Highlight Specific 3D Buildings on Your Custom Maps

Mapme makes it easy to display 3D buildings on your interactive maps, adding visual depth and enhancing the user experience. But in dense urban areas, it can be hard to distinguish a specific building when all surrounding structures are also rendered in 3D.

To solve this, Mapme allows you to selectively display only the 3D buildings you want to highlight. This focused approach ensures your key locations stand out clearly—especially useful when directing attention to a specific building, landmark or development.

For example, in the left image, the map marker is lost among many 3D buildings. In the right image, the highlighted building stands out clearly, providing a much better user experience.

Use Case Example

A Downtown Development Authority wants to showcase new construction projects in the city center. By displaying only the relevant buildings in 3D, the map provides a clearer, more engaging way to explore urban development.

3D Building Visibility and Interactivity

Highlighted 3D buildings become visible on the map starting at zoom level 14 and remain visible up to zoom level 21. This ensures they appear only when the map is close enough to provide meaningful detail.

These buildings are also interactive—clicking on a highlighted building opens the corresponding location details, offering users a seamless way to explore featured points of interest.

Highlighted 3D Building Color

You can customize the color of highlighted 3D buildings to match your map’s design or branding. To change the color:

Go to: Settings > Basemap > 3D Buildings & Globe > Selected Building Color

This setting applies a uniform color to all highlighted 3D buildings on your map.

Selecting the 3D buildings

You simply enter the relevant building ID’s in the Mapme editor.

How to Find and Use Building IDs from OpenStreetMap

1. Go to Openstreetmap.org
2. In the Search box at the top left, enter the address of the building.
3. Click on the red pin on the map
4. A panel will appear on the left with information about the building.
5. Look for the Way ID — it will look something like this: 155428438. Copy this number.

You can find additional Way ID’s for buildings visible on the map by activating the Query Features:

• Click on the question mark (?) icon at the bottom of the right sidebar.
• Click on the relevant building on the map.
• Copy the Way ID

Using the ID in Mapme

1. In the Mapme Editor, open the building or landmark location
2. Paste the Way ID into the “Highlight Specific 3D Buildings” field.
3. The 3D building will now appear in the map preview.

👉 Important Note: Some buildings are made up of multiple parts (called “Ways”), such as a tower and an aisle. In that case, find each part’s ID and enter them separated by commas, like this: 155428438,155428440.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why highlight specific 3D buildings on a map?

Highlighting 3D buildings helps users quickly identify key landmarks, better navigate complex areas, and visualize spaces more realistically. It enhances the overall map experience by adding clarity and depth.

What types of projects benefit from showcasing 3D structures?

Projects such as

• real estate listings,
• tourism maps,
• university campuses,
• event venues, and
• smart city initiatives

benefit from 3D structures by offering a more detailed and engaging visual experience for users.

Can you control the zoom and tilt angles when showcasing 3D buildings?

Yes. Mapping platforms like Mapme allow you to adjust zoom levels and tilt angles, enabling users to explore 3D buildings from various perspectives for a more immersive experience.