Published on 8 January 2024

Base Map

The Base Map is a dynamic map optimised for mobile use based on Vectortiles technology. Integrated elements of the Base Map are points of interest on various topics. 

The Base Map is a dynamic web-map built on vectortile technology, designed specifically for optimal use on mobile devices. All map elements are displayed in vector format, including terrain representations. The Base Map includes a wide range of features, such as points-of-interest (POI) covering various topics. Due to the applied visualisation technology, the map can be integrated into your own website or mobile application unchanged or after individual adaptation. The map’s content varies based on the zoom level displayed. The vector representation adheres to the Maplibre style specification.

It combines official data (including the topographic landscape model, digital elevation model, digital cartographic model, public transport stops and the official road directory), as well as third-party data. 

Thanks to the additional data integration of OpenStreetMap for foreign countries and the "Web Mercator" global projection system, worldwide coverage is guaranteed. As per licensing requirements, the global data can only be utilised by administrative units of the Swiss central federal administration, following specification in Annex 1 of the Government and Administration Organisation Ordinance (Annex 1 RVOV, SR 172.010.1). However, users outside the Federal Administration can access the vector tilesets covering Switzerland and Liechtenstein provided by swisstopo free of charge.

“Mapbox Vector Tiles” service 
Detailed information on the "Mapbox Vector Tiles" service, with which the web maps can be obtained, can be found at Vector Tiles Service.

Product variants
The Base Map is available in two product variants: Base Map and Base Map Winter – the Base Map in a winter colour scheme. The two products are identical in content.

Base Map in the service preview

Full screen

Additional information

• Base Map

  • Data origin:
    • Federal Office of Topography swisstopo:
      • Topographic landscape model
      • Digital cartographic models
      • Official road directory
    • Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA:
      • Foreign Representations
    • Federal Office for the Environment FOEN:
      • National park and parks of national importance
    • Federal Office for Civil Protection FOCP:
      • Selection from the cultural property inventory
    • opentransportdata.swiss:
      • Stands, tracks
    • Swiss Alpine Club SAC:
      • Alpine and wilderness huts
    • Naturefriends Switzerland:
      • Naturefriends houses
    • Swiss Pharmacists Association pharmaSuisse:
      • Pharmacies
    • Maptiler AG:
      • OpenMapTiles (Data abroad)
  • Update cycle:
    • Switzerland: Quarterly update (during the course of the year, data content may be updated)
    • Abroad: The control of the update cycle is carried out by Maptiler

  Schema documentation (vector data Switzerland):
  https://geoadmin.github.io/config-vt-schema-sbm/

  Schema documentation OpenMapTiles:
  https://openmaptiles.org/schema/

• Vector Tiles

  Advantages of a web map with vector tiles:

  • Quick and easy personalisation of the map display
  • Expansion of the web map with own thematic information
  • Easy integration of the web map into your own website
  • Independent and short update cycles of the basic data

  What are vector tiles?
  Vector tiles offer new possibilities to present swisstopo's geodata online. To enable short loading times for online maps, data is clipped into small pieces. These pieces are called "tiles". When viewing the map, only vector tiles of the desired area at the required zoom level are loaded. The tiles contain vector objects (points, lines, polygons) - hence the name “vector tiles". The cartographic representation of these objects is defined in a separate file and can be precisely controlled. If the information in this file is changed, the representation of the vector tiles changes. This opens up new possibilities for the display of and interaction with geodata.
  
  What are vector tiles good for?
  New opportunities are available to you as a developer thanks to the “vector tiles” geoservice.

  • You can define a personalised style that corresponds to your specific needs and apply it to swisstopo vector tiles.
  • Information contained in vector tiles can be queried
  • The low memory requirement of the tiles is ideal for offline applications.
  • The geoservice can be used free of charge throughout Switzerland (including the terrain representation) (terms and conditions are shown under "Licence and terms of use").

• Licence and terms of use

  • Licence and terms of use:
    The map and the geoservice that provides it may be used in accordance with swisstopo's Terms of Use for Free Geodata and Geoservices (OGD) and the General Terms of Use and Operating Regulations of the Federal Spatial Data Infrastructure FSDI.
    For digital or analogue representations and publications, the following source reference must be included: © swisstopo, © FDFA, © FOEN, © FOCP, © SAC, © Naturefriends Switzerland, © opentransportdata.swiss
    The following terms of use also apply to data defined as Open Data by third-party providers:
    • General terms of use for the Swiss public transport data defined as open data | Open data platform mobility Switzerland (opentransportdata.swiss)
    • Terms of use opendata.swiss
  • Restrictions on use:
    The "Mapbox Vector Tiles" geoservice is subject to a usage restriction due to the use of OpenMaptiles data. For licensing reasons, the worldwide data can only be used by the Federal Administration. For users outside the Federal Administration, the data is available free of charge as a service within Switzerland and Liechtenstein. More information is available under "Vector Tiles Service".
    In the case of digital or analogue representations and publications by the administrative units of the Federal Administration, the following source reference must also be given:, © MapTiler, © OpenStreetMap contributors
    In any case, the use must be compatible with the disclaimer of the Federal Administration.