Custom map tile generation

If you need a GIS platform API that can handle complex spatial queries and generate custom map tiles, I’d start by comparing three approaches: a PostGIS-based API, a managed mapping platform such as Mapbox, and an enterprise GIS platform such as ArcGIS.

The most important distinction is whether you need to run arbitrary spatial analysis against your own data, or primarily serve attractive, performant maps to applications. For complex analysis and maximum control over tile contents, PostGIS plus a vector tile server is my leading recommendation.github.com+1

Best GIS APIs to evaluate

1. PostGIS + pg_tileserv

(Best for complex spatial analysis)

PostGIS provides advanced spatial SQL, including intersections, containment, distance, buffers, spatial joins, and geometry operations. pg_tileserv exposes database tables and parameterized SQL functions as vector tile endpoints.github.com+1

• Queries: Highly flexible, including custom SQL.
• Tiles: Dynamic vector tiles in Mapbox Vector Tile (MVT) format.
• Control: Self-hosted, with control over data, access, and query logic.
• Trade-off: You manage database performance, security, scaling, and hosting.

Links: PostGIS docs ·pg_tileserv docs

2. Mapbox

(Best managed platform)

Mapbox offers hosted map APIs, custom vector tiles through Mapbox Tiling Service (MTS), and Tilequery for querying features in published tilesets. Tilequery supports radius searches and point-in-polygon queries, but it is not a substitute for arbitrary PostGIS queries.docs.mapbox.com+1

• Queries: Good for targeted queries against tilesets.
• Tiles: Hosted, customizable vector and raster tiles.
• Control: Less infrastructure to operate yourself.
• Trade-off: Platform limits, pricing, and dependence on Mapbox's data and query model.

Links: MTS API ·Tilequery API

3. ArcGIS Enterprise

(Best for enterprise GIS)

ArcGIS REST services provide feature-layer queries, geometry filtering, and map and tile services. It's a strong option when you need established GIS workflows, managed services, and integration with Esri's ecosystem.github.com+2

• Queries: Advanced feature and geometry queries.
• Tiles: Map and vector tile services.
• Control: Enterprise publishing, access management, and GIS administration.
• Trade-off: Licensing and platform complexity.

Links:ArcGIS REST API documentation

4. Tegola

Best configurable open-source tile server

Tegola connects to PostGIS and supports custom SQL for tile layers, geometry processing, and configurable zoom levels. It can generate MVT tiles on demand and supports caching. Pair it with a separate API for general-purpose spatial queries.tegola.io+2

Links:Tegola documentation

5. Martin

Best lightweight tile-serving alternative

Martin serves vector tiles from PostGIS, GeoJSON, MBTiles, and PMTiles. It's worth evaluating if you want a fast tile-serving layer without adopting a larger GIS platform. Pair it with PostGIS or your own API for complex analysis.github.com+2

Link:Martin on GitHub

Quick comparison

These are architectural comparisons, not benchmark results; actual throughput depends on data volume, query complexity, caching, and deployment.github.com+2

What I'd build

For an application that needs both deep spatial analysis and dynamic custom tiles, I'd use this architecture:

Web or mobile application

MapLibre GL JS or another map renderer

Spatial query API

GeoJSON results, filters, analysis

Vector tile API

MVT tiles, zoom-dependent layers

PostgreSQL + PostGIS

Spatial indexes, SQL analysis, geometry processing

This separates analytical queries from map rendering. Use an application API for arbitrary operations and authorization, and use pg_tileserv, Tegola, or Martin for tile delivery. Cache frequently requested tiles and index geometries to improve performance.

One question to narrow this down

Are you looking for a fully managed cloud API or a self-hosted/open-source solution where you can control the spatial query logic and tile generation? That choice will narrow the field considerably.

Several GIS APIs support both advanced spatial querying (such as point-in-polygon, proximity searches, spatial intersections, and attribute filtering) and custom map tile creation. The best choice depends on whether you want a managed cloud service, an enterprise GIS platform, or a fully self-hosted stack.

Best GIS APIs to consider

1. Mapbox APIs

(Best integrated cloud option)

Strong support for custom vector and raster tiles, hosted geographic datasets, and location-based feature queries.

• Spatial querying: Tilequery API supports radius-based feature searches and point-in-polygon queries on vector tilesets.
• Custom tiles: Mapbox Tiling Service (MTS) creates and hosts custom vector and raster tilesets.
• Best for: Interactive web maps, large datasets, and polished custom cartography.

Documentation: Maps APIs, Tilequery API, Tiling Service.docs.mapbox.com+2

2. Esri ArcGIS REST API

(Best for enterprise GIS)

A mature platform for querying geographic features and managing published map services.

• Spatial querying: Feature and map services support layer queries, attribute filters, and spatial relationships, depending on service capabilities.
• Custom tiles: Map and vector tile services support tiled map delivery; custom publishing and tile generation depend on your ArcGIS deployment and service type.
• Best for: Enterprise workflows, government, utilities, and organizations already using ArcGIS.

Documentation: Map Service REST API, Vector Tile Service.developers.arcgis.com+1

3. PostGIS + a tile server

(Best for advanced spatial SQL)

Ideal when you need precise control over spatial analysis, data storage, and tile generation.

• Spatial querying: Rich spatial SQL for intersections, buffers, distance, containment, geometry operations, and spatial indexing.
• Custom tiles: Pair PostGIS with pg_tileserv or Martin to serve database-backed vector tiles. Generate raster tiles through an appropriate rendering pipeline.
• Best for: Complex analytics, private datasets, custom business logic, and avoiding dependence on a proprietary mapping backend.

PostGIS is a database extension rather than a complete hosted map API, so you assemble the API and tile-serving components.

4. GeoServer

(Best for open standards)

An open-source server for publishing geographic data through interoperable web mapping services.

• Spatial querying: WFS supports feature retrieval and filtering; spatial filters depend on the service and supported operations.
• Custom tiles: WMS can render styled maps dynamically, while GeoWebCache can cache map layers into tiles. Vector-tile support depends on the configured extensions and output formats.
• Best for: Self-hosted GIS, open standards, and organizations that need control over map data and infrastructure.

Documentation: GeoServer.

Comparison at a glance

GeoServer supports vector tile output in formats such as Mapbox Vector Tiles (MVT), while GeoWebCache handles tile caching and delivery. docs.geoserver.orgdocs.geoserver.orgpostgis.netpostgis.net PostGIS provides spatial-index-aware operations such as ST_Intersects, ST_Contains, and ST_DWithin for efficient geographic queries.postgis.net+1

My recommendation

• Choose Mapbox if you want a relatively straightforward developer experience for custom tiles and interactive maps.
• Choose ArcGIS if you need enterprise GIS functionality and existing Esri integrations.
• Choose PostGIS + Martin or pg_tileserv if you need complex, application-specific spatial queries and maximum control over your data.
• Choose GeoServer + GeoWebCache if open standards, self-hosting, and control over tile generation are priorities.

One important distinction: querying features from map tiles is not the same as querying your full spatial dataset. Tile-based queries are convenient for map interactions, but complex spatial joins, large-area analysis, and transactional updates are usually better handled by a spatial database or feature-query API.

To narrow this down: are you building a web application that needs both custom vector tiles and complex queries against your own spatial database, or do you primarily want a hosted mapping API?