19. Working with Vector Tiles

19.1. What are Vector Tiles?

Vector tiles are packets of geographic data, packaged into pre-defined roughly-square shaped “tiles” for transfer over the web. They combine pre-rendered raster map tiles and vector map tiles. The vector tile server returns vector map data, which has been clipped to the boundaries of each tile, instead of a pre-rendered map image. The clipped tiles represent the zoom-levels of the vector tile service, derived from a pyramid approach. Using this structure, the data-transfer is reduced in comparison to un-tiled vector maps. Only data within the current map view, and at the current zoom level need to be transferred. Also, compared to a tiled raster map, data transfer is also greatly reduced, as vector data is typically much smaller than a rendered bitmap. Vector tiles do not have any styling information assigned so QGIS needs to apply a cartographic style in order to display the data.

../../../_images/vector_tiles_pyramid_structure.png — Fig. 19.1 Pyramid structure of vector tiles with zoom-levels

19.2. Supported Formats 

There is support for vector tiles through:

remote sources (HTTP/S) - with XYZ template - type=xyz&url=http://example.com/{z}/{x}/{y}.pbf
local files - with XYZ template - e.g. type=xyz&url=file:///path/to/tiles/{z}/{x}/{y}.pbf
local MBTiles database - e.g. type=mbtiles&url=file:///path/to/file.mbtiles

To load a vector tiles dataset into QGIS, use the Vector Tile tab in the Data Source Manager dialog. Read Using Vector Tiles services for more details.

19.3. Vector Tiles Dataset Properties 

The vector tiles Layer Properties dialog provides the following sections:

Information	Source	Symbology^[1]
Labels^[1]	Rendering	Metadata

^[1] Also available in the Layer styling panel

19.3.1. Information Properties 

The Information tab is read-only and represents an interesting place to quickly grab summarized information and metadata on the current layer. Provided information are:

based on the provider of the layer: name, URI, source type and path, number of zoom levels
the Coordinate Reference System: name, units, method, accuracy, reference (i.e. whether it’s static or dynamic)
picked from the filled metadata: access, extents, links, contacts, history…

19.3.2. Source Properties 

The Source tab displays basic information about the selected vector tile, including:

the Layer name to display in the Layers Panel;
the Coordinate Reference System: Displays the layer’s Coordinate Reference System (CRS). You can change the layer’s CRS, by selecting a recently used one in the drop-down list or clicking on the ^{Select CRS} button (see Coordinate Reference System Selector). Use this process only if the layer CRS is wrong or not specified.

../../../_images/vector_tiles_source.png — Fig. 19.2 Vector Tiles Properties - Source Dialog

19.3.3. Symbology and Labels Properties 

../../../_images/vector_tiles_symbology.png — Fig. 19.3 Vector Tile Layer Symbology

19.3.3.1. Setting rules 

As vector tiles consist of point, line and polygon geometries, the respective symbols are available. To apply a cartographic style (with symbology and/or labels), you can either:

Use a Style URL when creating the Vector Tiles Connection. The symbology will be shown immediately in the Symbology tab after the layer is loaded in QGIS.
Or build your own symbology and labeling in the corresponding tabs of the layer properties. By default, QGIS assigns an identical symbol to the features based on their geometry type.

In both cases, setting a style for a vector tile relies on a set of rules applied to the features, indicating:

a vector symbol or label
a Label, a title for comprehensive identification of the rule
the name of a particular Layer the rule should apply to, if not applied to (all layers)
a Min. Zoom and a Max. Zoom, for the range of display. Symbology and labeling can be dependent on the zoom level.
a Filter, a QGIS expression to identify the features to apply the style to

Each rule is added pressing the ^{Add rule} button and selecting the type of symbols (Marker, Line, Fill) corresponding to the features geometry type. You can as well ^{Remove selected rules} or ^{Edit current rule}.

At the bottom the Current Zoom is shown. Check the Visible rules only option at the top of the dialog to filter the list of rules to only those that are visible at the current zoom level. This makes it easier to work with complex vector styling and to locate troublesome rules. The Filter rules text box also helps you easily find a rule, by searching the Label, Layer and Filter fields.

In Fig. 19.3 we set up style for the OpenStreetMap landuse layer. For better visibility most of the rules are deselected.

19.3.3.2. Layer rendering 

From the Symbology tab, you can also set some options that invariably act on all features of the layer:

Opacity: You can make the underlying layer in the map canvas visible with this tool. Use the slider to adapt the visibility of your vector layer to your needs. You can also make a precise definition of the percentage of visibility in the menu beside the slider.
Blending mode: You can achieve special rendering effects with these tools that you may previously only know from graphics programs. The pixels of your overlaying and underlaying layers are mixed through the settings described in Blending Modes.

19.3.3.3. Styles 

Available at the bottom of most of the tabs, the Styles ► menu provides shortcuts to save, load, create, switch styles to apply to the vector tiles. Vector tiles can have their style saved from QGIS as QML files and they can be imported as:

QML files (QML - The QGIS Style File Format)
MapBox GL Json style configuration files

More details at Save and Share Layer Properties.

19.3.4. Rendering Properties 

Under Scale dependent visibility, you can set the Maximum (inclusive) and Minimum (exclusive) scales, defining a range of scales in which features will be visible. Out of this range, they are hidden. The ^{Set to current canvas scale} button helps you use the current map canvas scale as boundary of the range visibility. See Visibility Scale Selector for more information.

../../../_images/vector_tiles_rendering.png — Fig. 19.4 Vector Tiles Properties - Rendering Dialog

19.3.5. Metadata Properties 

The Metadata tab provides you with options to create and edit a metadata report on your layer. See Metadata for more information.