mapbox-geospatial-operations

# Mapbox Geospatial Operations Skill Expert guidance for AI assistants on choosing the right geospatial tools from the Mapbox MCP Server. Focuses on selecting tools based on **what the problem requires** - geometric calculations vs routing, straight-line vs road network, and accuracy needs. ## Core Principle: Problem Type Determines Tool Choice The Mapbox MCP Server provides two categories of geospatial tools: 1. **Offline Geometric Tools** - Use Turf.js for pure geometric/spatial calculations 2. **Routing & Navigation APIs** - Use Mapbox APIs when you need real-world routing, traffic, or travel times **The key question: What does the problem actually require?** ### Decision Framework | Problem Characteristic | Tool Category | Why | | ------------------------------------------------------ | ----------------- | ---------------------------------------- | | **Straight-line distance** (as the crow flies) | Offline geometric | Accurate for geometric distance | | **Road/path distance** (as the crow drives) | Routing API | Only routing APIs know road networks | | **Travel time** | Routing API | Requires routing with speed/traffic data | | **Point containment** (is X inside Y?) | Offline geometric | Pure geometric operation | | **Geographic shapes** (buffers, centroids, areas) | Offline geometric | Mathematical/geometric operations | | **Traffic-aware routing** | Routing API | Requires real-time traffic data | | **Route optimization** (best order to visit) | Routing API | Complex routing algorithm | | **High-frequency checks** (e.g., real-time geofencing) | Offline geometric | Instant response, no latency | ## Decision Matrices by Use Case ### Distance Calculations **User asks: "How far is X from Y?"** | What They Actually Mean | Tool Choice | Why | | -------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------- | | Straight-line distance (as the crow flies) | `distance_tool` | Accurate for geometric distance, instant | | Driving distance (as the crow drives) | `directions_tool` | Only routing knows actual road distance | | Walking/cycling distance (as the crow walks/bikes) | `directions_tool` | Need specific path network | | Travel time | `directions_tool` or `matrix_tool` | Requires routing with speed data | | Distance with current traffic | `directions_tool` (driving-traffic) | Need real-time traffic consideration | **Example: "What's the distance between these 5 warehouses?"** - As the crow flies → `distance_tool` (10 calculations, instant) - As the crow drives → `matrix_tool` (5×5 matrix, one API call, returns actual route distances) **Key insight:** Use the tool that matches what "distance" means in context. Always clarify: crow flies or crow drives? ### Proximity and Containment **User asks: "Which points are near/inside this area?"** | Query Type | Tool Choice | Why | | ---------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- | | "Within X meters radius" | `distance_tool` + filter | Simple geometric radius | | "Within X minutes drive" | `isochrone_tool` → `point_in_polygon_tool` | Need routing for travel-time zone, then geometric containment | | "Inside this polygon" | `point_in_polygon_tool` | Pure geometric containment test | | "Reachable by car in 30 min" | `isochrone_tool` | Requires routing + traffic | | "Nearest to this point" | `distance_tool` (geometric) or `matrix_tool` (routed) | Depends on definition of "nearest" | **Example: "Are these 200 addresses in our 30-minute delivery zone?"** 1. Create zone → `isochrone_tool` (routing API - need travel time) 2. Check addresses → `point_in_polygon_tool` (geometric - 200 instant checks) **Key insight:** Routing for creating travel-time zones, geometric for containment checks ### Routing and Navigation **User asks: "What's the best route?"** | Scenario | Tool Choice | Why | | ----------------------------------- | ----------------------------------- | --------------------------------- | | A to B directions | `directions_tool` | Turn-by-turn routing | | Optimal order for multiple stops | `optimization_tool` | Solves traveling salesman problem | | Clean GPS trace | `map_matching_tool` | Snaps to road network | | Just need bearing/compass direction | `bearing_tool` | Simple geometric calculation | | Route with traffic | `directions_tool` (driving-traffic) | Real-time traffic awareness | | Fixed-order waypoints | `directions_tool` with waypoints | Routing through specific points | **Example: "Navigate from hotel to airport"** - Need turn-by-turn → `directions_tool` - Just need to know "it's northeast" → `bearing_tool` **Key insight:** Routing tools for actual navigation, geometric tools for directional info ### Area and Shape Operations **User asks: "Create a zone around this location"** | Requirement | Tool Choice | Why | | ------------------------- | ---------------- | ------------------------ | | Simple circular buffer | `buffer_tool` | Geometric circle/radius | | Travel-time zone | `isochrone_tool` | Based on routing network | | Calculate area size | `area_tool` | Geometric calculation | | Simplify complex boundary | `simplify_tool` | Geometric simplification | | Find center of shape | `centroid_tool` | Geometric centroid | **Example: "Show 5km coverage around each store"** - 5km radius → `buffer_tool` (geometric circles) - "What customers can reach in 15 min?" → `isochrone_tool` (routing-based) **Key insight:** Geometric tools for distance-based zones, routing tools for time-based zones ## Performance and Scale Considerations ### When Volume Affects Tool Choice **Small operations (< 100 calculations):** - Geometric tools: Instant, iterate freely - Routing APIs: Fast enough for most uses **Medium operations (100-1,000 calculations):** - Geometric tools: Still fast, no concerns - Routing APIs: Consider batch operations (matrix_tool) **Large operations (> 1,000 calculations):** - Geometric tools: May need optimization but still fast - Routing APIs: Definitely use batch tools (matrix_tool handles up to 25×25) **Key insight:** Volume rarely affects geometric tool choice, but routing APIs have batch tools for efficiency ### Real-Time vs Batch | Use Case | Approach | Tool Choice | | ----------------------------------- | -------------------- | ---------------------------------------- | | Real-time geofencing (every second) | Geometric checks | `point_in_polygon_tool` (instant) | | Route planning (one-time) | Full routing | `directions_tool` or `optimization_tool` | | Periodic proximity checks | Geometric distance | `distance_tool` | | Live traffic routing | Routing with traffic | `directions_tool` (driving-traffic) | **Architecture note for high-frequency geofencing:** If the application calls containment checks at very high rates (e.g., 50 vehicles every 2 seconds = 25 checks/second), calling MCP tools over the network adds agent-reasoning overhead that makes it impractical. In those cases, recommend using Turf.js directly in-process (`turf.booleanPointInPolygon`) for the hot path, and reserve MCP tools for peripheral tasks like zone definition (`isochrone_tool`), rerouting (`directions_tool`), or visualization (`static_map_image_tool`). ## Common Scenarios and Optimal Approaches ### Scenario 1: Store Locator **User: "Find the closest store and show 5km coverage"** **Optimal approach:** 1. Search stores → `category_search_tool` (returns distances automatically) 2. Create coverage zone → `buffer_tool` (5km geometric circle) 3. Visualize → `static_map_image_tool` **Why:** Search already gives distances; geometric buffer for simple radius ### Scenario 2: Delivery Route Optimization **User: "Optimize delivery to 8 addresses / stops"** **Optimal approach:** 1. **Geocode addresses (if needed)** → Use `search_and_geocode_tool` to convert any street addresses to coordinates. Even when coordinates are already provided, mention this as an optional pre-step — real-world delivery lists often contain a mix of addresses and coordinates. 2. **Optimize route** → `optimization_tool` (TSP solver — reorders stops to minimize total drive time) **Why `optimization_tool` and NOT these alternatives:** - **`directions_tool`** only routes A → B (or through fixed-order waypoints). It does NOT reorder stops — if you pass 8 stops, it routes them in the order given, which is almost never optimal. - **`matrix_tool`** gives travel times between all pairs of stops (8×8 = 64 values), but it does NOT compute the optimal ordering. You'd need to solve TSP yourself on top of the matrix — `optimization_tool` does this for you in one call. Always mention `search_and_geocode_tool` as a useful companion for geocoding delivery addresses before optimization. ### Scenario 3: Service Area Validation **User: "Which of these 200 addresses can we deliver to in 30 minutes?"** **Optimal approach:** 1. Create delivery zone → `isochrone_tool` (30-minute driving) 2. Check each address → `point_in_polygon_tool` (200 geometric checks) **Why:** Routing for accurate travel-time zone, geometric for fast containment checks ### Scenario 4: GPS Trace Analysis **User: "How long was this bike ride?"** **Optimal approach:** 1. Clean GPS trace → `map_matching_tool` (snap to bike paths) 2. Get distance → Use API response or calculate with `distance_tool` **Why:** Need road/path matching; distance calculation either way works ### Scenario 5: Coverage Analysis **User: "What's our total service area?"** **Optimal approach:** 1. Create buffers around each location → `buffer_tool` 2. Calculate total area → `area_tool` 3. Or, if time-based → `isochrone_tool` for each location **Why:** Geometric for distance-based coverage, routing for time-based ## Anti-Patterns: Using the Wrong Tool Type ### ❌ Don't: Use geometric tools for routing questions ```javascript // WRONG: User asks "how long to drive there?" distance_tool({ from: A, to: B }); // Returns 10km as the crow flies, but actual drive is 15km // CORRECT: Need routing for driving distance directions_tool({ coordinates: [ { longitude: A[0], latitude: A[1] }, { longitude: B[0], latitude: B[1] } ], routing_profile: 'mapbox/driving' }); // Returns actual road distance and drive time as the crow drives ``` **Why wrong:** As the crow flies ≠ as the crow drives ### ❌ Don't: Use routing APIs for geometric operations ```javascript // WRONG: Check if point is in polygon // (Can't do this with routing APIs) // CORRECT: Pure geometric operation point_in_polygon_tool({ point: location, polygon: boundary }); ``` **Why wrong:** Routing APIs don't do geometric containment ### ❌ Don't: Confuse "near" with "reachable" ```javascript // User asks: "What's reachable in 20 minutes?" // WRONG: 20-minute distance at average speed distance_tool + calculate 20min * avg_speed // CORRECT: Actual routing with road network isochrone_tool({ coordinates: {longitude: startLng, latitude: startLat}, contours_minutes: [20], profile: "mapbox/driving" }) ``` **Why wrong:** Roads aren't straight lines; traffic varies ### ❌ Don't: Use routing when bearing is sufficient ```javascript // User asks: "Which direction is the airport?" // OVERCOMPLICATED: Full routing directions_tool({ coordinates: [ { longitude: hotel[0], latitude: hotel[1] }, { longitude: airport[0], latitude: airport[1] } ] }); // BETTER: Just need bearing bearing_tool({ from: hotel, to: airport }); // Returns: "Northeast (45°)" ``` **Why better:** Simpler, instant, answers the actual question ## Hybrid Approaches: Combining Tool Types Some problems benefit from using both geometric and routing tools: ### Pattern 1: Routing + Geometric Filter ``` 1. directions_tool → Get route geometry 2. buffer_tool → Create corridor around route 3. category_search_tool → Find POIs in corridor 4. point_in_polygon_tool → Filter to those actually along route ``` **Use case:** "Find gas stations along my route" ### Pattern 2: Routing + Distance Calculation ``` 1. category_search_tool → Find 10 nearby locations 2. distance_tool → Calculate straight-line distances (geometric) 3. For top 3, use directions_tool → Get actual driving time ``` **Use case:** Quickly narrow down, then get precise routing for finalists ### Pattern 3: Isochrone + Containment ``` 1. isochrone_tool → Create travel-time zone (routing) 2. point_in_polygon_tool → Check hundreds of addresses (geometric) ``` **Use case:** "Which customers are in our delivery zone?" ## Decision Algorithm When user asks a geospatial question: ``` 1. Does it require routing, roads, or travel times? YES → Use routing API (directions, matrix, isochrone, optimization) NO → Continue 2. Does it require traffic awareness? YES → Use directions_tool or isochrone_tool with traffic profile NO → Continue 3. Is it a geometric/spatial operation? - Distance between points (straight-line) → distance_tool - Point containment → point_in_polygon_tool - Area calculation → area_tool - Buffer/zone → buffer_tool - Direction/bearing → bearing_tool - Geometric center → centroid_tool - Bounding box → bounding_box_tool - Simplification → simplify_tool 4. Is it a search/discovery operation? YES → Use search tools (search_and_geocode, category_search) ``` ## Key Decision Questions Before choosing a tool, ask: 1. **Does "distance" mean as the crow flies or as the crow drives?** - As the crow flies (straight-line) → geometric tools - As the crow drives (road distance) → routing APIs 2. **Does the user need travel time?** - Yes → routing APIs (only they know speeds/traffic) - No → geometric tools may suffice 3. **Is this about roads/paths or pure spatial relationships?** - Roads/paths → routing APIs - Spatial relationships → geometric tools 4. **Does this need to happen in real-time with low latency?** - Yes + geometric problem → offline tools (instant) - Yes + routing problem → use routing APIs (still fast) 5. **Is accuracy critical, or is approximation OK?** - Critical + routing → routing APIs - Approximation OK → geometric tools may work ## Terminology Guide Understanding what users mean: | User Says | Usually Means | Tool Type | | --------------------- | -------------------------------------------------- | ----------- | | "Distance" | Context-dependent! Ask: crow flies or crow drives? | Varies | | "How far" | Often as the crow drives (road distance) | Routing API | | "Nearby" | Usually as the crow flies (straight-line radius) | Geometric | | "Close" | Could be either - clarify! | Ask | | "Reachable" | Travel-time based (crow drives with traffic) | Routing API | | "Inside/contains" | Geometric containment | Geometric | | "Navigate/directions" | Turn-by-turn routing | Routing API | | "Bearing/direction" | Compass direction (crow flies) | Geometric | ## Quick Reference ### Geometric Operations (Offline Tools) - `distance_tool` - Straight-line distance between two points - `bearing_tool` - Compass direction from A to B - `midpoint_tool` - Midpoint between two points - `point_in_polygon_tool` - Is point inside polygon? - `area_tool` - Calculate polygon area - `buffer_tool` - Create circular buffer/zone - `centroid_tool` - Geometric center of polygon - `bbox_tool` - Min/max coordinates of geometry - `simplify_tool` - Reduce geometry complexity ### Routing & Navigation (APIs) - `directions_tool` - Turn-by-turn routing - `matrix_tool` - Many-to-many travel times - `optimization_tool` - Route optimization (TSP) - `isochrone_tool` - Travel-time zones - `map_matching_tool` - Snap GPS to roads ### When to Use Each Category **Use Geometric Tools When:** - Problem is spatial/mathematical (containment, area, bearing) - Straight-line distance is appropriate - Need instant results for real-time checks - Pure geometry (no roads/traffic involved) **Use Routing APIs When:** - Need actual driving/walking/cycling distances - Need travel times - Need to consider road networks - Need traffic awareness - Need route optimization - Need turn-by-turn directions ## Integration with Other Skills **Works with:** - **mapbox-search-patterns**: Search for locations, then use geospatial operations - **mapbox-web-performance-patterns**: Optimize rendering of geometric calculations - **mapbox-token-security**: Ensure requests use properly scoped tokens ## Resources - [Mapbox MCP Server](https://github.com/mapbox/mcp-server) - [Turf.js Documentation](https://turfjs.org/) (Powers geometric tools) - [Mapbox Directions API](https://docs.mapbox.com/api/navigation/directions/) - [Mapbox Isochrone API](https://docs.mapbox.com/api/navigation/isochrone/) - [Mapbox Matrix API](https://docs.mapbox.com/api/navigation/matrix/) - [Mapbox Optimization API](https://docs.mapbox.com/api/navigation/optimization/)