Map Service

1. Your instance

What is your instance?

Your instance is your own map presence at GeoAtrium Map Service: an address under geoatrium.com (or your own domain), your logo and colours, your places, maps and layers and your own user management. You deliver the maps by embedding them in your website. You do not need a server of your own – GeoAtrium AB takes care of hosting and updates: EU-hosted, GDPR-compliant, without US services.

You will always find the current prices on the pricing page (“Pricing” in the menu). All prices are net plus the statutory VAT of your country.

How to order

1. Choose the appropriate plan on the pricing page – you get to the order form. GeoAtrium Map Service is aimed exclusively at companies, public authorities and organisations.
2. Enter company, contact person and billing address; VAT ID or company registration number is mandatory. The country determines the VAT rate of your invoice.
3. Confirm plan and billing (monthly or yearly) and state your wishes: preferred subdomain (name.geoatrium.com), own domain, additional languages.
4. Check the summary, confirm privacy and terms of use and submit.

After ordering

• We set up your instance and activate the subdomain – usually on the next working day. The contact person receives an invitation as administrator by e-mail.
• You receive the invoice as a PDF by email — payment is by bank transfer with 14 days payment term; no credit card required.
• As administrator you invite your team, create places and maps and embed the maps in your website. Embeds from the product server work immediately, even before the subdomain is activated.

Languages

Twenty-eight languages are available right away (German, English, Swedish, French, Spanish, Hungarian, Polish, Dutch, Italian, Danish, Norwegian, Portuguese, Finnish, Romanian, Russian, Greek, Turkish, Ukrainian, Icelandic, Czech, Slovak, Serbian, Slovenian, Croatian, Bulgarian, Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian). When placing your order you simply tick which of them your map should offer – as many as you wish. For a clearly arranged map we recommend no more than seven languages; you determine the order in the language menu yourself later on.

Invoice currency

Prices can be shown and invoiced in euros, US dollars, Swedish kronor, Swiss francs, British pounds or Hungarian forint. The chosen currency determines the invoice currency; amounts are not converted automatically but maintained separately per currency. If no price is set for a currency, the euro price applies.

The app with your branding

When a user installs the app via your instance's address, it automatically adopts your branding: your name, your colour and — if set — your own icon appear on the home screen instead of GeoAtrium Map Service's. This turns your instance into an app with your own identity, entirely without an app store.

Your editorial responsibility

You are editorially responsible for the content of your instance. At GeoAtrium Map Service only your team maintains the content – visitors to your maps cannot contribute or register. For quality assurance within the team there are two tools; they work independently of each other:

Four-eyes approval: new and changed places by editors stay invisible until an administrator approves them. Image review: the editorial team reviews new images – afterwards or before they go public. In addition, visitors report errors via “Report an error”.

More on this in the sections “Images and Copyright” and “Editors”.

2. The Interactive Map

Map Navigation

• Zoom: Use the mouse wheel or +/- buttons. On touch devices: pinch gesture.
• Pan: Click and drag with the mouse. On touch devices: swipe with one finger.
• My Location: Click "My Location" to jump to your current position (requires location permission).

Map Types

Choose between different map views:

• OSM: OpenStreetMap vector map from our own map server (© OpenStreetMap contributors, © OpenMapTiles)
• Topo: Topographic map with contour lines and hillshade (our own map server, © OpenStreetMap contributors, © OpenMapTiles, © ESA Copernicus)
• Minimal: Light, subtle vector map (our own map server, © OpenStreetMap contributors, © OpenMapTiles)
• Satellit: Aerial and satellite imagery

POI Markers

Places are displayed as round markers:

• Markers with image: Show the main image of the place
• Red numbered circles: Multiple places grouped – click to zoom in
• Click on a marker to open a popup with details
• Multiple places at the same point are displayed side by side from zoom level 14
• The colour of the circle stands for the theme, the white symbol for the category of the place. Editors define both under “Categories”.

Theme panel: Themes, Legend, Details

Next to the map sits a panel with three tabs. It controls which places are shown, explains the symbols and shows the selected place.

• Themes: all categories grouped by theme, with the number of places. Tick or untick – the map follows immediately. “Switch all on” and “Switch all off” switch everything in one step.
• Legend: symbol and colour of every category that is switched on. Clicking an entry jumps to that category in the “Themes” tab.
• Details: name, category, description and properties of the selected place; without a selection, a list of the places in view.
• In embedded maps the panel appears on the right, on narrow screens behind the “Themes and details” button. Editors can switch it off per map.

The map menu

The “Menu” button at the top left next to the zoom buttons gathers four tools:

• Plan a route: the starting point is the centre of the map. Then choose the destination – click a place and choose “Route”, or right-click and choose “Destination here”.
• Share link: copies a link with the current view, zoom level and base map to the clipboard. Whoever opens it sees exactly this view.
• Print map view: opens a print window with the visible area, title, date, legend of the categories switched on and source note. Allow pop-ups if the browser blocks the window.
• Measure: distance or area. Click points and the value updates as you go; a double-click finishes the measurement. Finished measurements stay until you choose “Delete measurements”. While measuring, clicks on places open no window.
• In embedded maps the menu is available without “Plan a route”.

Right-Click Menu

Right-clicking the map opens a small menu: you can copy the coordinates or create a new place at that spot. This is the way to start a place directly from the map – a plain click does not create anything.

Route to a place

You can have the way to any place calculated – as a line on the map, with distance and travel time.

• Via “Show route” in the place window or the map's right-click menu. The same button sits next to the coordinates on the place page.
• Switch between car, walking and bicycle. The starting point is your current location; your browser will ask for permission.
• If the detected location is wrong (e.g. satellite internet without GPS), set the start yourself: right-click on the map, then Route from here – and click the destination afterwards.
• The calculation runs on our own server. Your coordinates are not stored and never passed to an outside service.

The map on your phone

On small screens the map takes up most of the space. Search, filters and the results list are not shown permanently there but are tucked behind a button:

• Tap “Search & filter” (with the number of places found) to open search, category filters and the list of places in a window. Tapping a result closes the window and flies to the place.
• In portrait the button appears at the bottom centre above “My location”; in landscape at the top right below the layer switcher. On tablets in landscape and on a computer, search and filters stay next to the map as usual.

3. Customize Design

Light/Dark Mode

Click the sun/moon icon to switch between light and dark design.

Change Language

Choose your language via the flag icons. Available: German, English, Swedish, French, Spanish, Hungarian, Polish, Dutch, Italian, Danish, Norwegian, Portuguese, Finnish, Romanian, Russian, Greek, Turkish, Ukrainian, Icelandic, Czech, Slovak, Serbian, Slovenian, Croatian, Bulgarian, Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian.

On smaller screens the language selector is a menu: tap the flag with the arrow and pick the desired language from the list.

4. Discover Places

List View

Under “All places” you find all entered places and routes as a clear card gallery – provided your administrator has made the page public; otherwise only signed-in staff see it.

• Preview image
• Category badge (e.g. Nature, Restaurant, Sight)
• Name and short description
• Attributes like "Dogs allowed", "Accessible", etc.

Detail View

Click "Details" to see the full description, all images and GPX tracks.

5. Search and Filter

Text Search

Enter a search term to find places by name or description.

Category Filter

Filter by categories:

Attribute Filter

Enable advanced filters for specific requirements:

• Dogs allowed: Dog-friendly places
• Barrier-free: Wheelchair accessible
• Parking: Parking available
• Free entry: No entrance fee
• Playground: Playground nearby available

6. User Account

Account by invitation

Accounts are created by your administrator: you receive an invitation by e-mail and choose your credentials when you first open the link. There is no self-registration.

• Username (3-50 characters)
• Valid email address
• Secure password (min. 12 characters)

The invitation link is valid for seven days; after that, ask for a new invitation.

Login

Log in with your email address or username and password.

Forgot Password?

Click "Forgot Password?" and enter your email address.

7. Create New Place

Step by Step

1. Choose Position: Click "Add location" in the navigation. To start directly from the map, right-click – the spot you clicked is then already filled in.
2. Enter Basic Data: Enter name, description and category.
3. Set Coordinates: Drag the marker to the exact position.
4. Set Attributes: Enable applicable attributes (Dogs allowed, Accessible, etc.).
5. Upload Images: Upload up to 10 images. The first image will be used as the main image.
6. Save: Click “Save”. If four-eyes approval is switched on, the place only appears after an administrator has approved it.

Emphasising and linking text

In the description you can emphasise individual words or turn them into a link:

• **word** – bold
• *word* – italic
• [word](https://…) – becomes a clickable link

The formatting shows on the place page and in the map's place window. Tile views and search engine previews show plain text only.

8. Composing maps

A map is a selection of your places with its own address (/map/identifier), its own start view and its own layers – for example “Branches North” or “Hiking trails”. A place can appear on several maps. Places without an assignment appear only on the overall map of your instance.

Where to manage maps

Under “Editorial → Maps” you see all maps as tiles with number, name and assigned editors. You can edit the maps you are assigned to; administrators edit all of them and create new ones. In the place form your maps appear as checkboxes.

Creating a map

1. Choose “New map” and enter a name – per language, with “Translate automatically” for the remaining languages.
2. The identifier is derived from the German name (branches-north) and forms the address /map/branches-north. It can be adjusted; lowercase letters, digits and hyphens are allowed.
3. Optionally add a description – it appears above the list of places and in the preview when the link is shared.
4. Save. The map is active at first but empty – you assign places in the next step.

Number and order

Every map has a number (“No. 3”) shown on its tile and in the map editor. Administrators move maps with the arrows on the tile; the numbers follow the order. The tile colour is the marker colour of the map.

Assigning editors

In the map editor under “Editors”, administrators decide who edits a map. An assigned editor changes the map settings, assigns places and layers to it and adds new places to it.

• Editors can only edit a place if it is on at least one of their maps. Whoever assigns a place to their map may edit it afterwards. Places without a map can only be edited by an administrator.
• Administrators edit every map and every place, even without an assignment. Only administrators create new maps.

Start view

In the “Start view” tab, pan and zoom the small map until the desired section is visible and choose the base map (OSM, Topo, Minimal, Satellite). Without a start view of its own, the map uses that of your instance.

Details and route

Under “Details and route” you decide per map what “View details” opens: the place page, a window above the map or nothing – then the button disappears. The setting applies to the map page and the embedded map.

“Show route” can be switched off per map. When on, the map draws the way from the visitor’s location to the place. The embedded map has no route.

Assigning places

There are two ways that lead to the same result:

• In the map editor under “Places”: a list of all places of your instance with search and category filter – tick, save.
• In the place form under “On maps”: tick the appropriate maps when creating or editing a place.

Only public, approved places are visible on the map. A private or not yet approved place remains assigned but appears only after publication.

Layers

In the “Layers” tab you choose which geo layers (protected areas, trails, boundaries …) appear on this map. Without a selection the map shows no layers – even if the overall map has some.

Visibility

• Active: only active maps can be reached at their address and in embeds. An inactive map returns “not found” to visitors; the editorial team still sees it for preparation.
• Public list of places: shows a list of the places below the embedded map as a text alternative – for visitors without a mouse, for screen readers and for search engines.
• Allowed websites: empty means the map may be embedded anywhere. If you enter addresses (one per line, e.g. https://www.example.org), embedding is only possible there – see the chapter “Embedding maps”.

Number of maps

How many maps you can create depends on your plan. When the limit is reached, a notice appears with the way to the next plan. Deleting a map (administrators only) does not delete any places – they only lose the assignment.

9. Embedding maps

Any active map can be embedded in any website – a CMS, a shop or a static page. The map loads from the GeoAtrium Map Service server; changes to places appear immediately without anything to do on your website.

Getting the embed code

Open the map under “Editorial → Maps” and switch to the “Embed” tab. Choose language, base map, height and whether the place list should appear, copy the code and paste it into your website. There are two variants:

• iframe – a single HTML element with a fixed height. Works everywhere, including where scripts are not allowed.
• Script – a small script inserts the map and adjusts the height automatically, for instance when the list of places gets longer. Several maps on one page need the script only once.

The code loads the map either from the product server (kartendienst.geoatrium.com) or from your instance's address. The product server works immediately; your own address as soon as the subdomain is activated.

Parameters

The embed address accepts parameters that the generator sets for you. You can also change them by hand:

• lang – lang – language of the map (e.g. lang=sv). Without it, the default language of your instance applies.
• layer – layer – base map: osm, topo, minimal or satellite.
• zoom – zoom, lat, lon – start section if it should differ from the saved start view.
• list – list=1 – force the list of places below the map, even if it is not marked public in the map.

Allowed websites

By default a map may be embedded anywhere. If it should appear only on your own pages, enter the allowed websites under “Visibility”.

• Enter the address with protocol and without path: https://www.example.org – www.example.org and example.org are two different entries.
• On a website that is not allowed, the frame stays empty; the browser's developer console reports a “frame-ancestors” error. This is intended – the browser enforces the block, not a script that could be bypassed.

List of places as a text alternative

A map alone is silent for screen readers and search engines. The list of places below the map names each place with category and link to the detail page – it makes the embed accessible and findable. Switch it on per map (“Public list of places”) or per embed (list=1).

From the embed to the detail page

When a visitor clicks a place in the embedded map, a small window with picture and short description opens. “Details” leads to the place page of your instance – in a new tab so the visitor's website is not left.

Testing beforehand

The “Embed” tab shows a preview. For a test on your own website a page with the copied code is enough – even a local HTML file. Note: allowed websites also apply to the test; a local file has no address and is blocked when the list is set.

10. GPX Tracks and Routes

What are GPX Tracks?

GPX is a standard for GPS data. Hiking routes or bike tours can be uploaded as GPX files.

Upload GPX

When creating a place, you can upload GPX files. The route will be displayed on the map.

View GPX

Routes are automatically displayed on the map. You can also download the route.

11. Geo Layers (Map Overlays)

Geo layers are geographic data overlays displayed on the map as areas, lines or points. They can be used to visualise nature reserves, hiking areas, boundaries and more.

Viewing Geo Layers on the Map

Active geo layers are displayed automatically on the map. You can recognise them by the coloured areas, lines or points overlaid on the base map.

• Use the “Layers” button at the top right of the map to show or hide each layer individually. Uploaded layers show their colour there; external map services are marked with a globe icon.
• Some layers display labels directly on the map, e.g. the name of a nature reserve.

Categories

Layers can be assigned to the following categories:

Customising Appearance

You can individually customise the appearance of each layer:

• Fill colour: Colour and transparency for areas
• Stroke colour: Colour and transparency of outlines
• Stroke width: Thickness of outlines (0.5 to 10 pixels)

Labels

Layers can be annotated with text labels displayed directly on the map:

• Enable labels: Turn labelling on or off
• Text field: Choose which property is displayed as the label (e.g. name, type or the layer name)
• Position: Centre, Top, Bottom, Left or Right relative to the feature
• Font: Configure font family, size, colour and bold
• Background: Optionally show a background colour behind the text
• Border: Optionally show a border around the label

Status and Visibility

• Active/Inactive: Inactive layers are not shown on the map
• Public/Internal: internal layers are only visible to the editorial team
• In legend: Controls whether the layer appears in the map legend
• Order (Z-Index): Determines the stacking order of multiple layers

External map services (WMS, WMTS, WFS, OGC API Features)

Many authorities and GIS providers publish maps as a service – for example zoning plans, protected areas or official topographic maps. You add such a service as a layer of its own without uploading any data; the map images then come straight from the provider and are always up to date. Available from the Business plan.

1. Open “Manage Geo-Layers” and click “Add external service”.
2. Choose the type of service: WMS delivers map images, WMTS ready-made map tiles, WFS and OGC API Features deliver features (vector data). The type is stated in the service description and usually in its address.
3. Enter the address of the service (starting with https://) and click “Query service”. The layers of the service appear; for large services, use the search.
4. Select a layer. Name and attribution are taken from the service – check the attribution against the provider's licence.
5. Set opacity and visibility, check the preview and save. Then assign the layer to the desired maps under “Maps” in the “Geo layers” section.

What a service must provide:

• Encrypted access (https://) – browsers block unencrypted map images on secure pages.
• For WMS and WMTS: Web Mercator (EPSG:3857), the coordinate system of the map; layers without EPSG:3857 are locked in the list. WMS is supported in version 1.3.0. WFS and OGC API Features may also deliver UTM, Gauss-Krüger or SWEREF 99.
• Publicly reachable – services in your own network (intranet) cannot be added for security reasons.

The attribution is mandatory and always visible at the bottom right of the map – as required by most providers' licences (e.g. “© GeoBasis-DE / BKG” or “© swisstopo”).

Order: opaque services such as topographic maps are at the bottom, transparent ones such as protected areas above them; uploaded layers and your places are always on top.

Vector services: WFS and OGC API Features

Instead of images, they deliver features with attributes – such as parcels, buildings or protected areas. The map only loads the visible area; clicking a feature shows its attributes.

Colour, “From zoom level” and the maximum number of features per view are set in the dialog. For detailed data such as parcels, zoom level 15 or higher is recommended.

WFS 1.0, 1.1 and 2.0 (GeoJSON or GML) and OGC API Features are supported. Unlike WMS, the data may also be in UTM, Gauss-Krüger or SWEREF 99 – we convert it. Our server fetches the features from the service and keeps them for five minutes, so the service does not need to allow browsers.

Examples of public services to try out:

• swisstopo – WMS: https://wms.geo.admin.ch/
• swisstopo – WMTS: https://wmts.geo.admin.ch/EPSG/3857/1.0.0/WMTSCapabilities.xml
• Geobasis NRW – WMS (DTK): https://www.wms.nrw.de/geobasis/wms_nw_dtk
• Geobasis NRW – WFS (Verwaltungsgrenzen): https://www.wfs.nrw.de/geobasis/wfs_nw_dvg
• Geobasis NRW – WFS (ALKIS vereinfacht, Flurstücke): https://www.wfs.nrw.de/geobasis/wfs_nw_alkis_vereinfacht
• ldproxy – OGC API Features (Demo Straßen): https://demo.ldproxy.net/strassen

Development plans in the XPlanung standard (XPlanGML)

Development and land-use plans in the XPlanung standard (XPlanGML 5.x and 6.0) are uploaded like any other layer. In addition:

• Validation: the file is checked against the official XPlanung schema of its version, plus content hints (plan present, objects inside the plan area, plausible key figures). You see the report after uploading and at any time via the check-mark icon in the layer list. It does not replace the XLeitstelle’s XPlanValidator.
• Plan symbols: on the map, the “Layers” button shows “Plan symbols” for plans – a legend per plan class, e.g. “Baugebiet – Allgemeines Wohngebiet (WA)” (plan classes are shown in German, as in the plan), with a count. With the checkboxes visitors hide individual classes, for example everything except the building lines. Visible plan classes also appear in the legend when printing.
• Plain text: clicking a plan object shows its stipulations with German terms – code 1200 becomes “Allgemeines Wohngebiet nach § 4 BauNVO”. The texts come from the official XPlanung schemas.
• Export: via the layer’s download icon you download the original file unchanged, an XPlanGML file newly generated from the map data, or GeoJSON. The generated XPlanGML has the version and reference system of the original, is accurate to about 1 cm and contains all plan objects with their attributes – but not texts, attachments or presentation objects.

The original file is kept for plans uploaded since this function was introduced (October 2026); for older plans there is the export from the map data.

12. Draw map layers

With certain plans you can draw your own map layers directly on the map – points, lines (e.g. routes and trails) and areas (e.g. districts). The result is saved as a layer of its own and can be assigned to your maps. This function differs from uploading ready-made geo layers (file).

How to start

There are two ways to the drawing page:

1. On the map: click the “✏️ Draw map layer” button in the sidebar.
2. Open “Drawn layers” in the editorial area and click “Draw map layer”.

Drawing tools

Pick a tool at the top, then click on the map to place the points:

• Point: single markers (e.g. stations).
• Line: a path with several points (e.g. a route). Double-click to finish.
• Area: a region (polygon). Click the corners one by one, double-click to close.

“Undo” removes the last drawn object, “Clear all” removes the whole drawing. You can collect several objects in one layer before saving.

Use the switcher in the top right (OSM / Topo / Minimal / Satellite) to choose the background map while drawing.

Name, category and colors

• Layer name: the name is also shown as a label on the map.
• Category: free text — type your own category (e.g. “fishing spots”), suggestions are offered.
• Line and fill color as well as opacity and line width: changes are shown immediately in the preview on the map.

Visibility

Each drawn layer is either private or public:

• Private: only you see the layer on the map — your own workspace.
• Public: the layer is visible to all visitors of the map. Whether you may publish publicly depends on your plan; if it is not included, the layer stays private.

Saving

After “Save layer” you return to the map and your drawn layer appears as a colored overlay with its label.

Manage, edit, download

Under “Editorial → Drawn layers” you manage your drawn layers:

• Edit: change name, category, visibility and colors — and edit the geometry itself (move vertices, draw more, delete).
• Download: export the layer as a GeoJSON file.
• Delete: remove a whole drawn layer again.

Downloading and exporting

You can download your drawn layers as a file — individually or several together:

• Single layer: “Download” on a layer (in the list or the edit window) gives you exactly that layer as a GeoJSON file.
• Multiple layers: “Download multiple” at the top of the “My map layers” page packs several layers into a single file — either all layers together or only the layers of one geometry type (point, line or area layers only).

When selecting by type, a layer is only included if all of its objects have that type. Mixed layers appear only under “All layers”.

The bulk download offers two formats:

• GeoJSON: the complete, lossless map format — can be read directly into GIS software (e.g. QGIS).
• CSV: a table with one row per object (columns: layer, type, geometry as WKT and your properties) — handy for spreadsheet programs such as Excel.

13. Images and Copyright

Image Rights for Uploads

When uploading images, you must confirm that you have the necessary rights. Only use your own photos or images for which you have a usage license.

If an image comes from someone else — for example from a free image database — enter the author, licence and source. These details appear below the image and in the enlarged view. Free licences such as Creative Commons require attribution: “free” does not mean “without conditions”.

• Only upload images that you have created yourself or for which you have an explicit usage license.
• You guarantee that you have all necessary rights to the uploaded content.

Image review

Depending on the admin’s decision, images at public places can be visible immediately or only after review. In both cases the editorial team reviews them. Rejected images are blocked.

Images at private places are only visible to whoever uploaded them – they are not reviewed. As soon as you make the place public, these images are presented to the editorial team, including those uploaded earlier.

Terms of Service

14. Reporting errors and handling reports

Visitors can report an error in the details of a place – for example outdated opening hours or a misplaced point. They do not need an account for this.

How visitors report

1. Click the place on the map and open its details – in the “Details” tab, in the window above the map or on the place page.
2. Choose “Report an error” and describe what is wrong (at least 10 characters).
3. Optionally give a contact for questions – email address or phone number. Only the editorial team can see it.

Handling reports

Under “Editorial → Reports” you find all open reports with place, map, date, text and contact. The number next to the menu item shows how many are waiting.

• Correct the place: “Edit” leads straight to the place form – provided you may edit the place, that is, it is on one of your maps.
• “Done” closes the report, “Dismiss” files it without a change, “Reopen” brings it back. Under “All” you also see closed reports.

15. Editors

Opening the editorial area

After signing in, editors and administrators go straight to the map overview. The other editorial areas are in the menu (shield icon).

Editorial overview

The overview shows key figures, waiting tasks (approvals, images, reports) and shortcuts.

Assignment to maps

Which maps an editor works on is set by the administrator in the map editor (section “Editors”). An editor only edits places that are on at least one of their maps. Lists still show all places; the pencil only appears where they may edit.

Four-eyes approval

If four-eyes approval is switched on in the settings, new and changed places by editors only appear after an administrator has approved them:

• Access via “Editorial → Approvals” (administrators only, and only when approval is switched on)
• Check the place’s name, description, category and images
• “Approve” publishes the place
• “Reject” with a reason blocks the place
• Whoever created the place receives the decision by email

Blocking and deleting places

In “All places” you block and unblock places on your maps. Deleting is reserved for administrators. All actions are recorded in the audit log.

All places

“All places” lists the places of your instance with filters by status, visibility, category and date. You can edit, block and feature the places on your maps.

Reviewing images

If the administrator has switched on image review, the editorial team reviews new images at public places – under “Editorial → Review images”:

• Three folders: “To validate”, “Validated” and “Rejected”. Each reviewed image shows who validated or rejected it, and when.
• Three actions per image: Validate · Reject (with a reason; the image stays stored and can be restored) · Delete (final, also removes the file). A bulk action handles many images at once.
• Two operating modes via admin switches: post-moderation (the image is visible immediately and checked afterwards) or pre-approval (the image stays invisible until it is validated).
• Only images of public places are reviewed – private and shared places are exempt. Images uploaded by editors or administrators themselves are presented too.

Audit Log

All editorial actions are recorded in the audit log. Here you can see who did what and when.

16. Administrators

Access Admin Area

As an administrator, you can access the admin area through the menu. There you have access to all management functions.

Admin overview

The overview shows key figures and leads to users, categories, settings, languages, data and statistics.

User Management

In user management you see all invited users, change roles or suspend accounts. If an account is deleted, its places, images and files are kept – they pass to the deleting administrator.

Invite Users

Invite new users via email. The invited user receives a link to create their account:

Settings

In the settings you decide:

• Feature Settings: Switch four-eyes approval and image review on or off and decide whether the “All places” page is public.

Languages

Under Administration → Languages you choose the languages in which your pages and embedded maps appear, and use the arrows to set the order in the language menu (top right). German is always active. Languages you untick disappear from the language menu; content in those languages stays saved. Once saved, the selection applies immediately to all visitors of your instance.

Data: import and export

Under “Data” you import places from files and export places, users, images and layers. The “Layers” export delivers all layers with their own objects as one GeoJSON file; every object carries the name of its layer.

Managing categories

Places are organised in a tree: theme > category > subcategory. Themes give colour and structure to the theme tree on the map; places belong to categories and subcategories. A sensible default tree is preset – you can rename, move, deactivate or delete any item or add new ones.

• Found under Administration → Categories.
• Each item has a name per language, an icon (built-in set or your own image) and, for themes, a colour. If only one language is set, it appears everywhere.
• Name, icon and colour appear on the map (markers and theme tree), on place pages, in listings and in the selection menu when creating a place.

Important: the internal key stays the same even if you rename or move an item. When deleting an item that has places, you choose where the places go – nothing is lost.

Managing Geo Layers

Uploading a Layer

In the editorial area under “Manage geo layers” you upload new layers:

1. Click "Upload Layer"
2. Choose a GeoJSON file (.geojson, .json), a KML/KMZ file, a shapefile (.zip with .shp, .shx, .dbf) or a GML/XPlanGML file (.gml, .xml)
3. Enter a name and choose a category
4. Set the visibility (public or internal)
5. Click "Upload" – the file will be processed automatically

Supported File Formats

• GeoJSON (.geojson, .json): Standard format for geographic data
• Shapefile (.zip): Packaged as a ZIP file containing .shp, .shx and .dbf
• KML/KMZ (.kml, .kmz): e.g. from Google My Maps or Google Earth; folder names are kept in the property “folder”
• GML and XPlanGML (.gml, .xml or as .zip): e.g. exports from QGIS or development plans in XPlanung – building areas, traffic and green areas get their plan colours; a click shows land use and key figures (site coverage, floor area ratio, storeys)

Maximum file size: 10 MB

Placing plans (georeferencing)

Scanned plans, development plans as images or exports from QGIS are placed on the map as a semi-transparent layer via “Add a plan”.

1. Click “Add a plan” and choose an image (PNG, JPG, WebP) or a GeoTIFF.
2. If the file carries its location – a GeoTIFF or a world file (.pgw, .jgw, .tfw, .wld) with its coordinate system – the plan is placed straight away.
3. Otherwise the control point editor opens: click the same spot in the plan and on the map, in turn. From three points the plan is fitted; the residual per point reveals outliers.
4. Set opacity and visibility, save – the layer becomes active and can be assigned to maps like any other.

Tip: four to six points near the corners of the plan give the best fit. Export plans from PDF as PNG first. For very large or strongly distorted plans, georeferencing in QGIS (result as GeoTIFF) is more accurate – on request we do this for you.

Delete Geo-Layers

Only administrators can delete layers. Deleting a layer permanently removes all associated features.

Backups and Monitoring

The platform is backed up and monitored automatically. For administrators:

• Daily backup: the database (including user accounts) and all uploaded files are backed up automatically every night — kept for 14 days, with an additional off-site copy.
• Automatic verification: every backup is checked for readability immediately. If a backup fails, the administrator is notified by email right away.
• Restore drills: restoring from backup is tested at regular intervals so the emergency procedure is proven.

Outage monitoring

The map, website and database services are checked automatically every five minutes. In case of an outage — and upon recovery — the administrator receives an email. A status dashboard shows availability over time.

17. Installing the app

GeoAtrium Map Service can be installed like an app — straight from your browser, without an app store. On smartphone, tablet and computer. Afterwards you open the map via its own icon in full screen, and maps and places you've already visited work even without an internet connection.

Benefits of the app

• Its own icon on your home screen — one tap and the map is there.
• Full screen without the browser bar, like a real app.
• Works offline: maps and places you've already visited work without internet.
• Always up to date — no store updates needed.

How to install the app

• Android (Chrome): Open the browser menu and choose “Install app” or “Add to Home Screen” — or tap the install hint that appears by itself.
• iPhone/iPad (Safari): Tap “Share” at the bottom, then “Add to Home Screen”.
• Computer (Chrome/Edge): Click the install icon in the address bar or choose “Install” in the menu — GeoAtrium Map Service then opens as its own window.

18. Contact and Support

If you have questions, problems or suggestions, the following contact options are available:

Direct Contact

GeoAtrium AB
Svansele 2
936 93 Boliden, Sweden

E-Mail: post@geoatrium.com
Telefon: +46 73 045 30 47 / +49 156 7982 2433

Website: https://kartendienst.geoatrium.com
A product of: GeoAtrium AB