Integrates Amazon Location Service APIs for AWS applications. Use this skill when users want to add maps (interactive MapLibre or static images); geocode addresses to coordinates or reverse geocode coordinates to addresses; calculate routes, travel times, or service areas; find places and businesses

Overview Amazon Location Service provides geospatial APIs for maps, geocoding, routing, places search, geofencing, and tracking. Prefer the bundled JavaScript client (@aws/amazon location client) for web development and use resourceless API operations to avoid managing AWS resources. When to Use This Skill Use this skill when: Building location aware web or mobile applications Working with Amazon Location Service projects Implementing maps, geocoding, routing, or places search Adding geofencing or device tracking functionality Integrating geospatial features into AWS applications Do NOT use this skill for: Google Maps, Mapbox, or Leaflet with OSM projects (unless migrating to Amazon Location) Generic GIS operations without AWS context Non AWS geospatial services Amazon Location Service API Overview Places (SDK: geo places, JS: @aws sdk/client geo places) Geocode (Forward/Reverse): Convert addresses to coordinates and vice versa Search (Text/Nearby): Find points of interest with contact and hours info Autocomplete: Predict addresses based on user input Suggest: Predict places and points of interest based on partial or misspelled user input Get Place: Retrieve place details by place ID Maps (SDK: geo maps, JS: @aws sdk/client geo maps) Dynamic Maps: Interactive maps using tiles with [MapLibre](https://maplibre.org/) rendering Static Maps: Pre rendered, non interactive map images, good for including an image into a web page, or for thumbnail images Routes (SDK: geo routes, JS: @aws sdk/client geo routes) Route calculation with traffic and distance estimation Service area/isoline creation Matrix calculations for multiple origins/destinations GPS trace alignment to road segments Route optimization (traveling salesman problem) Geofences & Trackers (SDK: location, JS: @aws sdk/client location) Geofences: Detect entry/exit from geographical boundaries Trackers: Current and historical device location tracking API Keys (SDK: location, JS: @aws sdk/client location) API Keys: Grant access to public applications without exposing AWS credentials Common Mistakes Avoid these frequent errors: 1. Using Title instead of Address.Label for display : In Autocomplete results, always display Address.Label . The Title field may show components in reverse order and is not suitable for user facing text. 2. Using GetStyleDescriptor API for map initialization : MUST use direct URL passing to MapLibre ( https://maps.geo.{region}.amazonaws.com/v2/styles/Standard/descriptor?key={apiKey} ) instead of making GetStyleDescriptor API calls. The direct URL method is required for proper map rendering. 3. Forgetting validateStyle: false in MapLibre config : Always set validateStyle: false in the MapLibre Map constructor for faster map load times with Amazon Location styles. 4. Mixing resource based and resourceless operations : When possible, prefer resourceless operations (direct API calls without pre created resources) for simpler deployment and permissions. 5. Inconsistent API operation naming : Use the format service:Operation when referencing APIs (e.g., geo places:Geocode , geo maps:GetStyleDescriptor ). SDK clients use @aws sdk/client format. 6. Not handling nested Address objects correctly : The Address object from GetPlace contains nested objects ( Region.Code , Region.Name , Country.Code2 , etc.), not flat strings. Access nested properties correctly. 7. Wrong action names in API Key permissions : API key AllowActions use geo maps: , geo places: , geo routes: prefixes (e.g., geo places:Geocode , geo routes:CalculateRoutes ). Do NOT use SDK client names ( @aws sdk/client geo places ) or IAM style actions. See the Authentication and Permissions section for the complete list. Defaults Use these default choices unless the user explicitly requests otherwise: JavaScript SDK : Bundled client (CDN) for browser only apps; npm modular SDKs (@aws sdk/client geo \ ) for React and build tool apps API operations : Resourceless for Maps/Places/Routes (Geofencing/Tracking always require pre created resources) Authentication : API Key for Maps/Places/Routes; Cognito for Geofencing/Tracking Map style : Standard Coordinate format : [longitude, latitude] (GeoJSON order) Override: User can specify "use Cognito for Maps/Places/Routes" or "use bundled client for React". API Selection Guidance Choose the right API for your use case: Address Input & Validation Autocomplete → Type ahead in address forms (partial input: "123 Main") GetPlace → Get full details after user selects autocomplete result (by PlaceId) Geocode → Validate complete user typed address or convert address to coordinates Finding Locations SearchText → General text search ("pizza near Seattle") SearchNearby → Find places near a coordinate (restaurants within 5km) Suggest → Predict places/POIs from partial or misspelled input Autocomplete → Address specific predictions (not for general POI search) Geocoding Geocode (Forward) → Address string → Coordinates ReverseGeocode → Coordinates → Address Maps Dynamic Maps (tiles + MapLibre) → Interactive maps requiring pan, zoom, markers Static Maps (image) → Non interactive map images for thumbnails or email Routing CalculateRoutes → Single route between origin and destination CalculateRouteMatrix → Multiple origins/destinations travel times CalculateIsolines → Service areas (all locations reachable within time/distance) LLM Context Files When you need detailed API parameter specifications or service capabilities not covered in the reference files, fetch these llms.txt resources: Developer Guide : https://docs.aws.amazon.com/location/latest/developerguide/llms.txt API Reference : https://docs.aws.amazon.com/location/latest/APIReference/llms.txt Key Guidance for Better Recommendations Prefer the Bundled JavaScript Client for Web Development For convenient web application development, Amazon Location Service provides a bundled JavaScript client that simplifies integration and provides optimized functionality without custom bundling. This bundled client includes all libraries required to build client side web applications with Amazon Location Service. Features included in the bundled client: Enables direct pre bundled dependency inclusion without custom bundle / build Simplified authentication and API integration TypeScript support with comprehensive type definitions Support for all Amazon Location SDKs Included SDKs and Libraries: @aws sdk/client geo maps @aws sdk/client geo places @aws sdk/client geo routes @aws sdk/client location @aws sdk/credential providers https://github.com/aws geospatial/amazon location utilities auth helper js Resources: NPM Package: [@aws/amazon location client](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@aws/amazon location client) GitHub Repository: [aws geospatial/amazon location client js](https://github.com/aws geospatial/amazon location client js) Prefer Resourceless Operations Amazon Location Places, Maps and Routes services offer both resource based and resourceless API operations. Resourceless operations are often simpler and more appropriate for many use cases. Resource based operations require you to: Create and configure Amazon Location Service resources (maps, place indexes, route calculators) Manage resource lifecycle and permissions Handle resource naming and organization Resourceless operations allow you to: Make API calls directly without pre creating resources Reduce deployment complexity Simplify IAM permissions and API Key permissions Authentication and Permissions When discussing permissions for Amazon Location Places, Maps and Routes services, always include both IAM permissions and API Key permissions in your guidance. If the type of application being developed is clear, recommend the appropriate authorization tool as described below: IAM Permissions Recommended for server side applications and AWS SDK usage: Used with AWS credentials (access keys, roles, etc.) Provide fine grained access control Required for resource management operations API Key Permissions Alternative authentication method, especially useful for client side applications or applications deployed to unauthenticated (public) users: Simplified authentication without exposing AWS credentials Can be configured with specific allowed operations Useful for web and mobile applications Supports both resource based and resourceless operations Enables faster subsequent map loads through CDN caching API Key Action Names API keys use their own action naming convention. Do NOT use SDK client names or IAM action names — they will be rejected. Resourceless API key actions (recommended): Service AllowActions AllowResources Maps geo maps:GetTile , geo maps:GetStaticMap arn:aws:geo maps:REGION::provider/default Places geo places:Autocomplete , geo places:Geocode , geo places:ReverseGeocode , geo places:SearchText , geo places:SearchNearby , geo places:Suggest , geo places:GetPlace arn:aws:geo places:REGION::provider/default Routes geo routes:CalculateRoutes , geo routes:CalculateRouteMatrix , geo routes:CalculateIsolines , geo routes:OptimizeWaypoints , geo routes:SnapToRoads arn:aws:geo routes:REGION::provider/default Do NOT use legacy geo: prefixed actions (e.g., geo:GetMap , geo:CalculateRoute ) — these are for pre created resources only and will not work with resourceless APIs. MCP Server Integration Integrates with the [AWS MCP Server](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/aws mcp/latest/userguide/what is aws mcp server.html) (Apache 2.0 license) which provides access to AWS documentation, API references, and direct API interactions. See the [Getting Started Guide](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/aws mcp/latest/userguide/getting started aws mcp server.html) for setup and credential configuration. To use a non default region, add " metadata", "AWS REGION=<your region " to your MCP config args. Additional Resources [Amazon Location Service Developer Guide](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/location/latest/developerguide/) [Amazon Location Service API Reference](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/location/latest/APIReference/) [Amazon Location Service Samples](https://github.com/aws geospatial) Reference Files Load these resources as needed for specific implementation guidance: [Address Input](./references/address input.md) Create effective address input forms for users with address type ahead completion improving input speed and accuracy [Address Verification](./references/address verification.md) Validate addresses input from users before taking actions or persisting to databases [Calculate Routes](./references/calculate routes.md) Calculate routes between locations with customizable travel options and display them on maps [Dynamic Map Rendering](./references/dynamic map.md) Render dynamic maps with MapLibre [Places Search](./references/places search.md) Search for places or points of interest [Web JavaScript](./references/web javascript.md) Integrate Amazon Location services into web browser applications

amazon-location-service