Real time vector-based OSM renderer in iOS (using OpenGL ES)
I'm looking into a solution that will allow to use OpenStreetMap data to render a 2D top-view vector-based map in iOS, instead of using pre-rendered tiles from a server. Similar to Apple and Google Maps in iOS6+.
I've done extensive research on this matter, but didn't found too much information.
There are a number of iOS apps that do this, but no information on how they implement it. A couple of these apps are:
The first 2 apps work similar to Apple and Google Maps. The map is drawn in real time whenever the zoom changes.
The last one appears to be using a slightly different approach. It renders the vector data at specific zoom levels and creates tiles which are then used as normal tiles downloaded from a tile server. So the rendering engine could actually be a tile source for the Route-Me library, but instead of downloading the tiles it renders them on the fly.
The first method is preferred.
[Q] I guess one could switch between methods fairly easy, once the OpenGL ES renderer is in place. I mean you could use the renderer as a source for Route-Me to create tiles, or you could use it as a real-time drawer, similar to a game. Am I right?
The closest solution I found is OpenStreetPad. However, it is using Core Graphics instead of OpenGL ES, so the rendering is not hardware accelerated.
Mapbox stated they are working on vector tiles and they'll probably provide an iOS solution for rendering, however it may use Mapnik so I am not sure how efficient will that be. And there's no ETA on since mid 2013.
[Q] Do you know of any other libraries, papers, guides, examples, or some other useful information on how to approach this? Basically how to handle the OSM data and how to actually use OpenGL ES / GLKit to draw that data on the device. Maybe some of the people who have done it can share a few things?
Answer
Old question, but there's a new answer. WhirlyGlobe-Maply will render tile based vector maps on iOS. http://mousebirdconsulting.blogspot.com/2014/03/vector-maps-introduction.html