Introducing Lightning: Real-time editing for tiled data

Lightning, a next-generation tiling engine built on the open-source Tippecanoe, addresses the longstanding GIS industry constraint of choosing between fast map rendering and editable data by providing both simultaneously. It allows for instant editing and visualization across millions of features without performance degradation, eliminating the need for pre-generated tiles that require time-consuming updates. The system's merge-on-demand architecture combines base tiles with real-time edits, ensuring live data rendering at every zoom level. Lightning's real-time capabilities facilitate immediate updates and collaboration, enabling multiple users to edit datasets simultaneously while maintaining performance. This innovation is already integrated into Felt's platform, offering enhanced GIS functionalities as part of its Enterprise plan, allowing for seamless data modification and layer creation.