Draw on the map

You can add objects to the map to designate points, lines, areas, or collections of objects. The Maps JavaScript API calls these objects overlays. Overlays are tied to latitude/longitude coordinates, so they move when you drag or zoom the map.

Overlay types

The Photorealistic 3D Maps in Maps JavaScript API supports several different types of overlays that you can add programmatically:

  • Lines on the map are displayed using polylines, represented as an ordered sequence of points connected by line segments.
  • Areas of arbitrary shape on the map are displayed using polygons. Like polylines, polygons are an ordered sequence of locations. Unlike polylines, polygons define a region which they enclose.

Polylines

Polylines are used to display lines on the map based on an ordered sequence of locations.

Add a polyline

Red polyline drawn across surface of earth

<gmp-map-3d center="0,-180,15000000">
  <gmp-polyline-3d altitude-mode="clamp-to-ground" stroke-color="red" stroke-width="10"></gmp-polyline-3d>
</gmp-map-3d>

<script async src="https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/js?key=<YOUR_API_KEY>&v=alpha&libraries=maps3d"></script>

<script>
  const polyline = document.querySelector('gmp-polyline-3d');

  customElements.whenDefined(polyline.localName).then(() => {
    polyline.coordinates = [
      { lat: 37.772, lng: -122.214 },
      { lat: 21.291, lng: -157.821 },
      { lat: -18.142, lng: 178.431 },
      { lat: -27.467, lng: 153.027 }
    ];
  });
</script>

Remove a polyline

const polyline = document.querySelector('gmp-polyline-3d');
polyline.remove();

Occluded polyline

You can control the visibility of occluded segments using the draws-occluded-segments attribute.

Occluded polyline drawing arbitrary route through downtown San Francisco

<gmp-map-3d heading="25" range="2500" tilt="45" center="37.7905,-122.3989,165">
  <gmp-polyline-3d altitude-mode="relative-to-ground" stroke-color="#1967d2" stroke-width="10" stroke-opacity="0.75"></gmp-polyline-3d>
</gmp-map-3d>

<script async src="https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/js?key=<YOUR_API_KEY>&v=alpha&libraries=maps3d"></script>

<script>
  const polyline = document.querySelector('gmp-polyline-3d');

  customElements.whenDefined(polyline.localName).then(() => {
    polyline.coordinates = [
      {lat: 37.80515638571346, lng: -122.4032569467164},
      {lat: 37.80337073509504, lng: -122.4012878349353},
      {lat: 37.79925208843463, lng: -122.3976697250461},
      {lat: 37.7989102378512, lng: -122.3983408725656},
      {lat: 37.79887832784348, lng: -122.3987094864192},
      {lat: 37.79786443410338, lng: -122.4066878788802},
      {lat: 37.79549248916587, lng: -122.4032992702785},
      {lat: 37.78861484290265, lng: -122.4019489189814},
      {lat: 37.78618687561075, lng: -122.398969592545},
      {lat: 37.7892310309145, lng: -122.3951458683092},
      {lat: 37.7916358762409, lng: -122.3981969390652}
    ];
  });
</script>

View Sample

Polygons

Polygons are used to display areas of shape on the map. Like polylines, polygons are an ordered sequence of locations. However, polyons define the region they enclose.

Simple polygon

Triangular red polygon with blue edges around lower Manhattan

<gmp-map-3d center="40.6842,-74.0019,1000" heading="340" tilt="70">
  <gmp-polygon-3d altitude-mode="clamp-to-ground" fill-color="#ff0000" stroke-color="#0000ff" stroke-width="8" draws-occluded-segments></gmp-polygon-3d>
</gmp-map-3d>

<script async src="https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/js?key=<YOUR_API_KEY>&v=alpha&libraries=maps3d"></script>

<script>
  const polygon = document.querySelector('gmp-polygon-3d');

  customElements.whenDefined(polygon.localName).then(() => {
    polygon.outerCoordinates = [
      {lat: 40.7144, lng: -74.0208},
      {lat: 40.6993, lng: -74.019},
      {lat: 40.7035, lng: -74.0004},
      {lat: 40.7144, lng: -74.0208}
    ];
  });
</script>

Remove a polygon

const polygon = document.querySelector('gmp-polygon-3d');
polygon.remove();

Extruded polygon

Triangular red prism with blue edges around lower Manhattan with an altitude of 1000 meters

<gmp-map-3d center="40.7079,-74.0132,100" heading="30" tilt="55" range="5000">
  <gmp-polygon-3d altitude-mode="relative-to-ground" fill-color="#ff0000" fill-opacity="0.5" stroke-color="#0000ff" stroke-width="8" extruded><gmp-polygon-3d>
</gmp-map-3d>

<script async src="https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/js?key=<YOUR_API_KEY>&v=alpha&libraries=maps3d"></script>

<script>
  const polygon = document.querySelector('gmp-polygon-3d');

  customElements.whenDefined(polygon.localName).then(() => {
    polygon.outerCoordinates = [
      {lat: 40.7144, lng: -74.0208, altitude: 1000},
      {lat: 40.6993, lng: -74.019, altitude: 1000},
      {lat: 40.7035, lng: -74.0004, altitude: 1000},
      {lat: 40.7144, lng: -74.0208, altitude: 1000}
    ];
  });
</script>

View Sample

Polygon with an inner hole

Triangular red polygon with a hole in the middle and blue edges around lower Manhattan

<gmp-map-3d center="40.7093,-74.0122,10" heading="30" tilt="15" range="5000">
  <gmp-polygon-3d altitude-mode="relative-to-ground" fill-color="#ff0000" fill-opacity="0.5" stroke-color="#0000ff" stroke-width="8" extruded><gmp-polygon-3d>
</gmp-map-3d>

<script async src="https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/js?key=<YOUR_API_KEY>&v=alpha&libraries=maps3d"></script>

<script>
  const polygon = document.querySelector('gmp-polygon-3d');

  customElements.whenDefined(polygon.localName).then(() => {
    polygon.outerCoordinates = [
      {lat: 40.7144, lng: -74.0208, altitude: 1000},
      {lat: 40.6993, lng: -74.019, altitude: 1000},
      {lat: 40.7035, lng: -74.0004, altitude: 1000},
      {lat: 40.7144, lng: -74.0208, altitude: 1000}
    ];
    polygon.innerCoordinates = [
      [
        {lat: 40.71, lng: -74.0175, altitude: 1000},
        {lat: 40.703, lng: -74.0165, altitude: 1000},
        {lat: 40.7035, lng: -74.006, altitude: 1000},
        {lat: 40.71, lng: -74.0175, altitude: 1000}
      ]
    ];
  });
</script>