Generating Vector Tiles using the Docker Containers for macOS

05 May 2018 • Vector Tiles

In this lesson we will learn to use Docker containers to create and serve vector tiles on your Macintosh laptop.

1. Install Docker on macOS

  • Download Docker Community Edition for Mac
  • Mount Docker.dmg
  • Drag Docker App onto Applications Shortcut
  • Launch Docker (double-click Docker Icon)
  • Agree to run application from Internet
  • Supply admin password when prompted

2. Install a GDAL/OGR tools container

  • Go to Docker Hub
  • Search for gdal
  • Select klokantech/gdal

  • Copy the Docker Pull Command & run it at the Terminal prompt

    docker pull klokantech/gdal

3. Convert shape file into GeoJSON file

  • Download zipped files of King County Census Blocks
  • Place zip file into your local directory
  • Unzip zip file
  • Use OGR tools at the Terminal prompt

    • ogrinfo: check the shape file’s information

      docker run -ti --rm -v $(pwd):/data klokantech/gdal ogrinfo KingCo_2000_Census_BlockGroups.shp -al -so

    • ogr2ogr: convert shape file to GeoJSON file

      docker run -ti --rm -v $(pwd):/data klokantech/gdal ogr2ogr -t_srs EPSG:4326 -f GeoJSON KingCo_2000_Census_BlockGroups.geojson KingCo_2000_Census_BlockGroups.shp -Progress

4. Locate a geoJSON file

5. Install a Tippecanoe container which is a utility tool to create vector tiles

  • Search for Tippecanoe on Docker Hub
  • Select the jskeates/tippecanoe repository
  • Copy the appropriate command from the Docker Pull Command section of the page

  • Paste it at the Terminal prompt, and hit enter to run it

    docker pull jskeates/tippecanoe

6. Create some vector tiles

  • Ensure Docker is running on your computer

  • Start Tippecanoe container in interactive mode at the Terminal prompt

    docker run -it -v $(pwd):/home/tippecanoe jskeates/tippecanoe:latest

  • You will see your command prompt change to look like bash-4.3$

  • Use the tippecanoe command at the Terminal prompt to create vector tiles from the geoJSON file

    tippecanoe -o KingCo_2000_Census_BlockGroups.mbtiles KingCo_2000_Census_BlockGroups.geojson

  • Exit the container when it is done

    exit

  • The vector tiles will now be in your directory

7. Install a TileServer GL container

  • Go to Docker Hub
  • Search for tileserver-gl
  • Select klokantech/tileserver-gl
  • Copy the Docker pull command & run it at the Terminal prompt docker pull klokantech/tileserver-gl

8. Run TileServer GL

  • Ensure Docker is running on your computer
  • From the command line change into the directory where you have placed your mbtiles file

  • Start the TileServer GL container from the Terminal prompt

    docker run --rm -it -v $(pwd):/data -p 8080:80 klokantech/tileserver-gl

  • Test that the vector tiles are being servered by entering http://localhost:8080/ into your browser’s address bar
  • After testing, hit ctl-C to quit TileServer GL

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