Technology

The FOSS4G stack we build with

Free and open source software for geospatial: mature, standards-based and used in production worldwide. We pick the right tool for the job and we run all of them ourselves.

Data

Databases and data formats

  • PostgreSQL + PostGIS

    PostGIS

    The standard open source spatial database. Geometry, geography, raster, topology and thousands of spatial functions, with the reliability of PostgreSQL. The heart of our systems.

  • Routing

    pgRouting

    Shortest path, network analysis and routing directly in the database. Useful for road, utility and telecom networks.

  • GDAL / OGR

    GDAL / OGR

    The universal translator for raster and vector formats and coordinate transformations. The backbone of our ETL pipelines.

  • Cloud-native

    GeoPackage · GeoParquet · COG · PMTiles

    Modern, open formats for exchange and cloud storage: simple files, fast partial reads, no server needed.

Services

Map servers and tile services

  • OGC WMS · WFS · WMTS

    GeoServer

    Full-featured Java map and feature server with styling, security and clustering. Our choice for standards-heavy, enterprise setups.

  • OGC WMS · WFS

    MapServer

    A fast, lightweight C-based map server with a very long track record.

  • Tile cache

    MapProxy

    Caches and reprojects tiles from upstream services, taking load off backends and making maps fast.

  • Vector tiles

    Martin · pg_tileserv · Tippecanoe

    Vector tiles straight from PostGIS, or pre-built for huge datasets, for smooth, styleable maps.

  • Real-time

    Tile38

    In-memory geospatial index with geofencing and live location tracking.

  • OGC API

    pg_featureserv · pygeoapi

    Modern, lightweight OGC API Features and Processes services for developers.

Web mapping

Map front ends

  • JavaScript

    OpenLayers

    The most complete web mapping library: any projection, any OGC service, strong editing and analysis tools.

  • WebGL

    MapLibre GL JS

    Fast, vector-tile based maps with smooth rendering and custom styles. The open successor of Mapbox GL.

  • Big data

    deck.gl

    GPU-powered visualisation of millions of points, lines and 3D features.

  • Lightweight

    Leaflet

    Simple, small and widely known, ideal for straightforward public maps.

Desktop, field and analysis

Where people work with the data

  • Desktop GIS

    QGIS

    The leading open source desktop GIS: editing straight in PostGIS, cartography, analysis, plugins, and a Python API for automation.

  • Field

    QField

    Mobile data collection on top of QGIS projects, online or offline, with forms and photos.

  • Processing

    Python · GeoPandas · GRASS · PDAL

    Scripted analysis, raster and terrain processing, and point cloud pipelines, run repeatably on servers.

  • Surveying

    GNU Gama · RTKLIB · PROJ

    Network adjustment, GNSS processing and coordinate reference systems for engineering-grade accuracy.

Catalogues and platforms

Metadata, portals and spatial data infrastructure

  • Catalogue

    GeoNetwork · pycsw

    Metadata catalogues compliant with ISO 19115 and INSPIRE, for discoverable data.

  • Portal

    GeoNode · MapStore

    Ready-made geospatial portals for sharing data and building map applications.

  • Identity

    Keycloak

    Single sign-on and role-based access across all components, with LDAP and OIDC integration.

Infrastructure

What keeps it running

High availability is made of unglamorous, well-understood parts.

  • PostgreSQL HA

    Patroni · etcd · pgBackRest

    Automatic failover, replication and point-in-time recovery for PostGIS.

  • Traffic

    HAProxy · nginx · keepalived

    Load balancing, health checks and virtual IPs for redundant entry points.

  • Platform

    Docker · Kubernetes · Ansible · Terraform

    Containers and infrastructure as code for identical, rebuildable environments.

  • Observability

    Prometheus · Grafana · Loki

    Metrics, dashboards, logs and alerts across every layer.

Not sure which tools fit?

Technology selection is part of the free first consultation.

Talk to us