Building TerraViz: A Real-Time Planet Dashboard Using Only open source Data
I recently built a small side project called TerraViz.
The goal was straightforward. Create a real-time map that aggregates several global datasets and visualizes them in a single interface.
The challenge was to do it using only free APIs and a lightweight architecture.
This article explains the technical approach behind the project.
Project Goal
Most geospatial dashboards rely on expensive traffic or satellite data providers.
Instead of building a heavy backend system, I wanted to see how far a browser-based architecture could go using public datasets.
The idea was to build a map that shows multiple live signals from the planet.
Tech Stack
The project uses a simple frontend focused stack.
- React for the interface
- Leaflet for map rendering
- Vite for fast builds
- TailwindCSS for styling
Because the application is mostly client side, there is no complex backend infrastructure required.
Data Sources
TerraViz integrates several public data feeds.
- Aircraft tracking from OpenSky
- Earthquake data from the USGS API
- Weather data from Open Meteo
- ISS position from the Open Notify API
- Roads and railways from OpenStreetMap using Overpass queries
Each dataset is fetched independently and rendered as a separate layer on the map.
Layer Architecture
One important design decision was to isolate each data source.
Instead of building a single large fetch pipeline, each dataset has its own loader module.
Example layer structure:
Flights Layer -> aircraft positions
Earthquake Layer -> seismic events
Weather Layer -> atmospheric data
ISS Layer -> orbital position
Road Layer -> OpenStreetMap infrastructure
If one API fails or rate limits, the rest of the map continues working.
This approach improves resilience and keeps the system easy to extend.
Rendering the Map
Leaflet handles the core map rendering.
Each dataset appears as markers or overlays. Roads and railways are pulled dynamically from OpenStreetMap via Overpass queries.
The map supports zooming and panning so users can explore different regions and observe how the data changes.
Keeping the Project Free
One of the main constraints was avoiding paid APIs.
Traffic data, satellite feeds, and other geospatial datasets often require expensive licenses. By relying only on open data sources, TerraViz remains completely free to run.
This constraint shaped many of the design decisions in the project.
Future Improvements
There are several features that could extend the system.
- Event detection such as earthquake clusters or unusual activity
- Historical playback for data layers
- More infrastructure layers such as shipping routes or submarine cables
- Additional satellite tracking
The long term idea is to move beyond simple visualization and start highlighting interesting patterns.
Conclusion
TerraViz started as an experiment in combining open datasets with a lightweight geospatial interface.
It demonstrates how much real-time global data is already available if you know where to look.
With a few APIs and a map renderer, it is possible to build a small planet dashboard that shows the world in motion.
If you want to explore the project yourself, visit:
https://terraviz.live
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