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Interactive Map

VanRoute's interactive map is your primary tool for exploring Australia's roads and planning safe journeys. This guide covers all map features and controls.

Map Overview​

The map displays:

  • Your location - Blue dot with direction arrow
  • Road network - All major and minor roads
  • Hazards - Color-coded warning markers
  • Routes - Planned routes in blue
  • Points of interest - Fuel stations, rest areas, towns

Map Controls​

Zoom Controls​

Pinch to Zoom

  • Pinch fingers together to zoom out
  • Spread fingers apart to zoom in
  • Works on both iOS and Android

Double Tap

  • Double tap to zoom in on a location
  • Two-finger double tap to zoom out

Zoom Buttons

  • Tap + button to zoom in
  • Tap - button to zoom out
  • Located in bottom-right corner

Pan and Navigate​

Drag to Pan

  • Touch and drag to move the map
  • Swipe quickly to pan longer distances
  • Map continues moving with momentum

Recenter on Location

  • Tap the locate me button (bottom-right)
  • Map recenters on your current location
  • Rotation resets to north-up

Rotate and Tilt​

Rotate Map (Future feature)

  • Two-finger rotate gesture
  • Aligns map to direction of travel
  • Tap compass icon to reset to north

3D Tilt (Future feature)

  • Two-finger swipe up/down
  • Shows terrain in 3D perspective
  • Useful for mountain passes

Map Layers​

Switch between different map views:

Standard View (Default)​

Shows:

  • Roads and highways
  • Towns and cities
  • Hazard markers
  • Your current location

Best for:

  • General navigation
  • Route planning
  • Hazard identification

Satellite View​

Shows:

  • Satellite imagery
  • Road overlays
  • Hazard markers

Best for:

  • Assessing road conditions
  • Viewing campgrounds
  • Checking terrain

Terrain View​

Shows:

  • Topographic contours
  • Elevation shading
  • Hill shading

Best for:

  • Mountain routes
  • Elevation planning
  • Gradient assessment

Hybrid View​

Combines:

  • Satellite imagery
  • Road and place labels
  • Hazard markers

Best for:

  • Detailed route planning
  • Verifying locations

To change map layer:

  1. Tap the layers icon (top-right)
  2. Select desired layer
  3. Map updates immediately

Hazard Markers​

Marker Colors​

Hazards are color-coded by severity:

🔴 Red - Critical

  • Height clearance less than vehicle + 30cm
  • Very narrow roads (< 2.5m)
  • Severe weight restrictions
  • Dangerous conditions

Action required: Find alternative route or verify safe passage

🟡 Yellow - Moderate

  • Height clearance between vehicle + 30cm and + 50cm
  • Narrow roads (2.5m - 3.0m)
  • Moderate weight limits
  • Caution advised

Action required: Slow down, proceed with caution

🟢 Green - Minor

  • Clearances well above vehicle
  • Roads 3.0m+ width
  • Minor advisories
  • Awareness level

Action required: Be aware, normal driving

Marker Icons​

Different icons represent hazard types:

  • 🌉 Bridge - Height or weight restriction
  • ↔️ Width - Narrow road or passage
  • 🛤️ Railway - Level crossing or overpass
  • 🏔️ Terrain - Steep grade or elevation change
  • 🚧 Restriction - Other vehicle restriction
  • ⚠️ Warning - General caution

Viewing Hazard Details​

Tap any hazard marker to see:

Hazard Card

  • Type - Category of hazard
  • Severity - Color-coded level
  • Location - Street address or landmark
  • Details - Specific measurements or conditions
  • Distance - From your current location
  • Photos - User-submitted photos (if available)

Actions

  • Avoid - Calculate route avoiding this hazard
  • Report Issue - Flag incorrect information
  • Share - Send hazard details to others
  • Directions - Get directions to this location

Filtering Hazards​

Customize which hazards appear on the map:

By Severity​

Toggle visibility of:

  • ✅ Critical hazards (red)
  • ✅ Moderate hazards (yellow)
  • ✅ Minor hazards (green)

To filter:

  1. Tap filter icon (top-right)
  2. Toggle severity levels on/off
  3. Map updates immediately

By Type​

Show only specific hazard types:

  • Height restrictions
  • Width restrictions
  • Weight limits
  • Unsealed roads
  • Steep grades

To filter by type:

  1. Tap filter icon
  2. Tap Hazard Types
  3. Select/deselect types
  4. Tap Apply

By Vehicle​

Smart Filtering (Recommended)

When enabled, shows only hazards relevant to your vehicle:

  • Height restrictions below your vehicle height + 50cm
  • Width restrictions affecting your vehicle width
  • Weight limits below your vehicle weight

To enable:

  1. Tap filter icon
  2. Enable My Vehicle Only
  3. Only relevant hazards shown

Points of Interest​

Fuel Stations​

Displayed as:

  • ⛽ Fuel pump icon
  • Brand color (if major brand)

Tap a fuel station to see:

  • Name and brand
  • Current fuel prices (NSW, QLD, VIC)
  • Price update time
  • Facilities (toilets, shop, air)
  • Parking suitability
  • Distance from you

Fuel Price Colors:

  • 🟢 Green - Below average
  • 🟡 Yellow - Average price
  • 🔴 Red - Above average

Rest Areas​

Displayed as:

  • 🅿️ Parking icon
  • 🌳 Picnic table icon

Tap a rest area to see:

  • Facilities available
  • RV/caravan parking
  • Toilets and water
  • Dump point (if available)
  • Photos and reviews

Towns and Cities​

Tap a town to see:

  • Population
  • Available services
  • Fuel stations
  • Accommodation
  • Hospitals and emergency services

Search and Find​

Search for Locations​

  1. Tap the search bar at top
  2. Enter location:
    • Town name (e.g., "Port Douglas")
    • Address (e.g., "123 Main St, Brisbane")
    • Landmark (e.g., "Uluru")
    • Postcode (e.g., "3000")
  3. Select from results
  4. Map pans to location

Search for Hazards​

Filter search by:

  • Hazard type
  • Severity level
  • Road name
  • Suburb or region

Find locations near you:

  1. Tap search bar
  2. Tap Nearby
  3. Select category:
    • Fuel stations
    • Rest areas
    • Caravan parks
    • Repair shops
    • Supermarkets
  4. Results sorted by distance

Saved Places​

Save a Location​

  1. Tap and hold on map location
  2. Tap Save Place
  3. Enter name (e.g., "Favorite Campground")
  4. Choose category (optional)
  5. Tap Save

View Saved Places​

  1. Tap menu → Saved Places
  2. Browse your saved locations
  3. Tap any place to:
    • View on map
    • Get directions
    • Edit details
    • Share with others

Organize Saved Places​

Create categories:

  • Campgrounds
  • Rest Areas
  • Fuel Stops
  • Points of Interest
  • Emergency Contacts

Route Display​

When a route is active:

Route Line

  • Shown in blue
  • Width represents road size
  • Dashed sections = unsealed roads

Start and End Markers

  • 🅰️ Start point (green)
  • 🅱️ End point (red)

Stops Along Route

  • Numbered markers
  • Show planned stops
  • Display stop names

Hazards on Route

  • Highlighted hazards
  • Distance to next hazard
  • Warning previews

Route Overview​

Tap route info panel to see:

  • Total distance
  • Estimated time
  • Fuel required
  • Number of hazards
  • Elevation profile

Live Traffic (NSW, QLD, VIC)​

When available, the map shows:

Traffic Conditions

  • 🟢 Green - Free flowing
  • 🟡 Yellow - Slow traffic
  • 🔴 Red - Heavy traffic
  • ⚫ Black - Road closed

Incidents

  • 🚗 Accident
  • 🚧 Roadworks
  • ⚠️ Hazard
  • 🌊 Flooding

To view traffic:

  1. Tap layers
  2. Enable Live Traffic
  3. Traffic overlays appear

Note: Traffic data updated every 5 minutes

Offline Maps (Coming Soon)​

Download maps for offline use:

  1. Go to Settings → Offline Maps
  2. Select region to download
  3. Choose map detail level
  4. Tap Download

Offline maps include:

  • Road network
  • Hazard locations
  • Points of interest
  • Saved places

Not available offline:

  • Route calculation (requires internet)
  • Live traffic data
  • Fuel prices
  • Weather

Map Settings​

Customize map appearance:

Display Options​

Always North Up

  • Map always oriented with north at top
  • Default setting

Heading Up (During navigation)

  • Map rotates to match direction of travel
  • Easier to follow navigation

Show Current Speed

  • Displays your current speed
  • Color changes if exceeding limit

Speed Limit Warnings

  • Visual and audio alerts
  • When exceeding speed limit

Map Theme​

Auto (Default)

  • Light theme during day
  • Dark theme at night
  • Based on sunset/sunrise times

Light Theme

  • Always use light colors
  • Better visibility in sunlight

Dark Theme

  • Always use dark colors
  • Reduces eye strain at night
  • Saves battery on OLED screens

Performance​

High Quality

  • Detailed satellite imagery
  • Smooth animations
  • Higher data usage

Balanced

  • Good detail and performance
  • Moderate data usage
  • Recommended for most users

Data Saver

  • Lower quality imagery
  • Faster loading
  • Minimal data usage

Tips for Using the Map​

Planning Long Trips​

  • Zoom out to see entire route
  • Identify clusters of hazards
  • Note major fuel stops
  • Check terrain elevation

Exploring New Areas​

  • Use satellite view to assess roads
  • Check for parking at destinations
  • Identify alternative routes
  • Note emergency services locations

During Navigation​

  • Use heading-up mode
  • Enable voice guidance
  • Keep map at medium zoom
  • Monitor upcoming hazards

In Remote Areas​

  • Download offline maps before leaving coverage
  • Save important locations
  • Note fuel station locations
  • Mark rest areas

Troubleshooting​

Map Won't Load​

Check internet connection

  • Ensure WiFi or mobile data is on
  • Try toggling airplane mode off/on
  • Move to area with better signal

Clear map cache

  1. Go to Settings → Map Settings
  2. Tap Clear Cache
  3. Restart app

Location Not Updating​

Check location permissions

  • Settings → Privacy → Location Services
  • Ensure VanRoute has "While Using" permission

GPS signal issues

  • Move away from buildings/trees
  • Wait 30-60 seconds for GPS lock
  • Ensure location services enabled on device

Hazards Not Showing​

Check filters

  • Ensure hazard filters not disabled
  • Try resetting filters to defaults

Zoom level

  • Hazards hide when zoomed too far out
  • Zoom in to see more detail

Map is Slow​

Reduce map quality

  • Settings → Map Settings → Data Saver

Clear cache

  • Settings → Map Settings → Clear Cache

Close other apps

  • Free up device memory

Next Steps​