Azure Maps (.NET)

Azure Maps SDK for .NET providing location-based services: geocoding, routing, rendering, geolocation, and weather.

Installation

bash
# Search (geocoding, reverse geocoding)
dotnet add package Azure.Maps.Search --prerelease

# Routing (directions, route matrix)
dotnet add package Azure.Maps.Routing --prerelease

# Rendering (map tiles, static images)
dotnet add package Azure.Maps.Rendering --prerelease

# Geolocation (IP to location)
dotnet add package Azure.Maps.Geolocation --prerelease

# Weather
dotnet add package Azure.Maps.Weather --prerelease

# Resource Management (account management, SAS tokens)
dotnet add package Azure.ResourceManager.Maps --prerelease

# Required for authentication
dotnet add package Azure.Identity

Current Versions:

• Azure.Maps.Search: v2.0.0-beta.5
• Azure.Maps.Routing: v1.0.0-beta.4
• Azure.Maps.Rendering: v2.0.0-beta.1
• Azure.Maps.Geolocation: v1.0.0-beta.3
• Azure.ResourceManager.Maps: v1.1.0-beta.2

Environment Variables

bash
AZURE_MAPS_SUBSCRIPTION_KEY=<your-subscription-key>  # Only required for AzureKeyCredential auth
AZURE_MAPS_CLIENT_ID=<your-client-id>  # Required: Azure Maps client ID
AZURE_TOKEN_CREDENTIALS=prod  # Required only if DefaultAzureCredential is used in production

Authentication

Subscription Key (Shared Key)

csharp
using Azure;
using Azure.Maps.Search;

var subscriptionKey = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("AZURE_MAPS_SUBSCRIPTION_KEY");
var credential = new AzureKeyCredential(subscriptionKey);

var client = new MapsSearchClient(credential);

Microsoft Entra Token Credential

csharp
using Azure.Identity;
using Azure.Maps.Search;

// Local dev: DefaultAzureCredential. Production: set AZURE_TOKEN_CREDENTIALS=prod or AZURE_TOKEN_CREDENTIALS=<specific_credential>
var credential = new DefaultAzureCredential(
    DefaultAzureCredential.DefaultEnvironmentVariableName
);
// Or use a specific credential directly in production:
// See https://learn.microsoft.com/dotnet/api/overview/azure/identity-readme?view=azure-dotnet#credential-classes
// var credential = new ManagedIdentityCredential();
var clientId = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("AZURE_MAPS_CLIENT_ID");

var client = new MapsSearchClient(credential, clientId);

Shared Access Signature (SAS)

csharp
using Azure;
using Azure.Core;
using Azure.Identity;
using Azure.ResourceManager;
using Azure.ResourceManager.Maps;
using Azure.ResourceManager.Maps.Models;
using Azure.Maps.Search;

// Authenticate with Azure Resource Manager
ArmClient armClient = new ArmClient(new DefaultAzureCredential());

// Get Maps account resource
ResourceIdentifier mapsAccountResourceId = MapsAccountResource.CreateResourceIdentifier(
    subscriptionId, resourceGroupName, accountName);
MapsAccountResource mapsAccount = armClient.GetMapsAccountResource(mapsAccountResourceId);

// Generate SAS token
MapsAccountSasContent sasContent = new MapsAccountSasContent(
    MapsSigningKey.PrimaryKey, 
    principalId, 
    maxRatePerSecond: 500, 
    start: DateTime.UtcNow.ToString("O"), 
    expiry: DateTime.UtcNow.AddDays(1).ToString("O"));

Response<MapsAccountSasToken> sas = mapsAccount.GetSas(sasContent);

// Create client with SAS token
var sasCredential = new AzureSasCredential(sas.Value.AccountSasToken);
var client = new MapsSearchClient(sasCredential);

Client Hierarchy

Azure.Maps.Search
└── MapsSearchClient
    ├── GetGeocoding()                    → Geocode addresses
    ├── GetGeocodingBatch()               → Batch geocoding
    ├── GetReverseGeocoding()             → Coordinates to address
    ├── GetReverseGeocodingBatch()        → Batch reverse geocoding
    └── GetPolygon()                      → Get boundary polygons

Azure.Maps.Routing
└── MapsRoutingClient
    ├── GetDirections()                   → Route directions
    ├── GetImmediateRouteMatrix()         → Route matrix (sync, ≤100)
    ├── GetRouteMatrix()                  → Route matrix (async, ≤700)
    └── GetRouteRange()                   → Isochrone/reachable range

Azure.Maps.Rendering
└── MapsRenderingClient
    ├── GetMapTile()                      → Map tiles
    ├── GetMapStaticImage()               → Static map images
    └── GetCopyrightCaption()             → Copyright info

Azure.Maps.Geolocation
└── MapsGeolocationClient
    └── GetCountryCode()                  → IP to country/region

Azure.Maps.Weather
└── MapsWeatherClient
    ├── GetCurrentWeatherConditions()     → Current weather
    ├── GetDailyForecast()                → Daily forecast
    ├── GetHourlyForecast()               → Hourly forecast
    └── GetSevereWeatherAlerts()          → Weather alerts

Core Workflows

1. Geocoding (Address to Coordinates)

csharp
using Azure;
using Azure.Maps.Search;

var credential = new AzureKeyCredential(subscriptionKey);
var client = new MapsSearchClient(credential);

Response<GeocodingResponse> result = client.GetGeocoding("1 Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052");

foreach (var feature in result.Value.Features)
{
    Console.WriteLine($"Coordinates: {string.Join(",", feature.Geometry.Coordinates)}");
    Console.WriteLine($"Address: {feature.Properties.Address.FormattedAddress}");
    Console.WriteLine($"Confidence: {feature.Properties.Confidence}");
}

2. Batch Geocoding

csharp
using Azure.Maps.Search.Models.Queries;

List<GeocodingQuery> queries = new List<GeocodingQuery>
{
    new GeocodingQuery() { Query = "400 Broad St, Seattle, WA" },
    new GeocodingQuery() { Query = "1 Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA" },
    new GeocodingQuery() { AddressLine = "Space Needle", Top = 1 },
};

Response<GeocodingBatchResponse> results = client.GetGeocodingBatch(queries);

foreach (var batchItem in results.Value.BatchItems)
{
    foreach (var feature in batchItem.Features)
    {
        Console.WriteLine($"Coordinates: {string.Join(",", feature.Geometry.Coordinates)}");
    }
}

3. Reverse Geocoding (Coordinates to Address)

csharp
using Azure.Core.GeoJson;

GeoPosition coordinates = new GeoPosition(-122.138685, 47.6305637);
Response<GeocodingResponse> result = client.GetReverseGeocoding(coordinates);

foreach (var feature in result.Value.Features)
{
    Console.WriteLine($"Address: {feature.Properties.Address.FormattedAddress}");
    Console.WriteLine($"Locality: {feature.Properties.Address.Locality}");
}

4. Get Boundary Polygon

csharp
using Azure.Maps.Search.Models;

GetPolygonOptions options = new GetPolygonOptions()
{
    Coordinates = new GeoPosition(-122.204141, 47.61256),
    ResultType = BoundaryResultTypeEnum.Locality,
    Resolution = ResolutionEnum.Small,
};

Response<Boundary> result = client.GetPolygon(options);

Console.WriteLine($"Boundary copyright: {result.Value.Properties?.Copyright}");
Console.WriteLine($"Polygon count: {result.Value.Geometry.Count}");

5. Route Directions

csharp
using Azure;
using Azure.Core.GeoJson;
using Azure.Maps.Routing;
using Azure.Maps.Routing.Models;

var client = new MapsRoutingClient(new AzureKeyCredential(subscriptionKey));

List<GeoPosition> routePoints = new List<GeoPosition>()
{
    new GeoPosition(-122.34, 47.61),  // Seattle
    new GeoPosition(-122.13, 47.64)   // Redmond
};

RouteDirectionQuery query = new RouteDirectionQuery(routePoints);
Response<RouteDirections> result = client.GetDirections(query);

foreach (var route in result.Value.Routes)
{
    Console.WriteLine($"Distance: {route.Summary.LengthInMeters} meters");
    Console.WriteLine($"Duration: {route.Summary.TravelTimeDuration}");
    
    foreach (RouteLeg leg in route.Legs)
    {
        Console.WriteLine($"Leg points: {leg.Points.Count}");
    }
}

6. Route Directions with Options

csharp
RouteDirectionOptions options = new RouteDirectionOptions()
{
    RouteType = RouteType.Fastest,
    UseTrafficData = true,
    TravelMode = TravelMode.Bicycle,
    Language = RoutingLanguage.EnglishUsa,
    InstructionsType = RouteInstructionsType.Text,
};

RouteDirectionQuery query = new RouteDirectionQuery(routePoints)
{
    RouteDirectionOptions = options
};

Response<RouteDirections> result = client.GetDirections(query);

7. Route Matrix

csharp
RouteMatrixQuery routeMatrixQuery = new RouteMatrixQuery
{
    Origins = new List<GeoPosition>()
    {
        new GeoPosition(-122.34, 47.61),
        new GeoPosition(-122.13, 47.64)
    },
    Destinations = new List<GeoPosition>() 
    { 
        new GeoPosition(-122.20, 47.62),
        new GeoPosition(-122.40, 47.65)
    },
};

// Synchronous (up to 100 route combinations)
Response<RouteMatrixResult> result = client.GetImmediateRouteMatrix(routeMatrixQuery);

foreach (var cell in result.Value.Matrix.SelectMany(row => row))
{
    Console.WriteLine($"Distance: {cell.Response?.RouteSummary?.LengthInMeters}");
    Console.WriteLine($"Duration: {cell.Response?.RouteSummary?.TravelTimeDuration}");
}

// Asynchronous (up to 700 route combinations)
RouteMatrixOptions routeMatrixOptions = new RouteMatrixOptions(routeMatrixQuery)
{
    TravelTimeType = TravelTimeType.All,
};
GetRouteMatrixOperation asyncResult = client.GetRouteMatrix(WaitUntil.Completed, routeMatrixOptions);

8. Route Range (Isochrone)

csharp
RouteRangeOptions options = new RouteRangeOptions(-122.34, 47.61)
{
    TimeBudget = new TimeSpan(0, 20, 0)  // 20 minutes
};

Response<RouteRangeResult> result = client.GetRouteRange(options);

// result.Value.ReachableRange contains the polygon
Console.WriteLine($"Boundary points: {result.Value.ReachableRange.Boundary.Count}");

9. Get Map Tiles

csharp
using Azure;
using Azure.Maps.Rendering;

var client = new MapsRenderingClient(new AzureKeyCredential(subscriptionKey));

int zoom = 10;
int tileSize = 256;

// Convert coordinates to tile index
MapTileIndex tileIndex = MapsRenderingClient.PositionToTileXY(
    new GeoPosition(13.3854, 52.517), zoom, tileSize);

// Fetch map tile
GetMapTileOptions options = new GetMapTileOptions(
    MapTileSetId.MicrosoftImagery,
    new MapTileIndex(tileIndex.X, tileIndex.Y, zoom)
);

Response<Stream> mapTile = client.GetMapTile(options);

// Save to file
using (FileStream fileStream = File.Create("./MapTile.png"))
{
    mapTile.Value.CopyTo(fileStream);
}

10. IP Geolocation

csharp
using System.Net;
using Azure;
using Azure.Maps.Geolocation;

var client = new MapsGeolocationClient(new AzureKeyCredential(subscriptionKey));

IPAddress ipAddress = IPAddress.Parse("2001:4898:80e8:b::189");
Response<CountryRegionResult> result = client.GetCountryCode(ipAddress);

Console.WriteLine($"Country ISO Code: {result.Value.IsoCode}");

11. Current Weather

csharp
using Azure;
using Azure.Core.GeoJson;
using Azure.Maps.Weather;

var client = new MapsWeatherClient(new AzureKeyCredential(subscriptionKey));

var position = new GeoPosition(-122.13071, 47.64011);
var options = new GetCurrentWeatherConditionsOptions(position);

Response<CurrentConditionsResult> result = client.GetCurrentWeatherConditions(options);

foreach (var condition in result.Value.Results)
{
    Console.WriteLine($"Temperature: {condition.Temperature.Value} {condition.Temperature.Unit}");
    Console.WriteLine($"Weather: {condition.Phrase}");
    Console.WriteLine($"Humidity: {condition.RelativeHumidity}%");
}

Key Types Reference

Search Package

| Type | Purpose | |------|---------| | MapsSearchClient | Main client for search operations | | GeocodingResponse | Geocoding result | | GeocodingBatchResponse | Batch geocoding result | | GeocodingQuery | Query for batch geocoding | | ReverseGeocodingQuery | Query for batch reverse geocoding | | GetPolygonOptions | Options for polygon retrieval | | Boundary | Boundary polygon result | | BoundaryResultTypeEnum | Boundary type (Locality, AdminDistrict, etc.) | | ResolutionEnum | Polygon resolution (Small, Medium, Large) |

Routing Package

| Type | Purpose | |------|---------| | MapsRoutingClient | Main client for routing operations | | RouteDirectionQuery | Query for route directions | | RouteDirectionOptions | Route calculation options | | RouteDirections | Route directions result | | RouteLeg | Segment of a route | | RouteMatrixQuery | Query for route matrix | | RouteMatrixResult | Route matrix result | | RouteRangeOptions | Options for isochrone | | RouteRangeResult | Isochrone result | | RouteType | Route type (Fastest, Shortest, Eco, Thrilling) | | TravelMode | Travel mode (Car, Truck, Bicycle, Pedestrian) |

Rendering Package

| Type | Purpose | |------|---------| | MapsRenderingClient | Main client for rendering | | GetMapTileOptions | Map tile options | | MapTileIndex | Tile coordinates (X, Y, Zoom) | | MapTileSetId | Tile set identifier |

Common Types

| Type | Purpose | |------|---------| | GeoPosition | Geographic position (longitude, latitude) | | GeoBoundingBox | Bounding box for geographic area |

Best Practices

1. Use Entra ID for production — Prefer over subscription keys
2. Batch operations — Use batch geocoding for multiple addresses
3. Cache results — Geocoding results don't change frequently
4. Use appropriate tile sizes — 256 or 512 pixels based on display
5. Handle rate limits — Implement exponential backoff
6. Use async route matrix — For large matrix calculations (>100)
7. Consider traffic data — Set UseTrafficData = true for accurate ETAs

Error Handling

csharp
try
{
    Response<GeocodingResponse> result = client.GetGeocoding(address);
}
catch (RequestFailedException ex)
{
    Console.WriteLine($"Status: {ex.Status}");
    Console.WriteLine($"Error: {ex.Message}");
    
    switch (ex.Status)
    {
        case 400:
            // Invalid request parameters
            break;
        case 401:
            // Authentication failed
            break;
        case 429:
            // Rate limited - implement backoff
            break;
    }
}

Related SDKs

| SDK | Purpose | Install | |-----|---------|---------| | Azure.Maps.Search | Geocoding, search | dotnet add package Azure.Maps.Search --prerelease | | Azure.Maps.Routing | Directions, matrix | dotnet add package Azure.Maps.Routing --prerelease | | Azure.Maps.Rendering | Map tiles, images | dotnet add package Azure.Maps.Rendering --prerelease | | Azure.Maps.Geolocation | IP geolocation | dotnet add package Azure.Maps.Geolocation --prerelease | | Azure.Maps.Weather | Weather data | dotnet add package Azure.Maps.Weather --prerelease | | Azure.ResourceManager.Maps | Account management | dotnet add package Azure.ResourceManager.Maps --prerelease |

Reference Links

| Resource | URL | |----------|-----| | Azure Maps Documentation | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-maps/ | | Search API Reference | https://learn.microsoft.com/dotnet/api/azure.maps.search | | Routing API Reference | https://learn.microsoft.com/dotnet/api/azure.maps.routing | | GitHub Source | https://github.com/Azure/azure-sdk-for-net/tree/main/sdk/maps | | Pricing | https://azure.microsoft.com/pricing/details/azure-maps/ |