Track geometries

Maps include geometries for rendering objects that move over time. These geometries are designed to help you visualize the paths that objects take and the patterns that emerge as objects move across the map.

All track geometries have the ability to use time-based opacity styling. In addition to the track geometries below, you can also use a track geometry source as the way to position icons and circles.

The notional example below uses a track geometry source to display a track line, breadcrumbs, and icon at the current position for vessel objects moving near the City of Vancouver:

Moving geometry interpolation

When using tracks as a geometry source, there are additional options you can use to configure how the map interprets the point location from the track and the temporal cursor.

• Interpolation mode
  • Linear: Smoothly interpolate between known points in the track.
  • Last known: Show the object at the last recorded position before the temporal cursor.
• Max time gap: When two consecutive track points have a time difference greater than the value configured, the track is considered as having no data for that time period.

Track lines

Track lines visualize the paths that objects take by connecting adjacent recorded positions with a line. If two points have a time difference greater than the configured Max time gap, the line will not be drawn between those points. Otherwise, track lines have the same styling options as lines.

Track breadcrumbs

Track breadcrumbs are a way to visualize only the exact recorded positions of an object. Each object's track is rendered as a series of small circles, or breadcrumbs, that show the object's location at different times. Otherwise, breadcrumbs have the same styling options as circles.

Track breadcrumbs also display in the timeline to allow you to see the exact time at which object positions were recorded. This example visualizes a satellite's ground trace, and colors the line and breadcrumbs by the latitude of the satellite at every point. The breadcrumbs in the timeline also reflect that color style configuration. Breadcrumbs that are not visible in the map viewport are faded out to help you to understand the object path over time and at what time ranges the object will be visible on the map.