PhotoRadar's World Map puts live webcams, traffic cameras, ISS tracking, earthquake data, satellite positions, and global weather onto a single interactive globe. Whether you're an OSINT analyst verifying a location, a weather enthusiast, or simply curious about what's happening around the planet right now — this guide shows you how to use every layer.
What you'll learn in this guide
- • Every data layer available on the World Map
- • How to navigate, search, and toggle layers
- • Using analyst mode for OSINT and verification
- • Practical use cases for journalists, researchers, and travelers
- • How to combine the World Map with other PhotoRadar tools
What Is PhotoRadar World Map?
The World Map at /world is a Mapbox GL–powered interactive globe with multiple real-time data layers you can toggle on and off. It's not just a static map of cameras — it combines live feeds, orbital data, geological events, and atmospheric conditions into a single, unified view of the planet.
Available Data Layers
Each layer can be toggled independently from the sidebar. Here's what's available:
Webcams
Live webcam feeds from around the world, rendered as clickable markers on the map. Click any marker to open a detail modal with the camera title, location, coordinates, and (where available) a live stream or snapshot. Webcam data is fetched via the get-webcams Edge Function on page load.
Traffic Cameras
Real-time traffic camera positions fetched through the get-traffic-cams Edge Function. Useful for monitoring road conditions, congestion, or verifying a location's current state.
ISS Position
An animated marker showing the current position of the International Space Station, updated in real time from the Where the ISS At API. Watch it orbit across the globe and see which country it's passing over right now.
Earthquakes
Seismic event markers pulled from the live USGS GeoJSON feed. Each marker shows magnitude, depth, and timestamp. This layer is especially useful for disaster response, geological research, and verifying claims about recent seismic activity in a region.
Day/Night Terminator
A calculated solar overlay that shows which parts of the planet are in daylight and which are in darkness. The terminator line updates based on the current UTC time. Helpful for determining whether a webcam feed or photo should show daylight or nighttime conditions.
Satellites
TLE-based satellite positions with preset groups you can select. Track communication satellites, weather satellites, or the ISS constellation. Positions are computed locally using orbital mechanics calculations.
Weather, Clouds, and Alerts
OpenWeatherMap tile layers with adjustable opacity. View cloud cover, precipitation, wind patterns, and weather alerts overlaid on the globe. The opacity control lets you balance visibility between the map and weather data.
How to Navigate the World Map
- Pan and zoom — click and drag to pan, scroll to zoom. On mobile, use two-finger gestures.
- Use the sidebar — on desktop, the sidebar is a fixed panel on the left. On mobile, it's a responsive sheet you can swipe open.
- Toggle layers — each layer has its own switch in the sidebar. Turn layers on or off to focus on exactly the data you need.
- Search locations — use the search box in the sidebar to jump to any city, country, or coordinates.
- Click markers — webcam and traffic camera markers open a detail modal with full information and (where available) a live preview.
Analyst Mode for OSINT
Append ?mode=analyst to the URL or select analyst mode from the sidebar. This enables a streamlined heads-up display with:
- Precise coordinate readout as you move the cursor
- Focused data layers with reduced visual clutter
- Optimized interface for systematic location verification
Analyst mode is designed for journalists, OSINT investigators, and anyone who needs to cross-reference multiple data sources to verify a location claim.
Practical Use Cases
OSINT and Verification
Combine webcam feeds with weather data and daylight conditions to verify whether a photo or video claim matches the actual state of a location at a given time. The earthquake layer helps confirm or debunk claims about seismic events.
Journalism
During breaking news events, the World Map gives you instant access to nearby webcams and current conditions. Cross-reference traffic cameras with reported incidents. Use the ISS tracker and satellite layer for space-related stories.
Travel Planning
Preview destinations through live webcams before booking. Check current weather conditions and daylight at your destination. Use traffic cameras to gauge road conditions in unfamiliar areas.
Research and Education
Track satellite orbits, monitor seismic activity patterns, and observe global weather systems in real time. The day/night terminator overlay is particularly useful for understanding how solar illumination varies across the globe.
Combine with Other PhotoRadar Tools
The World Map works best when combined with PhotoRadar's other capabilities:
- AI Location Search — identify where a photo was taken, then verify the location on the World Map using live webcams and weather data.
- EXIF Viewer — extract GPS coordinates from a photo, then check the exact spot on the World Map.
- Reverse Image Search — find where an image appears online, then use the World Map to visually confirm the reported location.
Ready to explore?
Open the PhotoRadar World Map and start exploring live data from around the planet. Toggle layers, click markers, and switch to analyst mode for professional OSINT workflows.