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Tactical Map

The tactical map is your real-time operational view of the event. As an organizer, you use the map to manage overlays, define mission boundaries, monitor objective status, and track player positions during active events.

Map Interface

The tactical map renders using MapLibre GL JS with configurable tile providers. The map centers on your event location and displays:

  • Objectives — Markers showing each objective's position and capture radius
  • Overlays — Polygons, lines, circles, and markers defining areas and boundaries
  • CoT Markers — Live positions of players and devices (during active events)
  • Team Colors — Objective markers and CoT tracks colored by team affiliation

Layer Switching

Toggle between map layers using the layer control in the top-right corner:

Layer Description
Street Standard road and terrain map (default)
Satellite Aerial/satellite imagery
Hybrid Satellite imagery with road and label overlays

The available layers depend on the configured map provider (OpenStreetMap, MapTiler, or Mapbox). See the Admin Guide — Settings page for map provider configuration.

Managing Overlays

Overlays are vector shapes drawn on the map to define areas, boundaries, routes, and points of interest. As an organizer, you can create and manage overlays for your events.

Creating an Overlay

From the tactical map view, click the Draw tool in the toolbar to create a new overlay.

Field Type Required Description
Name Text Yes Display name for the overlay
Type Select Yes Polygon, Line, Circle, or Marker
Color Color Picker Yes Stroke and fill color
Opacity Slider No Fill opacity (0–100%, default 30%)
Stroke Width Number No Border line width in pixels (default 2)
Event Select No Associate with your event
Description Text No Notes or purpose of the overlay

Drawing Shapes

Shape How to Draw
Polygon Click to place vertices, double-click to close the shape
Line Click to place waypoints, double-click to finish
Circle Click to set the center, drag to set the radius
Marker Click to place a single point

The editor shows coordinates and measurements (area, distance, radius) as you draw.

Editing an Overlay

Click an existing overlay on the map to select it, then click Edit:

  • Move vertices — Drag individual vertices to reshape
  • Add vertices — Click midpoints between existing vertices
  • Delete vertices — Right-click a vertex to remove it
  • Reposition — Drag the entire shape to move it

Changes preview in real time. Click Save to persist or Cancel to discard.

Overlay Visibility

Toggle overlay visibility from the overlay list panel. Visible overlays render for all users with map access. Hidden overlays are stored but not displayed.

Defining Mission Areas

Use overlays to define the operational boundaries for your missions:

  1. Create a polygon overlay that outlines the mission area
  2. Name it clearly (e.g., "Phase 1 — AO North")
  3. Associate it with your event
  4. Place objectives within the defined boundary

Visual Planning

Use different colors for different mission phases or team areas. For example, blue polygons for Blue Force objectives and red polygons for Red Force objectives. This makes the map immediately readable during the event.

Monitoring During Active Events

During an active event, the tactical map becomes your command view:

Live CoT Markers

Player and device positions update in real time via WebSocket. Markers are colored by team affiliation:

Color Affiliation
Blue Friendly forces
Red Hostile forces
Green Neutral
Yellow Unknown

Objective Status

Objective markers on the map reflect their current state:

Indicator Meaning
Gray marker Inactive — objective is not yet live
White marker Active — uncaptured, available for interaction
Team-colored marker Captured — shows the capturing team's color
Pulsing ring Currently being contested

Pushing Overlays to TAK Clients

Overlays can be shared with TAK clients (ATAK, iTAK, WinTAK) as CoT drawing objects:

  1. Select an overlay on the map
  2. Click Push to TAK
  3. Select the target groups to receive the overlay

TAK clients render the overlay on their map view, keeping field participants aligned with the operational picture.