Isochrones Support in Azure Maps

Question

Isochrones Support in Azure Maps

Ken Bowman 301

Hi,

I'm re-writing my Bing Maps app to use Azure Maps instead and am trying to replicate some functionality that I support of creating an isochrone around a point.

Bing Maps version:

Bing Maps

I'm using the current version of the Azure Maps Route Range API and am wondering if anyone could give some insight as to:

Any idea as to when isSimplifiedPolygon: false will be officially supported (non-preview version)?

Will there be a difference in Azure Maps usage (i.e., cost) in using the non-simplified polygon version?

Also, is there a reason why the Azure Maps non-simplified polygon version is much less detailed than the Bing Maps version (see Bing Maps version above vs Azure Maps 2024-07-01-preview isSimplifiedPolygon: false version below)?

Azure Maps 2025-01-01 version:

Azure Maps 2025-01-01

Azure Maps 24-07-01-preview isSimplifiedPolygon: false version:

Azure Maps 2024-07-01-preview isSimplifiedPolygon false

Thank you in advance for any insight,

Ken

VSawhney 710 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-05-19T01:40:25.94+00:00
Hello Ken Bowman,

It sounds like you're transitioning from Bing Maps to Azure Maps and adapting to the Route Range API for creating isochrones. These are some really good questions you have! Here’s what I can share:

Official Support for isSimplifiedPolygon: The isSimplifiedPolygon option is currently in preview, and the timeline for it to move to a non-preview version hasn't been officially disclosed yet. Keeping an eye on the Azure Maps release notes and updates from the Azure Maps team will be beneficial for announcements regarding the stabilization of features.

Cost Differences: As for cost implications, using the non-simplified polygon version might not significantly differ in pricing compared to the simplified version. However, it’s always a good idea to compare the API usage details and assess the overall impact on your Azure billing based on your specific usage patterns. Monitoring your API call rates will give you a clearer picture.

Detail Comparison with Bing Maps: The difference in detail between the Azure Maps non-simplified polygon version and the Bing Maps version may stem from architectural differences in how the services generate these polygons. Azure Maps is designed with different algorithms and approaches for route calculations and geospatial data, which could result in less detail for certain queries. Providing feedback to the Azure Maps team can also help them improve their services over time!

Could you share the commands used in Azure Maps and Bing maps to replicate the scenario in screenshots you have shared.

Thank you!
VSawhney 710 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-05-20T02:27:06.78+00:00

Hello Ken Bowman,

Following up to check of the response provided helped you in solving the issue. Please feel free to reach us for further queries.

Thank you!
Ken Bowman 301 Reputation points

2025-05-20T03:14:36.9466667+00:00

Thank you for your answer. It doesn't seem like there are any concrete answers at this time, but I appreciate your responding.

Accepted answer

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VSawhney 710 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-05-19T01:40:25.94+00:00

Hello Ken Bowman,

It sounds like you're transitioning from Bing Maps to Azure Maps and adapting to the Route Range API for creating isochrones. These are some really good questions you have! Here’s what I can share:

Official Support for isSimplifiedPolygon: The isSimplifiedPolygon option is currently in preview, and the timeline for it to move to a non-preview version hasn't been officially disclosed yet. Keeping an eye on the Azure Maps release notes and updates from the Azure Maps team will be beneficial for announcements regarding the stabilization of features.

Cost Differences: As for cost implications, using the non-simplified polygon version might not significantly differ in pricing compared to the simplified version. However, it’s always a good idea to compare the API usage details and assess the overall impact on your Azure billing based on your specific usage patterns. Monitoring your API call rates will give you a clearer picture.

Detail Comparison with Bing Maps: The difference in detail between the Azure Maps non-simplified polygon version and the Bing Maps version may stem from architectural differences in how the services generate these polygons. Azure Maps is designed with different algorithms and approaches for route calculations and geospatial data, which could result in less detail for certain queries. Providing feedback to the Azure Maps team can also help them improve their services over time!

Could you share the commands used in Azure Maps and Bing maps to replicate the scenario in screenshots you have shared.

Thank you!
VSawhney 710 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-05-20T02:27:06.78+00:00

Hello Ken Bowman,

Following up to check of the response provided helped you in solving the issue. Please feel free to reach us for further queries.

Thank you!
Ken Bowman 301 Reputation points

2025-05-20T03:14:36.9466667+00:00

Thank you for your answer. It doesn't seem like there are any concrete answers at this time, but I appreciate your responding.

Answer 1

Faraz Siddiqui 335 Microsoft Employee

Hi Ken,

I am from the Azure Maps product team. We are planning to release high resolution polygons in Azure Maps in GA by the end of this year. At this time, there will be no cost difference based on the polygon resolution. You may notice some difference in latency and response size for detailed polygons compared to simplified ones.

The underlying route algorithm used to generate these polygons for Azure Maps and Bing Maps are different. Azure Maps polygons are detailed enough to support accurate spatial filtering for travel time and distance queries. Azure Maps also supports larger travel time/distance budgets when compared with Bing Maps.

For example, I created a 20-minute travel time polygon from Smokey Point using a scenario similar to the one you shared. Bing Maps included Spencer Island Park which is over 25 minutes drive without traffic whereas Azure Maps returned more accurate range. Could you share an example where you see an issue with the accuracy of the polygon? Also interested to hear about your use case. Thank you!

Bing Maps
User's image

Azure Maps
User's image

ia314159 0 Reputation points

2025-05-28T04:48:38.41+00:00

Hi Faraz, I came across your post while searching for why Bing isochrones have much more granularity than the comparable Azure ones. When high resolution polygons are released at the end of the year, will they be comparable to what Bing Maps provides today?

Also, I've been using the "Route - Get Route Range" found here: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/rest/api/maps/route/get-route-range?view=rest-maps-1.0&tabs=HTTP but this post has led me to the "Route - Post Route Range" found here: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/rest/api/maps/route/get-route-range?view=rest-maps-1.0&tabs=HTTP. Aside from the former using GET vs the latter using POST, is the underlying isochrone retrieved the same?

Finally, I'm here because of the June 30, 2025 end of support date for Bing Maps (non-Enterprise users). I was initially excited about moving to Azure Maps but the difference in resolution granularity will be a real problem for my users. Ideally, it would be great if Microsoft extended the life (for Basic account users) until Azure provides the same level of functionality as what Bing currently provides... any chance of this happening?
Faraz Siddiqui 335 Reputation points Microsoft Employee

2025-05-28T23:51:09.88+00:00

@ia314159 The isochrone quality will be comparable to Bing Maps in terms of accuracy. It is currently available in preview. Please see Route Range for more details and to try it. We welcome any feedback.

The links you shared are the same, but I understand your questions. There is no difference in the underlying simplified polygon between the GET and POST request. However, the detailed polygons will be released in the latest Route Range version 2025-01-01 which supports the POST method.

One of my colleagues will follow up on this thread regarding your question about the Bing Maps Basic account.
IoTGirl 3,621 Reputation points Microsoft Employee Moderator

2025-05-28T23:55:29.9966667+00:00

Hi ia314159,

I can't speak to the variability of the polygons as Faraz but I can let you know that you can use Bing Maps past June 30, 2025 as long as you purchase an Enterprise option. The "free" usage has been moved to Azure Maps and is available each month (From https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-maps/understanding-azure-maps-transactions -> Azure Maps offers many free transactions each month as shown in Azure Maps pricing). As you will have received and is posted in all the places where we discuss the topic, there are a team of folks at "MapLicQ at Microsoft .com" that can assist you with making the move when it is right for you.

Please reach out to them with your needs.

Sincerely,

IoTGirl
ia314159 0 Reputation points

2025-05-29T03:17:59.6333333+00:00

Hi Faraz and IoTGirl - thanks for your replies. I'm going to go with the Enterprise Bing Maps option for now until the higher resolution isochrones are available in Azure Maps. There were several links I and started coding using version 1.0 (which uses GET) instead of the 2025-01-01 version that uses POST. Thanks again for the help!

Answer 2

Manas Mohanty 5,115 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hi Ken Bowman

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you.

Currently, isSimplifiedPolygon param only supports "true" for 2025-01-01 version.

User's image

Even though, High-definition polygons are supported in 24-07-01-preview, Results might not come exact as Bing maps.

I would request you to provide back on https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-maps/how-to-use-feedback-tool#providing-feedback as improvement scope for Azure map though it is in road map for Azure Map team.

Thank you for trying out Isochrones feature of Azure Maps.

Ken Bowman 301 Reputation points

2025-05-22T18:02:29.3333333+00:00

Hi Faraz,

I hadn't seen an issue. I just had noticed that the Bing Maps version in my original example looked more detailed than the Azure Maps detailed version. I'm good with your answer.

Thanks!

Ken

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Isochrones Support in Azure Maps

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