# What does the change in map representation when zoomed out mean/indicate?

**URL:** <https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/what-does-the-change-in-map-representation-when-zoomed-out-mean-indicate/9274>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [January 9, 2020, 8:46am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/what-does-the-change-in-map-representation-when-zoomed-out-mean-indicate/9274 "2020-01-09T08:46:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![earthknight](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/earthknight/32/32879_2.png) [@earthknight](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/earthknight)\
**Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 8:46am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/what-does-the-change-in-map-representation-when-zoomed-out-mean-indicate/9274/1 "2020-01-09T08:46:27Z")

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Today I’ve been noticing that the map display is a bit different. When zoomed out far enough observations have a rectangular or square block around them rather than just the point.

Is this a new grid system or something to reduce load on the server or observer’s computer?

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**Author:** ![danaleeling](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/danaleeling/32/1378_2.png) [@danaleeling](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/danaleeling)\
**Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 9:05am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/what-does-the-change-in-map-representation-when-zoomed-out-mean-indicate/9274/2 "2020-01-09T09:05:33Z")

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Is this perhaps the map tiles view?  
[https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/open-test-of-map-tile-improvements/7833](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/open-test-of-map-tile-improvements/7833)  
Perhaps this has gone live for everyone? Or are you seeing something else?

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**Author:** ![saturnring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@saturnring](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/saturnring)\
**Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 9:14am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/what-does-the-change-in-map-representation-when-zoomed-out-mean-indicate/9274/3 "2020-01-09T09:14:37Z")

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> [@danaleeling](#):
>
> Perhaps this has gone live for everyone?

just went live:

[https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/is-the-red-squares-on-the-observation-map-an-intentional-change/9244](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/is-the-red-squares-on-the-observation-map-an-intentional-change/9244)

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**Author:** ![jdmore](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/jdmore/32/1116_2.png) [@jdmore](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/jdmore)\
**Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 9:34am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/what-does-the-change-in-map-representation-when-zoomed-out-mean-indicate/9274/4 "2020-01-09T09:34:53Z")

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Closing to re-direct discussion to the above linked topics.

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**Author:** ![jdmore](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/jdmore/32/1116_2.png) [@jdmore](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/jdmore)\
**Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 9:35am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/what-does-the-change-in-map-representation-when-zoomed-out-mean-indicate/9274/5 "2020-01-09T09:35:02Z")

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Closed on January 9, 2020, 9:35am UTC