Overlay Mapping started with a simple observation: mapping tools tend to fall into two extremes.
On one end, there are incredibly powerful platforms built for GIS professionals — tools that can do almost anything, but require significant training and technical expertise. On the other, there are basic tools that don't do much.
Overlay Mapping is built to address this gap.
After years working on data and mapping at the City of San Francisco, founder Dan Tonkovich kept running into the same gap. While managing the city's data program (DataSF), he worked closely with planners, analysts, and everyday staff who needed maps — not complex geospatial systems, just clear, usable, interactive maps they could actually share.
It's a way to take the maps people already have — PDFs, images, simple diagrams — and make them interactive, mobile-friendly, and useful in the real world. No GIS background required.
What this is (and isn't)
This isn't a replacement for a geospatial tool like ArcGIS or QGIS.
It's a lower-tech tool to quickly spin up simple interactive maps. If you need to do geospatial analysis, this is not the tool for you.
The goal is to make mapping more accessible to more people:
- Event organizers who need a clear, interactive map
- Parks, campuses, and venues that want something mobile-friendly
- Teams that already have a map, but want it to be GPS enabled
Get in touch
Questions, feedback, or want to talk through a use case — email [email protected].