Handbook GeoImage-Karte
Guide to using all features of GeoImage-Karte
Table of Contents
Do you manage a customer instance? Ordering, setup, administration and moderation are covered in the Operator handbook
1. 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
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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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
5. 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.
6. Create New Place
Note: Editors, moderators and administrators can create places. The “User” role is read-only access.
Step by Step
- 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.
- Enter Basic Data: Enter name, description and category.
- Set Coordinates: Drag the marker to the exact position.
- Set Attributes: Enable applicable attributes (Dogs allowed, Accessible, etc.).
- Upload Images: Upload up to 10 images. The first image will be used as the main image.
- Save: Click "Save". The place will be published after moderation.
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.
7. 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
Moderators and administrators create and edit maps under “Moderation → Maps”. Editors see the maps as checkboxes in the place form and can assign their places there.
Creating a map
- Choose “New map” and enter a name – per language, with “Translate automatically” for the remaining languages.
- 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.
- Optionally add a description – it appears above the list of places and in the preview when the link is shared.
- Save. The map is active at first but empty – you assign places in the next step.
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.
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 gives visitors “not found”; moderators still see 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.
Note: Changes to visibility and allowed websites take up to a minute to take effect everywhere – the map is briefly cached for speed.
8. Embedding maps
Any active map can be embedded in any website – a CMS, a shop or a static page. The map loads from the GeoImage-Karte server; changes to places appear immediately without anything to do on your website.
Getting the embed code
Open the map under “Moderation → Maps” and switch to the “Embed” tab. Choose language, base map, height and whether the list of places should appear, copy the code and paste it into your website. Two variants are available:
- 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 (geo-image.eu) 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.
Note: Changes to visibility and allowed websites take up to a minute to take effect everywhere – the map is briefly cached for speed.
9. 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.
10. 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).
Note: Whether and to what extent you may draw depends on your plan. If the function is not included in your plan, the “Draw map layer” button does not appear.
How to start
There are two ways to the drawing page:
- On the map: click the “✏️ Draw map layer” button in the sidebar.
- In the dashboard: open the “My map layers” tile and click “Draw map layer” there.
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 “My map layers” (in the dashboard) 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.
Note: Your drawn layers are completely separate from the geo-layers managed by the operator: you only see and edit your own layers.
Note: Uploading entire geo layers as files (e.g. protected areas or hiking trails) is the administrators' task – see the operator handbook.
11. 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.
Prohibited content: Uploading copyright-protected images without the corresponding authorisation is prohibited. This naturally also applies to all other unlawful content (e.g. depictions of violence, pornographic or youth-endangering material, insults, violations of personality rights, images of people without their consent, and content that incites hatred or is otherwise criminal).
Content is monitored on an ongoing basis. Violations lead to the removal of the content and may result in the suspension of the account as well as further legal consequences.
Image review
Depending on the administrator's decision, images at public places are either visible immediately or released only after a check. In both cases, however, they are reviewed by a moderator. Images that fail the check are blocked.
Images at private places are seen only by the person who uploaded them – they are not reviewed. As soon as you make the place public, these images are submitted to moderation, including those uploaded earlier.
12. Member Area
On the desk you manage your places, GPX files and drawn layers.
My Areas
Places have two visibilities:
Public
These places are visible to all visitors and appear on the public map.
Private
Private places are visible only to you – for preparation before a place is published.
Note: A place appears on a map only once it is public (and approved, if required) and has been assigned to a map – see the chapter “Composing maps”.
13. Installing the app
GeoImage-Karte 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 — GeoImage-Karte then opens as its own window.
No file is downloaded — the app is set up directly by the browser and uses hardly any storage. The “Install app” page (linked in the footer) shows the right way for your device.
14. Enquiries (questions, suggestions, criticism)
Questions, suggestions, criticism and bug reports all arrive in one place. Every enquiry gets a number, a history and an owner — so nothing gets lost and nobody works on the same thing twice.
How to reach us
There are two ways – both end up in the same system:
- Contact form: Via the “Contact” menu item — no account needed. You receive a confirmation with your enquiry number.
- Email: Write directly to support@geo-image.eu. Your mail is recorded as an enquiry automatically.
How you receive our reply
The reply arrives by email. Simply reply to it — your answer is attached to the same enquiry automatically, there is nothing to watch out for. If you are signed in you can also see the whole history under “My account → My enquiries” and reply there directly.
15. Contact and Support
If you have questions, problems or suggestions, the following contact options are available:
Direct Contact
GeoAtrium AB
post@geoatrium.com
+46 73 045 30 47
+49 156 7982 2433