[OpenLayers-Users] Accessing Google Tile independent from their API in OL3? (possible for paying customer?)

[drno]

Using map from tile providers are common use-case in web mapping: overlaying
internally-hosted WMS/WFS layer on top of Google Maps/OSM/Bing Maps. These
are easy in OpenLayers 2. However, this feat -especially Google Maps- is not
supported anymore in OL3.The book "OpenLayers 3 Beginner's Guide" page
107:/OpenLayers 2 had some third-party mapping APIs embedded into its core,
enabling you to use its maps inside your Openlayers-based application.
Nowadays, for better decoupling of OpenLayers API from third-party APIs, the
OpenLayers 3 team choose to have no support for other mapping APIs that tie
together tiles and an associated JavaScript API library.Why this
decision?One of the main goals of OpenLayers 3 was to rewrite OpenLayers 2,
making its API cleaner. The support for Google Maps API in OpenLayers 2 has
also put a significant maintenance burden on both library and application
developers, to keep up with changes of the Google Maps API. To avoid this in
OpenLayers 3, the support for Google Maps using Google Maps API is
nonexistent. However, Google does provide its tiles independent from their
API, but only to paying customers. Fortunately, you have more alternatives
to Google Maps API (Bing, OSM)./I found this awesome solution
<https://stackoverflow.com/a/33993878/4795725> in OpenLayers. I tried it
myself that it works with OpenLayers 4.1.1 and Leaflet 0.7.7.Can anyone
elaborate more on:1. how OL3 can access Google Maps tile independent from
their API ?2. whether the above solution in stackoverflow is the answer of
my question #1?3. what sort of payment/contract ? Is it the same with the
Google Maps API Premium ?



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[Andreas Hocevar]

The solution you found is illegal. It violates Google's Terms of Use.
I added a comment to that answer on Stack Overflow pointing to the
section of the terms. If in doubt, get in touch with your Google sales
representative to see if you can negotiate a special agreement. But I
know of no one who was able to do that.

Andreas.

Post by drno
Using map from tile providers are common use-case in web mapping: overlaying
internally-hosted WMS/WFS layer on top of Google Maps/OSM/Bing Maps. These
are easy in OpenLayers 2. However, this feat -especially Google Maps- is not
OpenLayers 2 had some third-party mapping APIs embedded into its core,
enabling you to use its maps inside your Openlayers-based application.
Nowadays, for better decoupling of OpenLayers API from third-party APIs, the
OpenLayers 3 team choose to have no support for other mapping APIs that tie
together tiles and an associated JavaScript API library. Why this decision?
One of the main goals of OpenLayers 3 was to rewrite OpenLayers 2, making
its API cleaner. The support for Google Maps API in OpenLayers 2 has also
put a significant maintenance burden on both library and application
developers, to keep up with changes of the Google Maps API. To avoid this in
OpenLayers 3, the support for Google Maps using Google Maps API is
nonexistent. However, Google does provide its tiles independent from their
API, but only to paying customers. Fortunately, you have more alternatives
to Google Maps API (Bing, OSM). I found this awesome solution in OpenLayers.
I tried it myself that it works with OpenLayers 4.1.1 and Leaflet 0.7.7. Can
anyone elaborate more on: 1. how OL3 can access Google Maps tile independent
from their API ? 2. whether the above solution in stackoverflow is the
answer of my question #1? 3. what sort of payment/contract ? Is it the same
with the Google Maps API Premium ?
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API in OL3? (possible for paying customer?)
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[drno]

Post by Andreas Hocevar
The solution you found is illegal. It violates Google's Terms of Use.

Andreas

I am not surprised if we suspect that such way is illegal. Both free plan
and paid plan prohibit it:
* Free plan: (Google Maps Terms of Service, article 10.1.a)
https://developers.google.com/maps/terms#section_10_1
* Paid plan: (MASTER TERMS: Google Maps APIs, article 4.1.A)
https://enterprise.google.com/maps/terms/apac/premium-maps-terms.html

But if only Google can relax this, there could be great advantage.
Layer from direct access to Google Maps Tiles has visual appearance far
better than layer coming from 'Google Maps API' [+]:
* Direct access gives us Google baselayer that '/really-sticks-to-the-map/'.
User's pan & zoom move the map and Google baselayer follow it *with no lag
at all*
* Google Maps API gives us baselayer that /does not stick to the map/.
User's pan & zoom move the map and Google baselayer follow it *WITH
noticeable lag.*
(Strange thing? I really wish i could show you visually, but I am sure you
know what I mean with this 'stickyness'.)

Also, I checked that accessing directly to Google Maps Tiles WITH paid plan
is possible: make sure that there's javascript reference to Google eg. .
(I have a Premium Plan)

Hence Maps APIs Credits are still counted, where one refresh (or load) of
the page costs 1 Maps APIs Credit.

I think this is kind of win-win solution:
* Google customer (gets better visual quality in OpenLayers (or Leaflet),
and
* Google keeps all map usage metered

Now if I were Google I will make /direct-access-to-tile/ available for use
but /only/ for paid plan, such that HTTP requests to /direct-access-to-tile/
without paid plan will be rejected.

Also, I observed that Google is the only map provider (to the best extent of
my knowledge) that has lag movement during map move (as long as the Google
layer comes NOT from /direct-access-to-tile/). Bing and OSM do not have it.

+] I put quote because I am not really sure how to shortly distinct the two
(Direct access to tile VS Google Maps API?)

Post by Andreas Hocevar
If in doubt, get in touch with your Google sales representative to see if
you can negotiate a special agreement.

Yes, I agree.



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