Building accessible maps

About maps and accessibility  

Accessibility obligations for public sectors bodies in the United Kingdom come from the: 

• Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the ‘Accessibility Regulations’) 
• Equality Act 2010 

The Accessibility Regulations do not apply to “online maps and mapping services, as long as essential information is provided in an accessible digital manner for maps intended for navigational use” (regulation 4(2)(d)).  

We recommend that if you’re building any map, you should make it as accessible as possible through:  

• choosing the right type of map 
• labelling 
• using colour accessibly
• usable features and controls on interactive map interfaces 

It can be difficult to make maps fully accessible. You should give users another way to complete the task or use the service.   

You should also ensure the whole service is accessible. For example, by using the Scottish Government Design System and testing with users.  

Find out more about accessibility requirements for public sector bodies on GOV.UK and building accessible services on the Digital Scotland Service Manual. 

Choosing the right type of map 

To choose the correct type of data visualisation map to meet user needs, think about: 

• what users need to understand or be able to do with the map 
• the kind of data you have 
• what statistical relationships you need to show 
• the story you’re trying to tell 

You can also split a complex map into a series of maps. 

Check the advantages and disadvantages of types of thematic maps on the Ordnance Survey website. 

Basemaps 

The basemap gives geographic context for the data you put on top.  

Complex navigational basemaps with lots of features can be overwhelming and hard to read. For example, the Ordnance Survey Landranger or Explorer maps. 

Use the simplest basemap you can. Only include the geographical features users need to interpret the map. For example, local authority boundaries are likely to be key to understanding election results.  

You should also: 

• avoid using basemaps in vibrant colours – it can be difficult to interpret data on top and may not have sufficient colour contrast
• avoid using greyscale – it’s unlikely to have sufficient colour contrast and interferes with accessibility tools and plugins 
• use an appropriate geographic area – for example, a map of Scotland is too large for just data from Moray 
• use appropriate font sizes so labels and symbols are legible 

Find out more about basemaps on the Ordnance Survey website. 

Shetland mapping legal requirement 

Under the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018, you must show the Shetland Islands on maps “in a manner that accurately and proportionately represents their geographical location in relation to the rest of Scotland.”  

This means that wherever possible, Shetland must not be shown in an inset box closer to the mainland. If using an inset box for Shetland is unavoidable, you should explain why. 

It does not mean that every map must include Shetland.

Labelling 

Use direct text labels to convey important information to users, such as place names.  

You can make labels more accessible by using:  

• accessible fonts – such as Roboto font 

• short, plain English text 

• sentence case – uppercase is hard to read 

• font sizes large enough that labels are legible 

• text colours with sufficient colour contrast against the background colour or basemap 

Try to avoid: 

• unnecessary conventions, such as italic text to label water features 

• underlined text  

Find out more about labelling in maps on the Ordnance Survey website.  

Usable features and controls on interactive maps 

If you’re building an interactive map, you can make it more accessible through features such as: 

• having the map be operable by mouse and keyboard – it’s important to test this with users 
• visible focus styling  
• offering high contrast mode (if available) and adjustable text sizes  
• ensuring selectable regions within the map are defined by HTML area elements, with alt attributes that describe their purpose 
• pan and zoom controls so users can focus on areas of the map – symbols for controls should be clear and unambiguous  

Check if the software you’re using to generate maps supports accessibility or usability features.  

You should also:  

• do accessibility testing with users  
• provide another way for users to complete tasks, such as alternative content