features are enabled, then the HERE SDK will request new traffic information for each new vector tile - for example, by panning the viewport or zooming. This may lead to an increase of costs, depending on your plan. With MapContentSettings the traffic flow and incident refresh period can be adjusted, but this can be overwritten by viewport changes. During turn-by-turn navigation, this can happen multiple times per second and may result in a high number of Traffic Vector Tile requests. As an alternative, consider using TrafficOnRoute to update only the traffic visualization along the route itself.

Each map feature supports one or more alternative rendering options. For example, instead of using terrainHillshade, which is the default mode for terrain, you can use terrain3d to show advanced topographical shading for hills on a true 3D terrain map view.

Below you can see screenshots for all map layers supported by the HERE SDK - note that not all feature layers are available for all licenses:

Some layers allow to filter the shown content via MapContentSettings:

• MapFeatures.trafficIncidents: Use filterTrafficIncidents​(trafficIncidents: [TrafficIncidentType]) to filter the displayed traffic incidents.
• MapFeatures.vehicleRestrictions: Use configureVehicleRestrictionFilter(transportMode: TransportMode, truckSpecifications: TruckSpecifications, hazardousMaterials: [HazardousMaterial]?, tunnelCategory: TunnelCategory?) to filter the displayed truck restrictions.

The map layers buildingFootprints & extrudedBuildings are enabled by default on the MapView.

Beta Release: we now also support MapFeatureModes.terrain3d with day, night, hybrid day and hybrid night map schemes.

Extruded buildings coverage

When the MapFeatures.extrudedBuildings feature is enabled, buildings will be rendered in 3D with an outline. The appearance of the buildings may vary by country. For example, in Japan, the outlines are combined sometimes with colored building walls.

By default, extruded buildings are supported for most countries.

Note that the enriched Japan map requires a separate contract with HERE.

Enable building shadows

The HERE SDK supports rendering building shadows, available only with non-satellite-based map schemes. To enable shadows for a MapView, use the following:

mapFeatures[MapFeatures.shadows] = MapFeatureModes.shadowsAll

// Sets the desired shadow quality for all instances of MapView.
MapView.shadowQuality = ShadowQuality.veryHigh
mapScene.enableFeatures(mapFeatures)

If no shadow quality is configured, the feature has no effect and shadows are not rendered. Enabling shadows impacts performance and should be used only on devices with sufficient capability. Reduce the ShadowQuality if performance issues occur on your hardware setup.