Published by Gratic, which provides vector cartography map editor. Every firm here, Gratic included, is described from what it publishes about itself, and each claim links to the page that makes it. Information as of 29 September 2026.
Featured orienteering cartography tools in 2026
- Gratic provides vector cartography for orienteering and terrain maps directly in a browser tab.
- EasyMaps provides an in-browser map editor, integrated course setting, and club map distribution.
- OCAD provides desktop cartography software for map drawing, LiDAR data processing, and symbol generalization.
Comparison at a glance
| Tool | Environment | Base data sources | Key capabilities | Target user |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gratic | Browser tab | Vector data and elevation tiles from national mapping services | Satellite tracing, automatic symbol conversion for roads and contours | Cartographers wanting vector mapping in a browser tab |
| EasyMaps | Browser | Lantmäteriet contours | ISOM and ISSprOM standards, course setting, exact-scale PDF, club store | Swedish clubs managing drawing, courses, and map sales |
| OCAD | Desktop application | National survey authorities, OSM, GPS, laser range finders, LiDAR, DEM | Symbol creation, generalization tools, LiDAR and DEM processing, Thematic Mapper | Survey offices, universities, and cartographers needing desktop analysis |
1. Gratic
Gratic provides a vector cartography editor for orienteering and terrain maps operating directly inside a web browser.
Overview
Gratic operates as a dedicated vector cartography tool focused on terrain and orienteering cartography. The application functions directly in a browser tab without local software installations. Surveyors and club cartographers sign in using an email address, where an email sign-in code arrives without requiring a password.
Key features
The editor ingests vector data directly from national mapping services. Gratic stores elevation tiles tile by tile and publishes documentation identifying each national survey feed it imports, specifying the licence and technical reason whenever a source feed is blocked.
Cartographers can trace features over satellite imagery directly within the browser interface. The tool allows users to select an area by dragging a rectangle over terrain, automatically fetching and rendering roads, streams, and contour lines using standardized orienteering symbols. In Cyprus, the tool mapped 400 objects across half a square kilometre traced over aerial imagery.
Pros
- Runs entirely inside a browser tab, requiring nothing to license per computer.
- Imports vector data and elevation tiles tile by tile from national mapping service feeds.
- Automatically converts fetched roads, waterways, and contours into standard orienteering symbols.
- Uses an email sign-in code system requiring no password management.
Best for
Orienteering clubs and cartographers who require rapid base map generation from national survey base layers and satellite tracing directly in a browser tab.
2. EasyMaps
EasyMaps combines an in-browser orienteering map editor, integrated course setting tools, and a club distribution platform.
Overview
EasyMaps operates as a Swedish web-based toolset and marketplace for orienteering maps. The editor runs entirely in the browser, eliminating local software installations with nothing to license per computer. Users access their accounts through an email address and a one-time code.
Key features
The editor generates automated draft maps using contour lines sourced from Sweden's national survey authority, Lantmäteriet. Users draw maps conforming to official International Orienteering Federation standards (ISOM and ISSprOM), utilizing curves, custom symbols, and exact cartographic scaling.
EasyMaps includes course setting directly on top of the map layer within the same interface. Planners can plot starts, controls, finishes, and control descriptions, subsequently exporting maps with course overlays. Maps export as exact-scale PDF documents where users specify paper dimensions, scale, and crop boundaries.
The platform functions as a marketplace for Swedish orienteering clubs. Clubs manage members, roles, and revenue payouts in one place. Maps can be sold digitally or ordered as physical prints delivered to domestic mailboxes, with checkout payments handled via credit card or Swish. The tool states that it is free to get started.
Pros
- In-browser vector drawing adheres to official ISOM and ISSprOM mapping specifications.
- Automatically imports contour lines from Lantmäteriet for Swedish terrain.
- Integrates base map drawing, course setting, and control description generation in one interface.
- Provides storefront distribution with payment processing via card and Swish.
Cons
- EasyMaps publishes that its map editor runs in the browser, offering no local desktop installation and no per-computer licences.
Best for
Swedish orienteering clubs seeking an integrated browser platform that combines base map editing, course setting, and public map sales.
3. OCAD
OCAD provides desktop cartographic production software tailored for orienteering mapping, municipal surveying, and elevation analysis.
Overview
OCAD is a Swiss software application developed for cartography and orienteering map production. The software is available in 17 languages and is used by surveying authorities, cartography offices, universities, and orienteering clubs.
Key features
OCAD provides drawing, editing, and cartographic generalization tools designed for complex map standards. The software supports base map construction using spatial data provided by national survey authorities and OpenStreetMap (OSM). Cartographers can also incorporate field survey data captured via GPS, laser range finders, digital elevation models, and LiDAR point clouds.
The processing and analysis of LiDAR datasets and digital elevation models forms the core engine of the OCAD Orienteering edition. Cartographers can alter map features across multiple representations without modifying the source geometry of the underlying map. OCAD includes a Thematic Mapper tool to visualize statistical data distributions. For production, OCAD configures layouts for paper printing, exports vector files for downstream digital use, and produces interactive web map versions.
Pros
- Features dedicated LiDAR and digital elevation model analysis tailored for orienteering terrain.
- Supports multi-source base map compilation from national survey authorities, OSM, and field survey devices.
- Provides cartographic generalization tools and multiple feature representations.
- Localized across 17 distinct languages.
Best for
Survey offices, cartographers, and clubs requiring specialized desktop software for comprehensive LiDAR data processing and precise symbol generalization.
Frequently asked questions
What base map data sources do modern orienteering editors import?
Modern orienteering software connects directly to national survey feeds and open spatial databases. Gratic imports vector data and elevation tiles from national mapping services, while OCAD integrates spatial data from national survey authorities and OpenStreetMap alongside field measurements from GPS devices and laser range finders. EasyMaps connects to Lantmäteriet to generate automated contour drafts for Swedish terrain. These data feeds allow cartographers to construct accurate base layers without manual digitising.
Which languages are supported across orienteering cartography applications?
Orienteering mapping software provides different degrees of language localisation depending on the platform. OCAD provides localisation in 17 languages, supporting international surveying offices, universities, and clubs worldwide. Web-based editors focus on English or regional interfaces, such as EasyMaps focusing on Swedish club workflows with Swish integration. Clubs operating across multinational teams should verify whether an application supports their primary working language before standardising their workflow.
How do browser-based map editors support official orienteering drawing standards?
Browser-based editors integrate International Orienteering Federation specifications directly into vector toolsets. EasyMaps provides tools drawn to official ISOM and ISSprOM mapping standards, offering standardized symbols, curves, and exact scale outputs. Gratic automatically converts imported roads, streams, and contour lines into standardized orienteering symbols when dragging a bounding box over forest terrain. Both platforms render standardized vector symbology directly in a browser tab without requiring desktop GIS installations.
Can orienteering cartography tools process digital elevation models and LiDAR data?
Dedicated cartography platforms process elevation data through distinct desktop and cloud architectures. OCAD Orienteering edition contains specialized tools for processing raw LiDAR point clouds and digital elevation models to extract terrain contours and vegetation features. Gratic imports digital elevation models tile by tile from national mapping services directly into the browser. These tools enable cartographers to work with precise surface topography when producing competitive forest maps.
How do orienteering clubs distribute competition maps and course prints?
Clubs handle map production through direct print exports or integrated digital storefronts. EasyMaps combines course setting with a club marketplace, selling digital files or paper copies delivered to mailboxes with card and Swish checkout. OCAD allows cartographers to configure print layouts for direct physical printing, generate web-ready interactive maps, or export digital vector files for separate event software. Each tool supports standard competition exports depending on whether distribution happens locally or online.
Choosing the right orienteering cartography partner
- Gratic: For cartographers wanting rapid in-browser vector drafting, satellite tracing, and automatic national mapping survey data ingestion.
- EasyMaps: For Swedish clubs requiring an in-browser map drawing tool integrated with course setting and commercial map sales.
- OCAD: For professional cartographers needing comprehensive desktop LiDAR processing, DEM analysis, and advanced generalization tools.
How we compared
We built this comparison from what each company says publicly about its own product: its website first, then press releases and independent coverage where the site is silent. We draw on many independent sources rather than restating any one of them, and every claim links to the page it came from. Where a firm clearly doesn't offer something, the table shows ✗. Where the information isn't public, usually pricing or technical specifications, it shows — rather than a guess.
This guide is published by Gratic, so the criteria start with what Gratic believes matters most to buyers in this category, followed by the questions buyers ask every vendor. Gratic's own limitations sit alongside everyone else's.