Map Comparator
User Guide
What is Map Comparator?
Map Comparator is a tool that helps you visualize and compare geographic distances and street networks. Draw a shape around an area you know, then drag it to another location to see how it compares in size and street layout.
Getting Started
1. Draw a Selection
Click and drag on the map to draw a shape around the area you want to compare. You can choose between two shape types:
- Circle - Best for comparing distances from a central point
- Rectangle - Better for comparing rectangular areas or city blocks
2. View the Overlay
Once you release the mouse, the tool will extract all roads and street names within your selection and create an orange overlay that you can move around.
3. Compare Locations
Click and drag the orange overlay to move it to different locations on the map. This lets you compare the size and street density of your selected area with other places.
Controls
Clear Button / Esc
Removes the current overlay and lets you draw a new selection.
Circle / Rectangle Buttons / C / R
Switch between circle and rectangle drawing modes.
Overlay Opacity Slider
Controls the overall transparency of the overlay (roads, labels, and boundary). Lower values make the overlay more transparent so you can see the underlying map better.
Overlay Streets Slider
Controls only the opacity of the road lines in the overlay. Set this lower to dim the roads while keeping street name labels fully visible. Useful when you want to focus on street names without visual clutter from the road lines.
Label Density Slider (0-5)
Controls how many street names are displayed:
- 0 - No labels (hides all street names)
- 1-2 - Shows major streets only
- 3-4 - Shows major and minor streets
- 5 - Shows all available street names, including small residential streets
Higher values show street names that would normally only appear when zoomed in closer.
Tips & Tricks
Tip: Start with a familiar area (like your neighborhood) to get a sense of scale, then drag it to unfamiliar locations to understand their size.
Tip: Use the Label Density slider to reveal more street names when comparing detailed street networks. This is especially useful when comparing urban areas with different street layouts.
Tip: Lower the "Overlay Streets" slider to reduce visual clutter from road lines while keeping street names readable.
Tip: Zoom in or out on the base map to see your overlay at different scales. The overlay stays the same size, helping you understand relative distances.
Tip: Press Esc while drawing to cancel and start over.
Use Cases
- Travel Planning - Compare the size of a destination city to your hometown
- Real Estate - Compare neighborhood sizes and street layouts
- Urban Planning - Analyze street network density across different areas
- Education - Teach geographic scale and map reading
- General Curiosity - Explore how different places compare in size
Technical Requirements
- Modern web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)
- WebGL support (enabled by default in most browsers)
- Internet connection (for loading map tiles)
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