Custom directions profile

mbenkert · April 24, 2025, 10:20am

Hey all,

I am building some small private project currently using the standard openrouteservice directions API.

However, I would like to have some more control over some of the routing specifics, for example, which waytypes should be used for cycling navigation or for hiking which SAC scales should be included in the routing.

I know that this is not possible with the public API, but I am planning to run my own instance of ORS either way.

My question is, if there are already any resources or even guides on how to go best about creating your own directions routing profile? What exactly and where things need to be updated?

I’ve already looked in the forum, but couldn’t find specifics tbh.
Any help/pointer is appreciated!

Best regards
Marius

amandus · April 25, 2025, 9:40am

Hi @mbenkert,

there are a few posts that deal with in a bit more detail this e.g.:

If you run your own, you will be fine with adjusting existing values.

for hiking sac scale adjust:

github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice

ors-engine/src/main/java/org/heigit/ors/routing/graphhopper/extensions/flagencoders/HikingFlagEncoder.java

51c26f9be

/*
 * This file is part of Openrouteservice.
 *
 * Openrouteservice is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the
 * GNU Lesser General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2.1
 * of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
 *
 * This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY;
 * without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
 * See the GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
 *
 * You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License along with this library;
 * if not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 */

package org.heigit.ors.routing.graphhopper.extensions.flagencoders;

import com.graphhopper.util.PMap;

import java.util.Arrays;

This file has been truncated. show original

for cycling regular or mtb (both extend CommonBikeFlagencoder): e.g.

github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice

ors-engine/src/main/java/org/heigit/ors/routing/graphhopper/extensions/flagencoders/bike/CommonBikeFlagEncoder.java

51c26f9be


      
                  return acceptPotentially;
              }
          
              return EncodingManager.Access.CAN_SKIP;
          }
          
          if (!highwaySpeeds.containsKey(highwayValue)) {
              return EncodingManager.Access.CAN_SKIP;
          }
          
          String sacScale = way.getTag("sac_scale");
          if (sacScale != null) {
              if ((way.hasTag(KEY_HIGHWAY, KEY_CYCLEWAY)) && (way.hasTag("sac_scale", "hiking"))) {
                  return EncodingManager.Access.WAY;
              }
              if (!isSacScaleAllowed(sacScale)) {
                  return EncodingManager.Access.CAN_SKIP;
              }
          }
          
          // use the way if it is tagged for bikes

github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice

ors-engine/src/main/java/org/heigit/ors/routing/graphhopper/extensions/flagencoders/bike/MountainBikeFlagEncoder.java

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                  if ("grade1".equals(trackType))
                      weightToPrioMap.put(50d, UNCHANGED.getValue());
                  else if (trackType == null)
                      weightToPrioMap.put(90d, PREFER.getValue());
                  else if (trackType.startsWith("grade"))
                      weightToPrioMap.put(100d, VERY_NICE.getValue());
              }
          }
          
          @Override
          boolean isSacScaleAllowed(String sacScale) {
              // other scales are too dangerous even for MTB, see http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Key:sac_scale
              return "hiking".equals(sacScale) || "mountain_hiking".equals(sacScale)
                      || "demanding_mountain_hiking".equals(sacScale) || "alpine_hiking".equals(sacScale);
          }
          
          @Override
          public String toString() {
              return FlagEncoderNames.MTB_ORS;
          }

which waytypes are usable is definde in the getAccess method in those files.
This is evaluated during graph build though.
So if you change something don’t forget to rebuild the graphs (best just remove the existing ones)

Best regards