autoware_map_loader package

This package provides the features of loading various maps.

pointcloud_map_loader

Feature

pointcloud_map_loader provides pointcloud maps to the other Autoware nodes in various configurations. Currently, it supports the following two types:

• Publish raw pointcloud map
• Publish downsampled pointcloud map
• Send partial pointcloud map loading via ROS 2 service
• Send differential pointcloud map loading via ROS 2 service

NOTE: We strongly recommend to use divided maps when using large pointcloud map to enable the latter two features (partial and differential load). Please go through the prerequisites section for more details, and follow the instruction for dividing the map and preparing the metadata.

Prerequisites

Prerequisites on pointcloud map file(s)

You may provide either a single .pcd file or multiple .pcd files. If you are using multiple PCD data, it MUST obey the following rules:

1. The pointcloud map should be projected on the same coordinate defined in map_projection_loader, in order to be consistent with the lanelet2 map and other packages that converts between local and geodetic coordinates. For more information, please refer to the readme of map_projection_loader.
2. It must be divided by straight lines parallel to the x-axis and y-axis. The system does not support division by diagonal lines or curved lines.
3. The division size along each axis should be equal.
4. The division size should be about 20m x 20m. Particularly, care should be taken as using too large division size (for example, more than 100m) may have adverse effects on dynamic map loading features in ndt_scan_matcher and autoware_compare_map_segmentation.
5. All the split maps should not overlap with each other.
6. Metadata file should also be provided. The metadata structure description is provided below.

Metadata structure

The metadata should look like this:

x_resolution: 20.0
y_resolution: 20.0
A.pcd: [1200, 2500] # -> 1200 < x < 1220, 2500 < y < 2520
B.pcd: [1220, 2500] # -> 1220 < x < 1240, 2500 < y < 2520
C.pcd: [1200, 2520] # -> 1200 < x < 1220, 2520 < y < 2540
D.pcd: [1240, 2520] # -> 1240 < x < 1260, 2520 < y < 2540

where,

• x_resolution and y_resolution
• A.pcd, B.pcd, etc, are the names of PCD files.
• List such as [1200, 2500] are the values indicate that for this PCD file, x coordinates are between 1200 and 1220 (x_resolution + x_coordinate) and y coordinates are between 2500 and 2520 (y_resolution + y_coordinate).

You may use pointcloud_divider for dividing pointcloud map as well as generating the compatible metadata.yaml.

Directory structure of these files

If you only have one pointcloud map, Autoware will assume the following directory structure by default.

sample-map-rosbag
├── lanelet2_map.osm
├── pointcloud_map.pcd

If you have multiple rosbags, an example directory structure would be as follows. Note that you need to have a metadata when you have multiple pointcloud map files.

sample-map-rosbag
├── lanelet2_map.osm
├── pointcloud_map.pcd
│ ├── A.pcd
│ ├── B.pcd
│ ├── C.pcd
│ └── ...
├── map_projector_info.yaml
└── pointcloud_map_metadata.yaml

Specific features

Publish raw pointcloud map (ROS 2 topic)

The node publishes the raw pointcloud map loaded from the .pcd file(s).

Publish downsampled pointcloud map (ROS 2 topic)

The node publishes the downsampled pointcloud map loaded from the .pcd file(s). You can specify the downsample resolution by changing the leaf_size parameter.

Publish metadata of pointcloud map (ROS 2 topic)

The node publishes the pointcloud metadata attached with an ID. Metadata is loaded from the .yaml file. Please see the description of PointCloudMapMetaData.msg for details.

Send partial pointcloud map (ROS 2 service)

Here, we assume that the pointcloud maps are divided into grids.

Given a query from a client node, the node sends a set of pointcloud maps that overlaps with the queried area. Please see the description of GetPartialPointCloudMap.srv for details.

Send differential pointcloud map (ROS 2 service)

Here, we assume that the pointcloud maps are divided into grids.

Given a query and set of map IDs, the node sends a set of pointcloud maps that overlap with the queried area and are not included in the set of map IDs. Please see the description of GetDifferentialPointCloudMap.srv for details.

Send selected pointcloud map (ROS 2 service)

Here, we assume that the pointcloud maps are divided into grids.

Given IDs query from a client node, the node sends a set of pointcloud maps (each of which attached with unique ID) specified by query. Please see the description of GetSelectedPointCloudMap.srv for details.

Parameters

{{ json_to_markdown(“map/autoware_map_loader/schema/pointcloud_map_loader.schema.json”) }}

Interfaces

• output/pointcloud_map (sensor_msgs/msg/PointCloud2) : Raw pointcloud map
• output/pointcloud_map_metadata (autoware_map_msgs/msg/PointCloudMapMetaData) : Metadata of pointcloud map
• output/debug/downsampled_pointcloud_map (sensor_msgs/msg/PointCloud2) : Downsampled pointcloud map
• service/get_partial_pcd_map (autoware_map_msgs/srv/GetPartialPointCloudMap) : Partial pointcloud map
• service/get_differential_pcd_map (autoware_map_msgs/srv/GetDifferentialPointCloudMap) : Differential pointcloud map
• service/get_selected_pcd_map (autoware_map_msgs/srv/GetSelectedPointCloudMap) : Selected pointcloud map
• pointcloud map file(s) (.pcd)
• metadata of pointcloud map(s) (.yaml)

lanelet2_map_loader

Feature

lanelet2_map_loader loads Lanelet2 file and publishes the map data as autoware_map_msgs/LaneletMapBin message. The node projects lan/lon coordinates into arbitrary coordinates defined in /map/map_projector_info from map_projection_loader. Please see autoware_map_msgs/msg/MapProjectorInfo.msg for supported projector types.

How to run

ros2 run autoware_map_loader lanelet2_map_loader --ros-args -p lanelet2_map_path:=path/to/map.osm

Subscribed Topics

• ~input/map_projector_info (autoware_map_msgs/MapProjectorInfo) : Projection type for Autoware

Published Topics

• ~output/lanelet2_map (autoware_map_msgs/LaneletMapBin) : Binary data of loaded Lanelet2 Map

Parameters

{{ json_to_markdown(“map/autoware_map_loader/schema/lanelet2_map_loader.schema.json”) }}

use_waypoints decides how to handle a centerline. This flag enables to use the overwriteLaneletsCenterlineWithWaypoints function instead of overwriteLaneletsCenterline. Please see the document of the autoware_lanelet2_extension package in detail.

Changelog for package autoware_map_loader

1.1.0 (2025-05-01)

• feat(component_interface_specs): use template type in get_qos function (#364) Co-authored-by: Yutaka Kondo <<yutaka.kondo@youtalk.jp>>
• feat(map_loader): add the explanation of handling use_waypoints (#342)
• Contributors: Takagi, Isamu, Takayuki Murooka

1.0.0 (2025-03-31)

• chore: update version in package.xml
• feat(autoware_map_loader): port autoware_map_loader from Autoware Universe to Core (#326) Co-authored-by: Yutaka Kondo <<yutaka.kondo@youtalk.jp>>
• Contributors: Ryohsuke Mitsudome