mapbench

Data Sources

MapBench is built entirely on open data and free public services. Here is exactly what powers what — and what licence it carries.

Map tiles
OpenFreeMap

Vector tiles derived from OpenStreetMap, served free with no key.

License: © OpenStreetMap contributors — Open Database License (ODbL)

Place search (forward geocoding)
Photon (komoot)

Free geocoder built on OpenStreetMap data.

License: Data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)

Reverse geocoding
Nominatim

OpenStreetMap's community reverse geocoder, rate-limited to ~1 request/second.

License: Data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL); Nominatim usage policy applies

Routing, isochrones, route optimisation
FOSSGIS Valhalla

The FOSSGIS-operated public Valhalla server on OpenStreetMap roads.

License: Data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL); FOSSGIS fair-use policy

Routing fallback (driving)
OSRM demo server

Project OSRM public endpoint used if Valhalla is unreachable.

License: Data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)

Elevation
Open-Meteo Elevation API

Copernicus GLO-90 global DEM at ~90 m resolution.

License: Contains modified Copernicus data; free API, no key required

Nearby places (POI)
Overpass API

Live queries against OpenStreetMap.

License: Data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)

Blank maps — world & countries
Natural Earth (via world-atlas)

Public-domain 1:110m cultural/physical geometry.

License: Public domain — no attribution required

Blank maps — US states & nation
US Census TIGER (via us-atlas)

1:10m state boundary topology.

License: US government work — public domain

Major cities dataset
Curated by MapBench

~200 major cities with approximate municipal populations, ≈2020 vintage. Used only where clearly labelled as estimates.

License: CC-BY 4.0 (MapBench compilation)

Astronomy
Implemented locally

NOAA solar algorithm & synodic lunar cycle — no external service.

License: Standard public algorithms

OpenStreetMap data is continuously updated; results reflect the state of the database at query time. If you reuse exported basemap imagery, ODbL attribution (“© OpenStreetMap contributors”) is required by the licence.