Request: raster format support for XYZX topographic tile services

[mwtoews]

User Story

Currently the XYZ topographic tile map service supports vector tiles with .pbf (protobuf) format. This service does not work for raster-based XYZ services, e.g. xyzservices.

This request is to support raster format support, similar to other services like aerial.

This service could be implemented by specifying an extension:

https://basemaps.linz.govt.nz/v1/tiles/topographic/{crs}/{z}/{x}/{y}.{ext}?api={api_key}

where {ext} could be pbf for currently supported vector protobuf vector tiles, or one of png, jpeg or webp for a possible raster format.

This feature would require server-side rendering of the tiles.

[JBLINZ]

Hey.... Thanks for the user story.

We will likely establish a raster-based topo tile service in the next few months. The service will use the topo 1:50 and 1:250 raster maps rather than the vector tiles being rasterised.

We may look at vector tiles being rasterised in the future.

[mwtoews]

Personally, I would prefer the published-looking 1:50k and 1:250k raster topo map services. (I've been using the WMTS versions of these from data.linz.govt.nz and they work flawlessly!)

Thus rasterized versions of the vector tiles would take a lower priority, as this would be a more complex feature to entertain.

[JBLINZ]

Excellent. We will let you know when a test service is available.

[mwtoews]

Fantastic! And, for the record, this is somewhat already done with Koordinates via (e.g.):

https://tiles-cdn.koordinates.com/services;key=[api_token]/tiles/v4/layer=50767/EPSG:3857/{z}/{x}/{y}.png

[JBLINZ]

Understood. We see value in running the service via basemaps.linz.govt.nz too. We aim to publish 2 individual layers (50 & 250), and a combined service switching between the 2 at appropriate zoom levels.