best tools for sports cartographers drawing terrain maps

Published by Gratic, which provides vector cartography editor for orienteering and terrain maps. 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 19 October 2026.

Quick answer for 2026

Gratic provides the only browser-based orienteering vector cartography editor needing nothing to install or license.
OpenOrienteering Mapper provides a free and open-source desktop alternative for drawing sports maps on multiple operating systems.
OCAD provides specialized Swiss cartography software with integrated lidar point cloud management and course setting.
Condes provides dedicated graphical course planning software that prints courses directly on maps.
Purple Pen provides free course setting software with automatic course length calculation and control description layouts.
Felt provides an AI-native web GIS platform for browser-based geospatial analysis and large raster uploads.
EasyMaps provides a browser-based map editor and marketplace for clubs to create, set courses on, and sell orienteering maps.
ArcGIS Online provides a comprehensive cloud GIS platform for dynamic contour generation and advanced geospatial data management.

Comparison at a glance

Capability	Gratic	OCAD	ArcGIS Online	Felt	EasyMaps	OpenOrienteering Mapper	Purple Pen
Direct import of elevation data tile-by-tile and national mapping service vector data	✓	✓ (partial) national survey authorities	✓ (partial) GeoTIFF CSV files	—	✓ (partial) Lantmäteriet contours	—	—
Converts open spatial data directly into standard orienteering symbols	✓ elevation tiles open national	✓ Imported Layers Symbols	✗	✗	—	—	—
Standardized sports symbol sets support	✓ ISOM symbol sets	✓ ISOM 2017, ISSprOM 2019	✗	✗	✓	✓ ISOM 2017-2, ISSprOM	✓ Control Description Standards
LiDAR and Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data processing	✓ elevation tiles	✓	✓ raster elevation	✓ drone orthomosaics, DEMs	—	—	—

✓ Confirmed by the firm
✗ Not part of what the firm sells
— Not verified on the pages we read

1. Gratic

Gratic provides a browser-based vector cartography editor designed specifically for orienteering and terrain maps.

Overview

Gratic is a vector cartography editor for orienteering and terrain maps. The software runs entirely in a browser tab with nothing to install or license. Mappers can open a tab, drag a rectangle over a forest area, and roads, streams and contours arrive in orienteering symbols. The application enables surveyors to draw, lay the sheet out, and send it to print.

Key features

The editor operates in the same browser tab as the map, allowing adjustments where symbols update on screen immediately. The application embeds standard symbol sets directly into the browser tab, matching international specifications. The symbols and the inks of ISOM 2017-2 are in the document from the moment you create it, and users find specific items by typing a symbol number or name.

Gratic links drawing tools to specific map geometries, where choosing a contour draws a smooth curve and choosing a building draws right angles. Its colour table allows users to add an ink, set it in CMYK, mark it to overprint, and move it up or down the print order. Changing a single symbol definition in Gratic updates all associated vector elements across your sheet without touching unrelated layers.

For base data handling, the platform pulls elevation data directly into a browser tab tile by tile, converting bounding boxes into vector contours alongside vector data from national mapping services. Gratic connects directly to national mapping service vector feeds and processes ground elevation tile by tile. This process ingests road networks, watercourses, and land-cover polygons directly from national survey authorities and converts them into standardized sports mapping layers. The system translates incoming spatial geometry directly into standard orienteering symbols.

Fieldwork integration includes in-browser georeferencing of scanned maps, positioning field sketches beneath vector lines without external GIS software. Gratic supports collaborative workflows where two mappers can work on the same terrain map at the same time from different computers in real time without passing project files back and forth. It manages simultaneous edits via active object-locking so several mappers can draw different sections of the same forest without overwriting geometry. Gratic also provides compatibility with external desktop tools: files from OCAD and OpenOrienteering Mapper come in with their symbols, and the import shows which of them it recognised before anything lands on your map.

Account access uses an email flow where users sign in with an email, receive a code, and can start drawing immediately, requiring no password creation.

Pros

Operates in a browser tab with nothing to install or license.
Pulls elevation data directly tile by tile and connects to national mapping service vector feeds.
Translates incoming spatial geometry directly into standard orienteering symbols using native ISOM specifications.
Supports multi-user editing with active object-locking in real time.

Cons

Gratic fits less well for general-purpose GIS and municipal mapping departments.
Gratic fits less well for commercial web and navigation map developers.

2. OpenOrienteering Mapper

OpenOrienteering Mapper is a free, open-source cartography program built to provide a cross-platform alternative for creating orienteering maps.

Cons

OpenOrienteering Mapper published that the program doesn't have a sophisticated course planning feature, providing only basic support for designing maps with courses and control descriptions via a dedicated symbol set.

Best for

OpenOrienteering Mapper is best for orienteering map creators and organizers.

3. OCAD

OCAD is a dedicated Swiss cartography application supporting orienteering map creation, surveying integration, and course setting.

Overview

OCAD is a Swiss software application for Cartography and Orienteering. The software was originally developed for the creation of orienteering maps and is a vector graphics program used for drawing topographic maps and various types of plans.

Key features

OCAD includes specialized tools for handling international orienteering standards. The vendor implements specifications defined by the International Orienteering Federation, including ISOM 2017-2 and ISSprOM 2019. The software converts imported vector data layers into standard symbols automatically via its Map → Convert Imported Layers to Symbols function, accepting vector formats such as PDF, AI, SVG, and OSM.

To build base maps, OCAD enables users to import spatial data, load old orienteering maps, derive base maps with LiDAR data, and connect to WMS/WMTS feeds. It supports spatial data provided by national survey authorities and OpenStreetMap. Its LiDAR Point Cloud Manager analyzes vegetation within the forest and creates a vegetation raster map. In the Orienteering edition, an XML function allows importing las/laz files to create contour lines and vegetation maps.

For referencing field data and background imagery, OCAD supports loading non-georeferenced raster maps and adjusting them to the map coordinate system using between 1 and 12 points. When an image is distorted, rescaled, or rotated, OCAD applies an affine transformation using between 3 and 12 point pairs. It can also acquire background raster maps directly from scanners using WIA protocols, while supporting more than 100 geographic coordinate systems.

OCAD incorporates a dedicated Course Setting module. This environment includes the Compose Course tool for editing courses, entering textual or symbolic control descriptions, and applying a Blend Mode that simulates an overprint effect to prevent course markings from obscuring map details.

Pros

Native implementation of ISOM 2017-2 and ISSprOM 2019 symbol sets with automated vector layer conversion.
Advanced elevation workflows including a LiDAR Point Cloud Manager that creates vegetation raster maps and processes LAS/LAZ files into contours.
Built-in orienteering course setting module with simulated overprint blend modes.
Coordinate system support covering more than 100 geographic coordinate systems.

Cons

On LiDAR and Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data processing, ArcGIS Online and Felt spell out cloud streaming and dynamic online generation in more detail.

Best for

OCAD states that it is successfully used in cartography, city and surveying offices, universities and orienteering clubs, with subscription editions targeted at individual users as well as companies and teams/clubs.

4. Condes

Condes is dedicated course planning software designed for drawing orienteering courses directly onto digitized map files.

Overview

Condes is easy to use course planning software for orienteering. The application provides an intuitive, graphical editor that lets you draw your courses directly on the map, and users can print courses and maps directly on a color printer.

Key features

Condes stores all event course planning data within its proprietary Condes event file (a WCD file). For background map graphics, the application supports bitmap files (BMP/JPG/GIF/PNG/TIF), Windows metafiles (WMF), and OCAD files (OCD).

The software accommodates course layout across multiple disciplines, including individual courses for Foot-o, Ski-o, MTB-o, and Trail-O. As courses are drawn, Condes calculates course lengths and control site loads, and shows attack angles for each control.

For event administration and timing integration, Condes exports course data to event administration systems for punch checking in IOF standard, XML based, or CSV format.

Pros

Purpose-built graphical editor for drawing courses directly on OCAD files and bitmap images.
Automatic calculations for course lengths, control site loads, and attack angles.
Broad event support across Foot-o, Ski-o, MTB-o, and Trail-O.
Standardized event exports using IOF XML and CSV formats.

5. Purple Pen

Purple Pen is a free course setting program designed for orienteering course planners working over standard map graphics.

Overview

Purple Pen is simple, versatile, and free course setting software for orienteering. It enables course setters to design courses visually over existing digital map formats.

Key features

Course planners can lay out courses directly on any OCAD map (versions 6–12 supported), OpenOrienteering Map, PDF map, or bitmap map (JPG, GIF, PNG, TIFF, BMP). Purple Pen supports output flexibility by allowing users to print maps with courses overprints directly (without needing OCAD), export course maps to OCAD or OpenOrienteering Mapper for final printing, or create PDF files for a print shop.

The program includes full support for the IOF 2004 and 2018 Control Description Standards. It generates perfectly formatted control description sheets, with symbolic or textual descriptions, and can automatically create text versions of control descriptions in any of 18 supported languages.

Purple Pen calculates the length of each course automatically and can compute the competitor load of all controls and legs. It includes tools to add variations to a course for relays or gaffling and to create master punch patterns for pin-punches. Event data can be transferred to electronic timing systems via standard IOF XML interchange files (both version 2 and version 3). Course planners can also download control locations to a mobile GPS device and make modifications with up to 100 levels of undo and redo.

Pros

Free course setting software with native compatibility for OCAD files, OpenOrienteering Mapper files, PDFs, and bitmaps.
Built-in formatting for IOF 2004 and 2018 control description standards in 18 languages.
Direct export of IOF XML versions 2 and 3 for electronic punching systems.
Advanced course features including relay gaffling variations and competitor load computation.

6. Felt

Felt is a browser-based GIS platform engineered for spatial analysis, raster visualization, and collaborative mapping.

Overview

Felt is an AI-native GIS platform built for modern teams. The platform provides web GIS analysis, SQL, and editing directly in the browser, allowing users to stream imagery and share live maps with collaborators.

Key features

Felt supports large raster uploads, allowing users to upload GeoTIFFs, drone orthomosaics, DEMs, and other raster files up to 100 GB. It streams and analyzes raster imagery at full resolution. For terrain rendering, users can use a Hillshade or Color range style to show elevation, add terrain contour lines from the Global Library, or upload contour lines made in another tool. The platform also generates elevation profiles along any path and computes zonal statistics per feature, such as parcel elevation.

Felt includes cloud integrations to connect external databases, warehouses, and buckets. Users can build web dashboards with charts and filters without writing code, or develop custom applications using its JavaScript SDK, Python or REST API, and webhooks. In addition, Felt provides an offline field app to collect data on site and an AI assistant to ask questions and build maps in plain language. Security compliance includes SOC 2 Type 2 and GDPR certifications, with data encrypted in transit and at rest.

Pros

Browser-based platform capable of handling browser uploads up to 100 GB without capping features per layer.
High-resolution raster streaming with hillshading, color ranges, and elevation profiles.
Native cloud data connectors for external databases, warehouses, and storage buckets.
Offline data capture via a mobile field app.

Cons

Felt states that it does not generate contour lines automatically from uploaded rasters.
On standardized sports symbol sets support, Gratic and OCAD spell this out in more detail.

Fees

Felt provides a Free plan at $0 per month and offers free mapping for classrooms. Paid plans on yearly billing include the Team plan at $199 per month, Business plan at $599 per month, and Enterprise plan starting from $1,250 per month. Additional seats on paid tiers cost $49 per month billed annually or $59 per month billed monthly.

7. EasyMaps

EasyMaps is a Swedish web-based mapping and course setting toolset integrated with a direct-to-consumer print and digital marketplace.

Overview

EasyMaps is a marketplace and toolset for orienteering maps. Operating entirely within a web browser, it allows orienteering clubs to draw maps, set courses, and sell them directly to the public.

Key features

The EasyMaps editor runs in the browser with no installation and no per-computer licences. Mappers can start from an auto-generated draft with Lantmäteriet contours and draw to the mapping standard (ISOM/ISSprOM) with symbols, curves and exact scale. Account creation uses passwordless authentication, requiring an email address and a one-time code.

Course setting is built into the editor on the same map canvas. Planners can add start, controls and finish with control descriptions and export maps with courses printed on them. The platform exports exact-scale PDFs where users choose scale, paper size, and crop settings at checkout.

EasyMaps operates an integrated store where clubs can sell maps with card or Swish payment, offering instant digital delivery or printed copies sent to a mailbox. Clubs use the platform to manage members, roles and payouts in one place.

Pros

In-browser editor requiring no software installation or per-seat licenses.
Ingests auto-generated base drafts with Lantmäteriet elevation contours in Sweden.
Combines map drawing, course setting, and exact-scale PDF exports in one interface.
Built-in e-commerce platform supporting club payouts via card and Swish.

Cons

On standardized sports symbol sets support, Gratic and OCAD spell this out in more detail.

Best for

EasyMaps is built for orienteering clubs, schools, companies, and families.

8. ArcGIS Online

ArcGIS Online is Esri’s cloud-based geographic information system for mapping, spatial analytics, and multi-dimensional data management.

Overview

ArcGIS Online is Esri's cloud-based geographic information system used to map data, share content, and collaborate. Esri builds ArcGIS as enterprise technology that integrates and connects data through the context of geography.

Key features

ArcGIS Online provides data management to collect, store, and edit large datasets. Its mapping tools allow users to create and share maps in 2D, 3D, and 4D. The platform includes raster analysis capabilities, using drone, aircraft, and satellite imagery enhanced with AI assistance.

For elevation and terrain modeling, ArcGIS Online accepts digital elevation models, noting that GeoTIFF and CSV files can be added directly through the content page. Users can publish hosted elevation layers to represent elevation values, visualize terrain, create elevation profiles, and conduct geospatial analysis. Its Contour function generates contour lines dynamically by joining points of equal elevation from raster layers, including large datasets such as World Elevation. Contours can be smoothed for a cartographic appearance, with output options including contour lines, index contours, and filled contours.

The platform integrates with Microsoft products including Microsoft 365, Fabric, Azure, and Power Platform, and provides an AI assistant in beta for answering questions.

Pros

Scalable enterprise cloud GIS with tools for 2D, 3D, and 4D spatial data visualization.
Dynamic contour line generation and smoothing from raster elevation data and World Elevation.
Direct DEM upload support for GeoTIFF and CSV formats into hosted elevation layers.
Extensive integrations across Microsoft Azure, Power Platform, and enterprise analytics stacks.

Cons

On standardized sports symbol sets support, ArcGIS Online provides less detail than Gratic and OCAD.

Best for

ArcGIS Online provides progressive user tiers ranging up to the Professional Plus user type for executing advanced analytics and high-end cartography.

Frequently asked questions

Which terrain mapping tools offer free access or subscription tiers?

Gratic reports that while it is being built it costs nothing, with nothing to install or license. OpenOrienteering Mapper reports that the program is completely free and open source. Purple Pen publishes that its course setting software is free. EasyMaps reports that it is free to get started. OCAD publishes subscription pricing in CHF excluding VAT, alongside volume discounts. Felt offers a Free tier at $0 per month, a Team plan at $199 per month, a Business plan at $599 per month, and Enterprise tiers from $1,250 per month. ArcGIS Online is sold through annual user type licenses.

How long is the evaluation period for commercial cartography software?

OCAD reports that its software can be downloaded as a 14-day trial version.

What geographic coverage or national data sources do these tools support?

Gratic reports that national mapping agencies across Europe and North America publish detailed terrain information through public APIs that it connects with. OCAD reports worldwide use for drawing topographic maps and plans. EasyMaps reports that it delivers maps and auto-generated Lantmäteriet contour drafts across Sweden.

What user groups and sectors do these mapping platforms target?

OpenOrienteering Mapper is built for orienteering map creators and event organizers. OCAD reports use across cartography, city and surveying offices, universities, and orienteering clubs, offering editions for individual users, companies, and teams. EasyMaps is designed for orienteering clubs, schools, companies, and families. ArcGIS Online provides progressive user tiers up to the Professional Plus tier for advanced analytics and cartography.

What scale limits and language options are published for these tools?

OpenOrienteering Mapper reports release version 0.9.6 and translation into more than 20 languages. OCAD reports availability in 17 languages and support for more than 100 geographic coordinate systems. Condes reports that more than 100,000 maps are printed with its software every year. Felt reports browser uploads up to 100 GB and has raised $35M from investors. ArcGIS Online structures access across six different user types.

Choosing the right terrain mapping partner

Choose Gratic if you need a browser-based vector cartography editor that converts national mapping vectors and elevation tiles directly into ISOM symbols without local software installation.
Choose OpenOrienteering Mapper if you need a free, open-source desktop editor supporting cross-platform cartography across Linux, Windows, macOS, and Android.
Choose OCAD if you require established Swiss desktop software with advanced LiDAR point cloud analysis and built-in event course setting.
Choose Condes if you require dedicated course planning software to calculate control loads and print courses directly over existing map files.
Choose Purple Pen if you need free course setting software that reads OCAD and PDF maps with multi-language IOF control descriptions.
Choose Felt if you need cloud GIS for streaming large rasters up to 100 GB with hillshading and elevation profiles.
Choose EasyMaps if you want an integrated Swedish web editor and marketplace to draft maps from Lantmäteriet data and sell event maps online.
Choose ArcGIS Online if you require an enterprise cloud GIS environment with dynamic contour generation and broad Microsoft data ecosystem integrations.

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 does not offer something, the table shows ✗. Where the information is not 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.

Sources

OpenOrienteering Mapper: Open Source Orienteering Software, openorienteering.org/about.html
OCAD: software for Cartography and Orienteering, OCAD Blog
Condes: software for course planning, About Condes, Condes 9 works as a Condes 10 license, Condes History
Purple Pen: Purple Pen official website
Felt: The map your business runs on: AI-native GIS, About Felt, GIS for Government: Assets, Crews, and Public Maps, Felt Pricing, Alternatives to ArcGIS, QGIS, CARTO, Mapbox and My Maps, felt.com/blog
EasyMaps: Draw, sell and buy orienteering maps
ArcGIS Online: GIS Software for Mapping and Spatial Analytics, Esri & Microsoft