ELEVATE MAP KEY

Current version:
4.4.4, 15/02/21 (changelog)
last update of the map key: 15/02/21

VARIANTS:
There are two different variants of the map
styles contained in the downloads
respectively:
Elevate
I developed Elevate for mountain hiking in the
alps. At first it was based on the standard
hike and cycle map style of Openandromaps,
but has been completely revised since. I
added additional variants by and by for other
uses, by user requests.
Everything should be self-explanatory without
a key, as far as it's possible with the
possibilities of mapsforge. Therefore I based
it on the presentation on paper maps and
guideposts in German and Austrian areas.
Unified symbols and colors are used. At
higher zoom levels names of amenities and
areas are shown. As many things which are
relevant for hiking and travelling as possible
are shown without coming too much to the
front or eliminating one another - e.g. big
symbols or captions - therefore some
symbols and captions are shown at high
zoom levels only.
With Elevate 3 overlays were introduced
which make it possible to switch certain
elements on or off. Those can be chosen, as
well as the map styles, directly within the app.
Elevate has been tested and developed with
current versions of Cruiser and OruxMaps.
Elements
Elements is a modification of Elevate and is
made for sparsely populated/mapped areas
or countries, mostly backcountry usage, e.g.
the outback of Australia, Iceland outside of
the cities etc.
Elements contains the same map styles and
details as Elevate. Only all content is shown
as soon as it is contained in the map.
Therefore the colored dots at low zoom levels
aren't necessary.
In densely mapped areas this variation is not
recommended, in those it is slow and
unclear.
With Elevate 4 Elements can help to find
specific things in the map - just activate only
the overlay which you want to view and not
the others (e.g. "Amenities" if you are looking
for drinking water) and then all apropriate
symbols are shown as soon as possible.

MAP STYLES:
Elevate and Elements contain several map
styles which can be chosen within the app
(how this works depends on the app).
Depending on the map style some captions
and symbols are shown sooner, later or not at
all. Every map style has a different default
selection of overlays which are shown, and
for every map style differen options are
possible.
Essential to the rendering of the map style is
how footpaths/cycleways/MTB trails are
displayed - always optimized for chosen the
activity, e.g. hiking/MTB difficulty is shown in
the respective map styles.
Hiking
Key aspect is to have good overview for all
features which are relevant for mountain
hiking and perceptibility of paths and track,
especially their difficulty and character (or if
there isn't any information about that).
Cycleways which are allowed for pedestrians
look similar to footways. As "Hiking" is the
basis for the other map style characteristics
like the display of landscape features are
included in those.
City
This is a light version which is especially
useful in cities, for example for sightseeing or
for everyday life.
Neither hiking nor cycling routes are shown.
The highly emphasized footways and paths
of "Hiking" are discreet and difficulty and
visibility is not marked. Cycleways which are
allowed for pedestrians look similar to
footways.
Additionally for better overview at lower zoom
landscape and protected area names and
colored dots are missing. Therefore this
variation is most suitable for finding names
of settlements.
A public transport network can be overlayed.
Cycling
As this is a cycling version instead of hiking
routes cycling routes are shown strongly. The
highly emphasized footways and paths of
"Hiking" are slimmer and difficulty and
visibility isn't marked. Cycleways are strongly
emphasized and surface information is
shown if it's in the map data. Ways where
cycling isn't allowed are marked with a
turquoise cross hatch.
Mountainbike
Based on "Cycling" this map syle shows MTB
difficulty levels on tracks and paths, visibility
of paths and MTB routes.
 MAP KEY:
Captions
- Dark Blue are settlements. For best view of
place names in Elevate 2 (and in Locus with
Elevate 4) use zoom 12/13, as points of
interest can collide with place names at zoom
14 and larger.
- Black are peaks.
- Red are alpine huts.
- Grey, dark green and brown are landscape
names.
- Green with white outlines are protected
areas.
Other colors of captions are those of the
assigned symbols.
Symbols
I hope that the symbols are mostly self-
explanatory. Additionally, you can find an
overview image of all symbols including their
names by opening the image linked below.
This image is also included in the PDF map
key available above.
 The colors
mean:
- Light blue
means
transport and
accomodation
- Brown means
food, amenities
and tourism
- Grey/Black
means small
(natural) details
or man-made
- Pink means
health care
- Purple means
shopping
- Green means
sports or
education
Most symbols are appearing at zoom 14 or
higher, some important points of interest are
marked earlier by colored dots:
(Hiking/Cycling)
Alpine hut
Camp site
Hospital
Public transport stations
Public transport stations are marked by
colorered dots:
Bus stop (large: bus station)
Tram
Subway
Railway
Ferry
Paths and Footways
Brown - unpaved
path/footway (or path without
surface information) without
difficulty information
Grey - paved path/footway (or
footway without surface
information) without difficulty
information, on the top one
cycling is also allowed (only in
hiking mapstyle)

Hiking paths
(Hiking)
Path difficulty uses the SAC hiking scale,
however the colors here are according to
those used in the eastern alps.
Additionally trail visibility (if it's available in
the data) is marked by how the paths are
dashed.
Yellow - Hiking: flat or slighty
sloped, no fall hazard, SAC T1;
in the example without
information about trail
visibility (if this information is
missing is only shown on
paths with difficulty
information): long dash, short
dash, short spaces
Blue - Mountain hiking:
partially steep, fall hazard
possible, SAC T2;
in the example trail visibility is
excellent or good: very long
dash, short spaces
Red - Demanding mountain
hiking: not always visible,
may be secured, hands may
be needed, partly exposed
with fall hazard, SAC T3;
in the example trail visibility is
intermediate: medium length
dashes and spaces
 Black - (Difficult/demanding)
Alpine hiking/Via Ferrata: no
trail, very exposed, climbing,
glaciers etc., SAC T4-T6;
only with adequate
experience, inform yourself
about it before you go;
in the example trail visibility is
bad, horrible or no visibility:
short dashes, long spaces
additionally T5 paths dashes
are broken vertically, T6
vertically and horizontal

Safety measures
On some paths fixed safety measures are
included in the maps:
A cable, chain or rope to hold on
to; here the grey dots on the path
mark the length of the area with
safety ropes
Rungs, stemples, pins

A ladder

Via ferratas
Via ferratas are marked with thick grey bars
and a green via ferrata symbol. Depending on
how the data is mapped they can have two
different styles:
Mapped as via ferrata

Mapped as a path (including

hiking difficulty)

Hiking routes
(Hiking)
Hiking routes are rendered below paths and
tracks starting at zoom level 14, till level 13
transparent above them.
International hiking routes are blue.
National hiking routes are red.
Regional hiking routes are green.
Local and other hiking routes are yellow.
In this example
an international
hiking route in
blue called
VAA49 and a
regional hiking
route in green
with the number
211 can be
seen.
 Waymarks can
be overlayed as
an option, like
the Jacobs
mussel or the
"E4" here; in
lower zoom
levels only a
small symbol
with the
background
color is shown.
If a waycolor is
given, it is
marked along
the trail with
colored dots.
If waymarks is
actived,
guideposts are
shown a bit
earlier, and, if
available, their
reference
number is
shown right of
the symbol in
white with
brown border.

Cycling routes
(Cycling/Mountainbike)
Cycling routes are rendered below streets
starting at zoom level 14, till level 13
transparent above them.
International cycling routes are blue
National cycling routes are red
Regional cycling routes are violet
Local cycling routes are turquoise
Mountain bike routes are greenish yellow
In this example
an international
cycling route in
blue that goes
from south-west
to north,
besides a
regional route in
violet.

Mountain bike difficulty levels

(Mountainbike)
Mountain bike difficulty levels are shown
according to the MTB Scale, you can find all
details there.
Additionally trail visibility (if it's available in
the data) is marked by how the paths are
dashed.
S0: Blue bars on ways: no
special driving skills required.
In this example you can see
how it is shown on tracks.
S1: Blue-red bars on ways:
basic driving skills required,
obstacles can be passed over;
in the example without
information about trail
visibility
S2: Red bars on ways:
advanced driving skills
required;
in the example trail visibility is
excellent
S3: Red-black bars on ways:
very good bike control
required;
in the example trail visibility is
good or intermediate
S4: Black bars on ways: at
least perfect bike control with
trial skills required;
in the example trail visibility is
bad, horrible or no visibility
 S5/S6: Several thin black
bars on ways: exzellent
mastering of special trail
techniques required or nearly
completely impassable;
in the example without
information about trail
visibility

Easy hiking path: Yellow bars

alternate with brown bars: if
MTB scale isn't available it is
possible to mark easy hiking
paths (according to SAC T1,
see above) with an overlay. If
and how those are rideable
isn't for sure, and if it is
allowed to ride them depends
on local legislation.
MTB Scale uphill is marked by horizontal
dashes under ways:
0: Blue dashes: 15% incline
max.

1: Blue-red dashes: 20%

incline max, the two bars with
different length also mark the
uphill direction - the shorter
one points uphill.
2: Red dashes: 25% incline
max.
 3: Red-black dashes: 30%
incline max

4: Black dashes: 40% incline

max

5: Two thin black dashes:

uphill riding not possible.

Tracks
Forest tracks and agricultural roads are
marked in Openstreetmap by grade:
Paved track

Unpaved track, gravel road

Track made out of a mixture

of gravel and dirt

Track mainly made out of

dirt/grass, some gravel

Track only made out of

dirt/grass

Track without grade

 Bridleway

Cycleways and road surfaces

If a normal road (not tracks/paths) or
cycleway (when using cycling/mountainbike)
has a different surface than asphalt or
another flat sealed surface it is marked as
following, if the "surface" is included:
Cycleways have a blue border.
This only means that cycling is
allowed here. If the border is a
continous line, the way is paved,
dashed means unpaved or
unknown. The picture shows an
emphasized cycleway in the
cycling map style without
surface information, which is
marked by thin stripes along the
way.

Cycleway which might need a

cross-country bicycle because of
steepness/roughness (only in
cycling mapstyle, not MTB)

paved/asphalt

paving stones or similar

 cobblestone or similar

compacted unsealed road

loose gravel

natural ground

Option "extended road surfaces":

paved/asphalt (on major roads
white alternating with color of
road importance, on normal
roads just white)
Option "extended road surfaces":
no road surface information
available
Option "emphasized paved cycle
paths" (Cycling)

Option "emphasized paved

footways" (City)

Access limits
Only those access limits are shown, which are
valid for the mode of transportation the map
style is intended for. In "Hiking" only if they
are valid for pedestrians. In
"Cycling"/"Mountainbike" only, if they are
valid for cyclists. In "City" only general access
limits.
Local traffic only - only when
travelling to this area.

Private road - only with

permission of the owner.

No access allowed.

Option marking of permitted

foot/cycle paths: usage
permitted - important for
countries like England, where
e.g. a track can only legally be
used if it's permitted for this
track
toll road, marked by red dots

only use with permit (might be

with costs), marked by red
dots

Winter sports
To avoid collisions or not so nice areas ski
and sled pistes are marked unobstrusively:
 Ski piste (with hiking path)

Sled piste (on track)

cross-country ski-tracks

Landscape
Fell/Mountain meadow

Heath/dwarf-shrub

Wetlands/Marsh

Rock

Scree, loose rocks

Scrub

Wood, forest mixed

Wood, forest coniferous

Wood, forest deciduous

Glacier

Meadow, grass

Farmland

Orchard

Vineyard

Body of water

Intermittent body of water

(sometimes water, sometimes dry)
Military

Protected area

Strictly protected area with

strictly limited access
Protected area, seasonal
strictly limited access

Protected area, discouraged

access (might be seasonal)

Protected area, no off-road

access (might be seasonal)

Aboriginal lands

Cliff, rock face

Ridge, arete

Earth Bank

Gully

Ditch

Dyke
Embankment

Prominent Tree

Spring

Powerline/Minor powerline
 LICENSE:
Elevate, Elegant, Elements & Elevelo by
Tobias Kühn
These map styles are licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-
NonCommercial-ShareAlike License. For
commercial usage it is licensed under a
Attribution-NoDerivatives License.
Please have a look at licenses.txt for reuse
and licenses of resources used in this map
style.
Contact:
https://www.eartrumpet.net/contact/