Adding a map to your app is easy-peasy, but most solutions never move beyond a standard view with a few scattered markers. If you want to build something truly interactive (like a custom exploration tool or a complex tracking system) you need to understand what's happening under the hood.

In this session, Sam will go deeper into the mechanics of modern mapping platforms. Using his experience building a nature exploration app, he’ll move past the marketing and show you how these technologies actually work in the wild (pun intended).

We will break down the core concepts you need to know:

- The Fundamentals: How map tiling, zoom levels, and data layers come together to create a seamless experience.
- Data & Sourcing: Where to find geo-information and which formats actually matter.
- The Backend: Choosing the right home for your data. We’ll compare the spatial capabilities of Azure Cosmos DB and Postgres with PostGIS to see which fits your use case.
- The Tech Stack: How to integrate your custom data sources to make maps interactive in your mobile or web frontends.
- Navigation is a complex topic on its own, with its own set of challenges. But this will also be discussed and demonstrated with code walkthroughs and real-world demos.