YOUR OWN CUSTOM GEO API 
MAPBOX SURFACE API
“A REST API that allows 
users to programmatically 
query data within a map”
a.tiles.mapbox.com/v4/bobbysud.iia43k9m/5/16/10.png
http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/ 
Tile_Disk_Usage
a.tiles.mapbox.com/v4/bobbysud.iia43k9m/5/16/10.vector.pbf
40m 
50m 45m
RECAP 
All data stored as vector tiles 
Coordinate converted to ZXY 
Load corresponding tile 
Parse data of vector tile 
Find 2 closest objects to in tile 
Interpolate 
All done asynchronously
mapbox.com/developers/api/surface
Sample Request 
https://api.tiles.mapbox.com/v4/surface/
base url 
https://api.tiles.mapbox.com/v4/surface
Mapbox mapid 
Required. Only can specify 1 mapid. 
mapbox.mapbox-terrain-v1.json
layer 
Required. Only can specify 1 layer. 
layer=contour
fields 
At least 1 field required. Can add more separated via a comma. 
fields=ele
layer 
field 
field
fields 
At least 1 field required. Can add more separated via a comma. 
fields=house_num,osm_id
points 
At least 1 point required. Can add more separated via a semi-colon. 
points=-112.084004,36.05322;-112.083914,36.053573;
VOLUME DEMO 
https://www.mapbox.com/labs/surface/drone/#16/46.6545/6.5388
STATS 
Thousands of features 
300 Points 
Average response time: 400ms*
L IMI TAT IONS
6 tiles, ~1,000 features
1 tile, potentially many more features
> ZOOM LEVEL = MORE T I LES BUT LESS 
FEATURES
L IMI TS 
max 300 point limit 
max 70 vector tiles 
Extremely dense tiles
FUTURE
@bobws 
mapbox.com/developers/api/surface

Mapbox Surface API