# Overpass MCP for AI Agents AI Agent Connect

> Overpass lets you query OpenStreetMap data using natural language. It handles complex spatial queries, pulls raw map data for specific areas, and checks your API status. It's for people who need real-world geographic data without writing manual API calls or wrestling with complex query syntax every time.

## Overview
- **Category:** data-analytics
- **Price:** Free
- **Endpoint:** https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_zzdgleuR8jSsqRIakxavJFmaXkwVJPywGnPhOsDn/ai-agent-connect
- **Tags:** openstreetmap, gis, spatial-data, mapping, overpass-ql

## Description

Imagine you need to know every pharmacy in a specific city or find every bike lane in a neighborhood. Instead of digging through documentation and writing complex Overpass Query Language scripts, you just ask your agent to do it for you. This Connector connects your AI client directly to the Overpass API, turning natural language into precise geospatial results. You can pull raw map data for specific bounding boxes to feed into your GIS software or check your current API limits to make sure your data collection doesn't get throttled. It's a massive shortcut for anyone who handles spatial data. By adding this to your stack via the Vinkius catalog, you get a way to interact with global map data without the usual technical friction. You're moving from how do I write this query to what do I want to find in one step.

## Tools

### get_map
Fetches raw OSM map data for a specific bounding box. Use this to grab large chunks of map data for GIS processing.

### get_status
Checks your current Overpass API rate limit and slot availability. Use this to see if you're about to get throttled.

### execute_xapi
Runs legacy XAPI queries to return raw XML data. Use this when you need to support older query formats.

### execute_query
Runs Overpass QL queries to return JSON data. This is your go-to for finding specific points of interest or features.

## Prompt Examples

**Prompt:** 
```
Find all parks in downtown Chicago.
```

**Response:** 
```
I've searched the OpenStreetMap data for downtown Chicago. Here are the parks I found:

| Park Name | Description |
| :--- | :--- |
| Millennium Park | A large urban park with a variety of landmarks |
| Millennium Park | A large urban park with a variety of landmarks |
| Grant Park | A large urban park with a variety of landmarks |

Would you like the specific coordinates or more details for any of these?
```

**Prompt:** 
```
Get the map data for this area: 40.7, -74.0, 40.8, -73.9.
```

**Response:** 
```
I have successfully retrieved the raw OSM map data for that bounding box. It contains the nodes, ways, and relations for that area in XML format. How would you like me to process this data for you?
```

**Prompt:** 
```
Are we going to hit the rate limit?
```

**Response:** 
```
Checking your connection status now...

**Status Update:**
*   **Available Slots:** 2
*   **Rate Limit Cooldown:** None

You're all set to continue with your queries for now.
```

## Capabilities

### Find specific points of interest
Ask your agent to locate specific types of places like hospitals or parks using natural language.

### Extract raw map data
Pull raw OSM data for a specific bounding box to use in your own GIS processing workflows.

### Run legacy XML queries
Execute older XAPI queries if you need to maintain compatibility with legacy data formats.

### Monitor API connection status
Check your current rate limit and slot availability to ensure your data collection stays on track.

## Use Cases

### Urban planning infrastructure audits
An urban planner asks their agent to find every bike lane in a specific zip code to identify gaps in the city network using execute_query.

### Geographic research data extraction
A data scientist needs to find all pharmacies in a city for a health study and uses execute_query to get the coordinates.

### GIS bounding box downloads
A GIS analyst needs to pull a large chunk of map data for a specific region and uses get_map to grab the raw XML.

### API rate limit monitoring
A developer wants to ensure their automated script doesn't get blocked and uses get_status to check their current slots.

## Benefits

- Skip the manual query writing because execute_query handles the complex Overpass QL for you.
- Get raw map data instantly with get_map to feed into your GIS tools without manual scraping.
- Avoid being blocked by checking your connection health with get_status before running big jobs.
- Maintain compatibility with older systems by using execute_xapi for legacy XML queries.
- Turn natural language into spatial data to find specific points of interest across the globe.

## How It Works

The bottom line is you get a direct line to OpenStreetMap data using plain English.

1. Subscribe to the Overpass MCP on Vinkius
2. Connect your AI client and provide your Overpass instance URL if you have a custom one
3. Ask your agent to find locations, analyze infrastructure, or download map segments

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Can Overpass MCP find specific buildings?**
Yes, it can find any point of interest that is mapped on OpenStreetMap, including specific buildings, shops, and landmarks.

**Does Overpass MCP work for any city?**
It works globally. As long as the data is available in OpenStreetMap, your agent can query it for any city or region.

**Can I use Overpass MCP to get raw map files?**
Yes, you can use the bounding box tool to fetch raw map data for specific geographic areas to use in your own GIS software.

**Is Overpass MCP good for urban planning?**
It's excellent for urban planning. You can quickly pull data on bike lanes, parks, and public transport nodes across different cities.

**How does Overpass MCP handle API limits?**
It includes a status tool that lets your agent check your current slot availability and rate limits so you don't get blocked during heavy use.

**Can I use it to find pharmacies near me?**
Yes, you can ask your agent to find pharmacies within a certain radius of your coordinates, and it will pull the results from the map data.

**How do I find all restaurants in a specific city using this server?**
You can ask the agent to use the `execute_query` tool with an Overpass QL string, for example: `[out:json];area[name='Berlin'];node(area)[amenity=restaurant];out;`. The agent will handle the execution and present the results.

**Can I download raw map data for a specific coordinate range?**
Yes. Use the `get_map` tool and provide the bounding box coordinates in the format `min_lon,min_lat,max_lon,max_lat`. This will return the raw OSM data for that area.

**What should I do if the API returns a rate limit error?**
Run the `get_status` tool. It will show you how many slots are available and if there is a cooldown period active for your IP address.