Why MapHub Exists

Geospatial data is at the heart of how we understand our world. From mapping cities and tracking environmental change to planning infrastructure and responding to disasters, the ability to access, share, and collaborate on geospatial information is more important than ever. Yet, despite its growing significance, working with geospatial data remains complex, fragmented, and often inaccessible to many who could benefit from it.

MapHub was founded to change this. Our vision is to make geospatial data truly open, interoperable, and collaborative — for everyone, everywhere.

The Challenge: Geospatial Data Today

Geospatial professionals and enthusiasts alike face a familiar set of challenges:

• Fragmented file formats: There are dozens of geospatial file types, each with its own quirks and compatibility issues.

• Difficult sharing and discovery: Finding reliable, up-to-date datasets is often time-consuming, and sharing your own data can be just as hard.

• Lack of collaborative tools: Version control and teamwork, so common in software development, are still rare in the geospatial world.

• Limited interoperability: Many tools and platforms don't "talk" to each other, making workflows cumbersome and inefficient.

We built MapHub to address these pain points directly, with three core pillars at the center of our platform.

1. Host Any Geospatial File, Seamlessly

At MapHub, we believe that data should never be locked away by format or complexity. That's why we built a platform where you can upload virtually any geospatial file — Shapefile, GeoJSON, KML, GeoTIFF, CSV, GPKG, and more. Our system automatically processes your data, creates a tiling service, and makes your map instantly viewable and shareable on the web.

• No plugins or special software required. Just upload and go.

• Automatic tiling: We generate map tiles so your data can be viewed smoothly by anyone, anywhere.

• Effortless conversion: Need your data in another format? Export it in just a few clicks. We support conversions between major geospatial file types, making interoperability a breeze.

By removing technical barriers, we empower users of all backgrounds to work with geospatial data — whether you're a GIS professional, a researcher, a student, or a community organizer.

2. The Hub: A Community for Sharing and Discovery

We envision MapHub as more than just a tool — it's a thriving hub for geospatial data. Here, anyone can:

• Share datasets and maps with the world, or keep them private for select collaborators.

• Browse and download data shared by others, accelerating your own projects and research.

• Request datasets you need. Can't find what you're looking for? Post a request, and let the community help fulfill it.

This hub-centric approach fosters collaboration and democratizes access to geospatial information. Whether you're looking for open government data, crowdsourced maps, or specialized datasets, MapHub is designed to be your first stop.

We're building a platform where the global geospatial community can connect, share, and solve problems together — making data accessible, discoverable, and actionable for everyone.

3. Built-In Version Control for Geospatial Data

Traditional version control systems like Git revolutionized software development, but geospatial data has lagged behind. Large files, complex structures, and the lack of tailored tools have made versioning and collaboration difficult.

MapHub changes that. We've built native version control for geospatial data, so you can:

• Track every change to your datasets, with a clear, auditable history.

• Create aliases (like branches in Git) to manage different versions, experiment, or distribute updates to your users.

• Collaborate in real time with teammates, knowing your work is safe from accidental overwrites.

This means you can roll back mistakes, coordinate across teams, and ensure everyone is working with the latest, most accurate data. For the first time, true collaborative geospatial editing is within reach.

Interoperability and Integration

MapHub is designed to fit seamlessly into your existing workflows. Our QGIS plugin allows you to upload, manage, and visualize your data directly from QGIS, the world's most popular open-source GIS tool. And our support for a wide array of file types is always expanding.

Whether you're working in the browser, on the desktop, or integrating with other platforms, MapHub puts interoperability first. We're committed to supporting open standards and making it easy to move your data wherever you need it.

Our Vision: Mapping the World, Together

Geospatial data has the power to transform how we understand and shape our world. But that power is only unlocked when data is open, accessible, and collaborative.

MapHub exists to break down the barriers that have held geospatial data back. By making it easy to host any file, discover and share data in a vibrant hub, and collaborate with built-in version control, we're building the platform we always wished existed.

Whether you're mapping your neighborhood, analyzing global trends, or building tools for the next generation, MapHub is here to help you do it — faster, easier, and together.