• VISUAL
  • LOGISTICS
  • STRATEGY
  • HUMAN

How to analyze location reachability with your AI

Connect OpenRouteService to your agent to turn coordinates into visual travel zones. You'll get precise maps showing reachable areas based on time or distance.

Ask AI about this page

Short answer

How can I map out reachable areas using my AI?

Your AI uses the calculate_isochrones tool to generate polygons that represent the area you can reach within a specific time or distance from a starting point. This gives you a clear visual of travel limits for logistics, site selection, or service areas. You'll see the specific boundaries of your reachability zones.

The results.

Where your data lands.

The AI handles the heavy math and geometry, leaving you with clear spatial boundaries.

VISUAL

Isochrone polygons

The AI generates geometric shapes representing travel limits. You get clear boundaries for any given time or distance constraint.

LOGISTICS

Service area maps

The AI calculates how far a vehicle or person can travel. You use these maps to define delivery zones or response areas.

STRATEGY

Site selection data

The AI maps reachability from specific coordinates. You use this to decide where to place a new office or store based on accessibility.

HUMAN

Manual map review

The AI provides the raw polygon data and coordinates. You decide how to overlay these shapes onto your existing business maps.

The workflow

What your AI does when the request arrives.

The AI translates your plain English requests into precise geographic calculations.

  1. Parse location data

    Your AI extracts the starting coordinates and travel constraints from your chat message.

    calculate_isochrones

  2. Run reachability math

    The agent calls the tool to compute the specific polygons for the requested time or distance.

    calculate_isochrones

  3. Format geometry

    The AI organizes the resulting polygon data into a readable format for your use.

    calculate_isochrones

  4. Interpret results

    The AI explains the boundaries it just calculated, describing the area covered by the polygons.

    calculate_isochrones

Try it

Copy these to start.

Use these prompts to trigger the reachability tools immediately.

Starting points

Swap out the bracketed info for your actual coordinates or travel times.

OpenRouteService Connector

You're all set. Choose your MCP client and follow the setup instructions.

Connector linkhttps://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_PSUHMhycOvqpomQ4KyrnDt17AfCQwXu8mm8OMYhJ/mcp

Claude Desktop

Follow the steps below to connect in seconds.

  1. 1In Claude Desktop, open Settings → Connectors.
  2. 2Click “Add custom connector” and paste the connector link above as the remote MCP server URL.
  3. 3Click Add and start a new chat — OpenRouteService capabilities are ready to use.
Configuration · claude_desktop_config.jsonCopy
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "openrouteservice-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_PSUHMhycOvqpomQ4KyrnDt17AfCQwXu8mm8OMYhJ/mcp"
    }
  }
}
Copy into chat04

  • Generate an isochrone polygon for [latitude, longitude] showing a 15 minute drive time.

  • Map the area reachable within 5 kilometers of [latitude, longitude] using walking distance.

  • Show me the 30 minute travel radius from the warehouse at [latitude, longitude].

  • Calculate a 10 minute reachability zone from [latitude, longitude] for cycling.

  • Claude
  • ChatGPT
  • Cursor
  • VS Code
  • Windsurf
  • Claude Code
  • JetBrains
  • Cline

Start here

Connect OpenRouteService once, then ask.

Just click the link to connect the MCP to your client. Your credentials stay encrypted, and you can start asking for maps right away.

Connect OpenRouteService to your AI

FAQ

How this task behaves.

  • 01

    Can the AI draw the map directly in my chat window?

    No. The AI generates the geometric polygon data and coordinates. You will need to paste that data into a mapping tool to see the visual shape.

  • 02

    Does the AI calculate travel based on real-time traffic?

    No. The tool calculates reachability based on the distance or time parameters you provide, not live traffic conditions.

  • 03

    Can I use this for walking, driving, or cycling?

    Yes. You just need to specify the mode of transport in your prompt.

  • 04

    Can the AI change my actual GPS settings?

    No. The AI only reads the coordinates you provide to perform calculations. It cannot access or modify your device's location.

  • 05

    Will the AI save these maps for me?

    No. The AI performs the calculation and provides the data. It does not store or manage a database of your generated maps.

  • More questions about OpenRouteService? See everything the OpenRouteService Connector can do

Connect OpenRouteService to Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT & more