Delta Watch: Unlock OpenStreetMap API for Delta Live!

This article explains how to obtain an OpenStreetMap key and remove the watermark from your Delta Live! maps.

Log in or sign up for myTopcon to view this page:

Delta Watch: Unlock OpenStreetMap API for Delta Live!

With the introduction of Delta Watch 3.4, Topcon has also introduced the web-visualization add-on Delta Live! One of the features of Delta Live! is the ability to use the OpenStreetMap interface to give the user access to this extensive library of maps to be used as background in Delta Live!

To get the most out of this functionality, the user should obtain an API key. By obtaining such a key, the "API Key Required" watermark will disappear, and you get more detail and higher zoom levels in your maps, where available.

This article guides you step-by-step through the process of obtaining and applying such a key.

Obtaining an OpenStreetMap API key

Delta Watch is configured to use the OpenStreetMap service from Thunderforest. They have multiple usage levels, including a free entry level with limited monthly usage. For testing and small projects, this should be sufficient.

To register:

  1. Open the Thunderforest webpage.
  2. Create an account using the Sign Up button in the top right corner.
  1. Choose the right license option for you. To start, select Hobby Project. This allows limited tiles but is free, at the time this article was written.
  1. Create your account following the instructions on their website.
  2. Once you have created and confirmed the account, you can login and copy the API key for use in Delta Watch. The API key is in the highlighted section in the image below. Store this key in a text file for later use, if required.

Enter API key in Delta Watch

  1. Open Delta Watch, and navigate to Interfaces > Browser configuration. Paste the key into the field OpenStreetMap API key. Apply the changes.
  1. Now open Delta Live! and check in, for example, any map overview. The watermark should have been removed. See below the same map with and without the watermark for illustration. Is the watermark still visible? You might have had Delta Live! open before the change. To solve this, logout of Delta Live! and log back in to reset the parameters. You might need to restart your browser or even clear the browser cache, depending on your settings.

Check Thunderforest usage: Any need to change my license?

Depending on your usage of Delta Live! in combination with the license model you signed up for with Thunderforest, you might run into the usage limit of the license. Luckily, Thunderforest provides a usage graph where you can check the usage over various periods. Login to your Thunderforest account, and on the dashboard on the bottom, you will find a chart with the number or API requests per day.