Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about 1224Tools Bathymetry,
the source data, tile format and integration.
What are bathymetric contour tiles?
Bathymetric contour tiles are map tiles that display lines connecting
points of equal water depth. 1224Tools Bathymetry provides these contours
as transparent raster tiles that can be layered over an existing basemap.
Do I need to replace my existing map provider?
No. The tiles are designed to work as a separate overlay layer, allowing
developers to keep their existing basemap and mapping architecture.
What tile format is used?
Tiles are provided in standard XYZ format as transparent 256 × 256 pixel
PNG images.
What depth range is included?
Contours are provided from 10 m to 200 m depth at 10, 20, 30, 40, 50,
60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 120, 140, 160, 180 and 200 m.
What zoom levels are available?
Native bathymetric contour tiles are available from Z7 through Z13.
At higher zoom levels, applications can overzoom the Z13 tiles, but
no additional bathymetric detail is added.
What is the source of the bathymetry data?
The dataset is derived from GEBCO 2026 using the global 15 arc-second
bathymetric grid as the source data.
Does interpolation improve the accuracy of the source data?
No. Interpolation is used to produce smoother contour geometry for map
display, but it does not improve the positional accuracy or underlying
resolution of the source dataset.
Why can contours appear slightly offset from a coastline?
Different basemap providers may use different coastline datasets,
geometries and rendering methods. As a result, visible offsets can occur,
particularly around small islands and complex shorelines.
For more information, see the Coverage page and its Known Limitations
section.
Why are some ocean areas empty?
The service focuses on bathymetric contours within the supported depth
range. Deep-ocean areas that do not contain relevant contour lines may
therefore contain no visible bathymetry tile content.
Which mapping libraries can use the tiles?
The tiles can be used with mapping libraries and SDKs that support
standard XYZ raster tile overlays. Integration examples and documentation
will be provided for commonly used web and mobile mapping environments.
Will I receive a warning before reaching my monthly request limit?
Yes. A warning is displayed in your account dashboard when monthly usage
reaches 80% of your included request allowance. At 90%, an email
notification is also sent.
What happens when I reach my monthly request limit?
By default, tile requests continue after reaching 100% of your included
monthly allowance, and additional requests are billed at your plan’s
overage rate.
If you prefer to avoid overage charges, you can enable a hard usage limit.
When enabled, tile requests stop once the included monthly allowance has
been reached.
Are the tiles suitable for marine navigation?
No. 1224Tools Bathymetry is intended for visualization and application
development. It is not intended for navigation, collision avoidance or
other safety-critical marine operations.