Maps and Navigation¶
Map selection¶
Karttahimmeli automatically selects the best map for the current zoom level. You do not need to switch maps manually. Zoom in/out is enough.
| Zoom level | Automatic map |
|---|---|
| Wide overview | "Road map" |
| Working view | Terrain map |
| Detailed view | Mapant ("ant map") |
| Full zoom | Aerial imagery |
You can also switch maps manually from the map selector on the right side.
Map options¶
Terrain map¶
Standard terrain map. Contour lines were drawn manually for original 1:20,000 scale. At high zoom, no additional detail appears.
Mapant ("ant map")¶
Why Mapant is often best
Mapant contour lines are machine-generated from lidar data, so they often match real terrain forms better than manually drawn terrain map. With Mapant, self-positioning in terrain is often significantly more accurate.
Green means dense vegetation, orange means open area. Black dots show steep rock or exposed stone.
Mapant is automatically generated from lidar data and resembles orienteering map. It shows terrain forms more accurately than traditional terrain map.
Differently coloured contour lines in Mapant
Some contour lines in Mapant appear in a different colour — these are negative contours: depressions where the surrounding terrain is higher than the hollow floor. Examples include pits, sinkholes, and ditch edges. The different colour is intentional, not a map error.
Aerial image¶
At close zoom, Karttahimmeli automatically switches to aerial imagery. Useful when surroundings need detailed visual check.
Address map¶
In urban areas address map is often best. Addresses are clear and area layout is easier to understand by streets.
Lightened map¶
When there are many map entries, map can be lightened so entries stand out. Setting is under map selection menu.
Nautical charts¶
Official nautical charts are available for Finland's coastal and inland waterway areas. To enable them, first select Vector map, then turn on Nautical charts in the map menu.
Property boundaries¶
Property (cadastral) boundaries can be shown as a separate overlay from the Property boundaries switch in the map selection menu. The overlay only appears once you zoom in fairly close, similar to aerial imagery.
In Finland, property boundaries come from the National Land Survey's (MML) own detailed cadastral data. In other countries, the pan-European Maps for Europe cadastral dataset (July 2025) is used, covering: Estonia, Latvia, Spain, Austria, Denmark, France, Netherlands, Switzerland, Czech Republic, and Belgium.
The Property boundaries switch is not shown in other countries (including Sweden, Norway, Great Britain, Germany, Poland, Italy, Portugal, and countries outside Europe), since no boundary data is available for them.
Map coverage¶
Karttahimmeli uses official national map services in more than 20 countries.
| Country | Terrain map | Aerial | Orienteering | Cadastral |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finland | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ ² |
| Estonia | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sweden | ✓ | |||
| Norway | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| France | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Austria | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Switzerland | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Czech Republic | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Belgium | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Netherlands | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Germany | ✓ | ✓ ×6 | ||
| Spain | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Great Britain | ✓ | |||
| Denmark | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Poland | ✓ | |||
| Italy | ✓ ¹ | ✓ ×4 | ||
| Latvia | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Slovenia | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| New Zealand | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Portugal | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Australia | ✓ |
¹ Piemonte region only. Germany and Italy aerial images are regional — multiple state/region layers.
² Finland's cadastral data comes from the National Land Survey's own dataset; other countries share a pan-European dataset — see above.
Globally available everywhere: hillshade (multi-directional) and contour lines (computed on-device from elevation data, zoom 13+).
Map samples¶
Navigation on map¶
Map is panned by dragging with a finger or mouse.
Zooming¶
- Pinch zoom – zoom in or out with two fingers on a touch screen
- Double-tap and drag – double-tap and hold, then drag up to zoom in or down to zoom out
- Double-click (browser) – zooms in one step
- Mouse wheel (browser) – zooms in or out
- Zoom buttons – the + and − buttons on the right side of the map
- Volume buttons (Android app) – zoom in and out
- Keyboard (browser) – click the map once to focus it, then arrow keys pan and +/− zoom
Map centering¶
For field use, the map can be set to automatically follow your location. Own location display is activated from the own location switch. When enabled, the center button has three modes:
- Free mode (default) – map can move freely, own location shown as dot
- Centering mode – map follows own location automatically; map cannot pan but can rotate
- Navigation mode – map rotates automatically by travel direction and own location is shown in lower third
Using navigation mode
In navigation mode map rotates using compass or GPS heading. When standing still it uses compass, while moving it uses GPS heading. Exit by pressing button third time.
North lines and overlays¶
From Preferences menu you can enable:
- Compass north lines – help navigate with a hand compass
- Cardinal directions – shows compass directions on the map
- Scale circles – shows the map scale
- Compass active – shows the device compass heading on the map
- Wind vanes – shows wind data from nearby stations on the map
Map cache¶
Advanced: offline maps
Karttahimmeli caches map tiles automatically while you browse. Before field deployment, browse operation area in both terrain and Mapant levels. Then maps work even without network.
If app reports empty cache, browse area calmly before departure.
Karttahimmeli works without network if required map tiles were cached earlier.
Using the app offline¶
Karttahimmeli starts and opens recent operations even without a network connection. The map state is restored to the situation from when the operation was last joined with network — the very latest changes appear only when connectivity returns.
Location sharing and making markings can continue even in dead zones. Queued positions and markings are sent automatically when the connection is restored.
In dead zones
If you know the operation area has poor coverage, open the operation and browse the map area before departure. The tiles will be cached and the app will work fully without a network connection.