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Mapbox MCP Runtime Patterns

This skill provides patterns for integrating the Mapbox MCP Server into AI applications for production use with geospatial capabilities.

What is Mapbox MCP Server?

The Mapbox MCP Server is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that provides AI agents with geospatial tools:

Offline Tools (Turf.js):

• Distance, bearing, midpoint calculations
• Point-in-polygon tests
• Area, buffer, centroid operations
• Bounding box, geometry simplification
• No API calls, instant results

Mapbox API Tools:

• Directions and routing
• Reverse geocoding
• POI category search
• Isochrones (reachability)
• Travel time matrices
• Static map images
• GPS trace map matching
• Multi-stop route optimization

Utility Tools:

• Server version info
• POI category list

Key benefit: Give your AI application geospatial superpowers without manually integrating multiple APIs.

Understanding Tool Categories

Before integrating, understand the key distinctions between tools to help your LLM choose correctly:

Distance: "As the Crow Flies" vs "Along Roads"

Straight-line distance (offline, instant):

• Tools: distance_tool, bearing_tool, midpoint_tool
• Use for: Proximity checks, "how far away is X?", comparing distances
• Example: "Is this restaurant within 2 miles?" → distance_tool

Route distance (API, traffic-aware):

• Tools: directions_tool, matrix_tool
• Use for: Navigation, drive time, "how long to drive?"
• Example: "How long to drive there?" → directions_tool

Search: Type vs Specific Place

Category/type search :

• Tool: category_search_tool
• Use for: "Find coffee shops", "restaurants nearby", browsing by type
• Example: "What hotels are near me?" → category_search_tool

Specific place/address :

• Tool: search_and_geocode_tool, reverse_geocode_tool
• Use for: Named places, street addresses, landmarks
• Example: "Find 123 Main Street" → search_and_geocode_tool

Travel Time: Area vs Route

Reachable area (what's within reach):

• Tool: isochrone_tool
• Returns: GeoJSON polygon of everywhere reachable
• Example: "What can I reach in 15 minutes?" → isochrone_tool

Specific route (how to get there):

• Tool: directions_tool
• Returns: Turn-by-turn directions to one destination
• Example: "How do I get to the airport?" → directions_tool

Cost & Performance

Offline tools (free, instant):

• No API calls, no token usage
• Use whenever real-time data not needed
• Examples: distance_tool, point_in_polygon_tool, area_tool

API tools (requires token, counts against usage):

• Real-time traffic, live POI data, current conditions
• Use when accuracy and freshness matter
• Examples: directions_tool, category_search_tool, isochrone_tool

Best practice: Prefer offline tools when possible, use API tools when you need real-time data or routing.

Installation & Setup

Option 1: Hosted Server (Recommended)

Easiest integration - Use Mapbox's hosted MCP server at:

https://mcp.mapbox.com/mcp

No installation required. Simply pass your Mapbox access token in the Authorization header.

Benefits:

• No server management
• Always up-to-date
• Production-ready
• Lower latency (Mapbox infrastructure)

Authentication:

Use token-based authentication (standard for programmatic access):

Authorization: Bearer your_mapbox_token

Note: The hosted server also supports OAuth, but that's primarily for interactive flows (coding assistants, not production apps).

Option 2: Self-Hosted

For custom deployments or development:

npm install @mapbox/mcp-server

Or use directly via npx:

npx @mapbox/mcp-server

Environment setup:

export MAPBOX_ACCESS_TOKEN="your_token_here"

Integration Patterns

Python Frameworks

Pattern 1: Pydantic AI Integration

Use case: Building AI agents with type-safe tools in Python

Using Hosted Server (Recommended)

Common mistake: When using pydantic-ai with OpenAI, the correct import is from pydantic_ai.models.openai import OpenAIChatModel. Do NOT use OpenAIModel — that class does not exist in pydantic-ai and will throw an ImportError at runtime.

from pydantic_ai import Agent
from pydantic_ai.models.openai import OpenAIChatModel
import requests
import json
import os

class MapboxMCP:
    """Mapbox MCP via hosted server."""

    def __init__(self, token: str = None):
        self.url = 'https://mcp.mapbox.com/mcp'
        self.headers = {'Content-Type': 'application/json'}

        # Use token from environment or parameter
        token = token or os.getenv('MAPBOX_ACCESS_TOKEN')
        if token:
            self.headers['Authorization'] = f'Bearer {token}'

    def call_tool(self, tool_name: str, params: dict) -> dict:
        """Call MCP tool via HTTPS."""
        request = {
            'jsonrpc': '2.0',
            'id': 1,
            'method': 'tools/call',
            'params': {
                'name': tool_name,
                'arguments': params
            }
        }

        response = requests.post(
            self.url,
            headers=self.headers,
            json=request
        )
        response.raise_for_status()
        data = response.json()

        if 'error' in data:
            raise RuntimeError(f"MCP error: {data['error']['message']}")

        return data['result']['content'][0]['text']

# Create agent with Mapbox tools
# Pass token directly or set MAPBOX_ACCESS_TOKEN env var
mapbox = MapboxMCP(token='your_token')

agent = Agent(
    model=OpenAIChatModel('gateway/openai:gpt-5.2'),
    tools=[
        lambda from_loc, to_loc: mapbox.call_tool(
            'directions_tool',
            {'coordinates': [from_loc, to_loc], 'routing_profile': 'mapbox/driving-traffic'}
        ),
        lambda address: mapbox.call_tool(
            'reverse_geocode_tool',
            {'coordinates': {'longitude': address[0], 'latitude': address[1]}}
        )
    ]
)

# Use agent
result = agent.run_sync(
    "What's the driving time from Boston to NYC?"
)

Using Self-Hosted Server

import subprocess

class MapboxMCPLocal:
    def __init__(self, token: str):
        self.token = token
        self.mcp_process = subprocess.Popen(
            ['npx', '@mapbox/mcp-server'],
            env={'MAPBOX_ACCESS_TOKEN': token},
            stdin=subprocess.PIPE,
            stdout=subprocess.PIPE
        )

    def call_tool(self, tool_name: str, params: dict) -> dict:
        # ... similar to hosted but via subprocess
        pass

Benefits:

• Type-safe tool definitions
• Seamless MCP integration
• Python-native development

Pattern 2: CrewAI Integration

Use case: Multi-agent orchestration with geospatial capabilities

CrewAI enables building autonomous agent crews with specialized roles. Integration with Mapbox MCP adds geospatial intelligence to your crew.

from crewai import Agent, Task, Crew
from crewai.tools import BaseTool
import requests
import os
from typing import Type
from pydantic import BaseModel, Field

class MapboxMCP:
    """Mapbox MCP connector."""

    def __init__(self, token: str = None):
        self.url = 'https://mcp.mapbox.com/mcp'
        token = token or os.getenv('MAPBOX_ACCESS_TOKEN')
        self.headers = {
            'Content-Type': 'application/json',
            'Authorization': f'Bearer {token}'
        }

    def call_tool(self, tool_name: str, params: dict) -> str:
        request = {
            'jsonrpc': '2.0',
            'id': 1,
            'method': 'tools/call',
            'params': {'name': tool_name, 'arguments': params}
        }
        response = requests.post(self.url, headers=self.headers, json=request)
        response.raise_for_status()
        data = response.json()

        if 'error' in data:
            raise RuntimeError(f"MCP error: {data['error']['message']}")

        return data['result']['content'][0]['text']

# Create Mapbox tools for CrewAI
class DirectionsTool(BaseTool):
    name: str = "directions_tool"
    description: str = "Get driving directions between two locations"

    class InputSchema(BaseModel):
        origin: list = Field(description="Origin [lng, lat]")
        destination: list = Field(description="Destination [lng, lat]")

    args_schema: Type[BaseModel] = InputSchema

    def __init__(self):
        super().__init__()
        self.mcp = MapboxMCP()

    def _run(self, origin: list, destination: list) -> str:
        result = self.mcp.call_tool('directions_tool', {
            'coordinates': [
                {'longitude': origin[0], 'latitude': origin[1]},
                {'longitude': destination[0], 'latitude': destination[1]}
            ],
            'routing_profile': 'mapbox/driving-traffic'
        })
        return f"Directions: {result}"

class GeocodeTool(BaseTool):
    name: str = "reverse_geocode_tool"
    description: str = "Convert coordinates to human-readable address"

    class InputSchema(BaseModel):
        coordinates: list = Field(description="Coordinates [lng, lat]")

    args_schema: Type[BaseModel] = InputSchema

    def __init__(self):
        super().__init__()
        self.mcp = MapboxMCP()

    def _run(self, coordinates: list) -> str:
        result = self.mcp.call_tool('reverse_geocode_tool', {
            'coordinates': {'longitude': coordinates[0], 'latitude': coordinates[1]}
        })
        return result

class SearchPOITool(BaseTool):
    name: str = "search_poi"
    description: str = "Find points of interest by category near a location"

    class InputSchema(BaseModel):
        category: str = Field(description="POI category (restaurant, hotel, etc.)")
        location: list = Field(description="Search center [lng, lat]")

    args_schema: Type[BaseModel] = InputSchema

    def __init__(self):
        super().__init__()
        self.mcp = MapboxMCP()

    def _run(self, category: str, location: list) -> str:
        result = self.mcp.call_tool('category_search_tool', {
            'category': category,
            'proximity': {'longitude': location[0], 'latitude': location[1]}
        })
        return result

# Create specialized agents with geospatial tools
location_analyst = Agent(
    role='Location Analyst',
    goal='Analyze geographic locations and provide insights',
    backstory="""Expert in geographic analysis and location intelligence.

    Use search_poi for finding types of places (restaurants, hotels).
    Use reverse_geocode_tool for converting coordinates to addresses.""",
    tools=[GeocodeTool(), SearchPOITool()],
    verbose=True
)

route_planner = Agent(
    role='Route Planner',
    goal='Plan optimal routes and provide travel time estimates',
    backstory="""Experienced logistics coordinator specializing in route optimization.

    Use directions_tool for route distance along roads with traffic.
    Always use when traffic-aware travel time is needed.""",
    tools=[DirectionsTool()],
    verbose=True
)

# Create tasks
find_restaurants_task = Task(
    description="""
    Find the top 5 restaurants near coordinates [-73.9857, 40.7484] (Times Square).
    Provide their names and approximate distances.
    """,
    agent=location_analyst,
    expected_output="List of 5 restaurants with distances"
)

plan_route_task = Task(
    description="""
    Plan a route from [-74.0060, 40.7128] (downtown NYC) to [-73.9857, 40.7484] (Times Square).
    Provide driving time considering current traffic.
    """,
    agent=route_planner,
    expected_output="Route with estimated driving time"
)

# Create and run crew
crew = Crew(
    agents=[location_analyst, route_planner],
    tasks=[find_restaurants_task, plan_route_task],
    verbose=True
)

result = crew.kickoff()
print(result)

Real-world example - Restaurant finder crew:

# Define crew for restaurant recommendation system
class RestaurantCrew:
    def __init__(self):
        self.mcp = MapboxMCP()

        # Location specialist agent
        self.location_agent = Agent(
            role='Location Specialist',
            goal='Find and analyze restaurant locations',
            tools=[SearchPOITool(), GeocodeTool()],
            backstory='Expert in finding the best dining locations'
        )

        # Logistics agent
        self.logistics_agent = Agent(
            role='Logistics Coordinator',
            goal='Calculate travel times and optimal routes',
            tools=[DirectionsTool()],
            backstory='Specialist in urban navigation and time optimization'
        )

    def find_restaurants_with_commute(self, user_location: list, max_minutes: int):
        # Task 1: Find nearby restaurants
        search_task = Task(
            description=f"Find restaurants near {user_location}",
            agent=self.location_agent,
            expected_output="List of restaurants with coordinates"
        )

        # Task 2: Calculate travel times
        route_task = Task(
            description=f"Calculate travel time to each restaurant from {user_location}",
            agent=self.logistics_agent,
            expected_output="Travel times to each restaurant",
            context=[search_task]  # Depends on search results
        )

        crew = Crew(
            agents=[self.location_agent, self.logistics_agent],
            tasks=[search_task, route_task],
            verbose=True
        )

        return crew.kickoff()

# Usage
restaurant_crew = RestaurantCrew()
results = restaurant_crew.find_restaurants_with_commute(
    user_location=[-73.9857, 40.7484],
    max_minutes=15
)

Benefits:

• Multi-agent orchestration with geospatial tools
• Task dependencies and context passing
• Role-based agent specialization
• Autonomous crew execution

Pattern 3: Smolagents Integration

Use case: Lightweight agents with geospatial capabilities (Hugging Face)

Smolagents is Hugging Face's simple, efficient agent framework. Perfect for deploying geospatial agents with minimal overhead.

from smolagents import CodeAgent, Tool, HfApiModel
import requests
import os

class MapboxMCP:
    """Mapbox MCP connector."""

    def __init__(self, token: str = None):
        self.url = 'https://mcp.mapbox.com/mcp'
        token = token or os.getenv('MAPBOX_ACCESS_TOKEN')
        self.headers = {
            'Content-Type': 'application/json',
            'Authorization': f'Bearer {token}'
        }

    def call_tool(self, tool_name: str, params: dict) -> str:
        request = {
            'jsonrpc': '2.0',
            'id': 1,
            'method': 'tools/call',
            'params': {'name': tool_name, 'arguments': params}
        }
        response = requests.post(self.url, headers=self.headers, json=request)
        result = response.json()['result']
        return result['content'][0]['text']

# Create Mapbox tools for Smolagents
class DirectionsTool(Tool):
    name = "directions_tool"
    description = """
    Get driving directions between two locations.

    Args:
        origin: Origin coordinates as [longitude, latitude]
        destination: Destination coordinates as [longitude, latitude]

    Returns:
        Directions with distance and travel time
    """

    def __init__(self):
        super().__init__()
        self.mcp = MapboxMCP()

    def forward(self, origin: list, destination: list) -> str:
        return self.mcp.call_tool('directions_tool', {
            'coordinates': [
                {'longitude': origin[0], 'latitude': origin[1]},
                {'longitude': destination[0], 'latitude': destination[1]}
            ],
            'routing_profile': 'mapbox/driving-traffic'
        })

class CalculateDistanceTool(Tool):
    name = "distance_tool"
    description = """
    Calculate distance between two points (offline, instant).

    Args:
        from_coords: Start coordinates [longitude, latitude]
        to_coords: End coordinates [longitude, latitude]
        units: 'miles' or 'kilometers'

    Returns:
        Distance as a number
    """

    def __init__(self):
        super().__init__()
        self.mcp = MapboxMCP()

    def forward(self, from_coords: list, to_coords: list, units: str = 'miles') -> str:
        return self.mcp.call_tool('distance_tool', {
            'from': {'longitude': from_coords[0], 'latitude': from_coords[1]},
            'to': {'longitude': to_coords[0], 'latitude': to_coords[1]},
            'units': units
        })

class SearchPOITool(Tool):
    name = "search_poi"
    description = """
    Search for points of interest by category.

    Args:
        category: POI category (restaurant, hotel, gas_station, etc.)
        location: Search center [longitude, latitude]

    Returns:
        List of nearby POIs with names and coordinates
    """

    def __init__(self):
        super().__init__()
        self.mcp = MapboxMCP()

    def forward(self, category: str, location: list) -> str:
        return self.mcp.call_tool('category_search_tool', {
            'category': category,
            'proximity': {'longitude': location[0], 'latitude': location[1]}
        })

class IsochroneTool(Tool):
    name = "isochrone_tool"
    description = """
    Calculate reachable area within time limit (isochrone).

    Args:
        location: Center point [longitude, latitude]
        minutes: Time limit in minutes
        profile: 'mapbox/driving', 'mapbox/walking', or 'mapbox/cycling'

    Returns:
        GeoJSON polygon of reachable area
    """

    def __init__(self):
        super().__init__()
        self.mcp = MapboxMCP()

    def forward(self, location: list, minutes: int, profile: str = 'mapbox/driving') -> str:
        return self.mcp.call_tool('isochrone_tool', {
            'coordinates': {'longitude': location[0], 'latitude': location[1]},
            'contours_minutes': [minutes],
            'profile': profile
        })

# Create agent with Mapbox tools
model = HfApiModel()

agent = CodeAgent(
    tools=[
        DirectionsTool(),
        CalculateDistanceTool(),
        SearchPOITool(),
        IsochroneTool()
    ],
    model=model
)

# Use agent
result = agent.run(
    "Find restaurants within 10 minutes walking from Times Square NYC "
    "(coordinates: -73.9857, 40.7484). Calculate distances to each."
)

print(result)

Real-world example - Property search agent:

class PropertySearchAgent:
    def __init__(self):
        self.mcp = MapboxMCP()

        # Create specialized tools
        tools = [
            IsochroneTool(),
            SearchPOITool(),
            CalculateDistanceTool()
        ]

        self.agent = CodeAgent(
            tools=tools,
            model=HfApiModel()
        )

    def find_properties_near_work(
        self,
        work_location: list,
        max_commute_minutes: int,
        property_locations: list[dict]
    ):
        """Find properties within commute time of work."""

        prompt = f"""
        I need to find properties within {max_commute_minutes} minutes
        driving of my work at {work_location}.

        Property locations to check:
        {property_locations}

        For each property:
        1. Calculate if it's within the commute time
        2. Find nearby amenities (grocery stores, restaurants)
        3. Calculate distances to key locations

        Return a ranked list of properties with commute time and nearby amenities.
        """

        return self.agent.run(prompt)

# Usage
property_agent = PropertySearchAgent()

properties = [
    {'id': 1, 'address': '123 Main St', 'coords': [-122.4194, 37.7749]},
    {'id': 2, 'address': '456 Oak Ave', 'coords': [-122.4094, 37.7849]},
]

results = property_agent.find_properties_near_work(
    work_location=[-122.4, 37.79],  # Downtown SF
    max_commute_minutes=30,
    property_locations=properties
)

Benefits:

• Lightweight and efficient
• Simple tool definition
• Code-based agent execution
• Great for production deployment

JavaScript/TypeScript Frameworks

Pattern 4: Mastra Integration

Use case: Building multi-agent systems with geospatial workflows

import { Mastra } from '@mastra/core';

class MapboxMCP {
  private url = 'https://mcp.mapbox.com/mcp';
  private headers: Record<string, string>;

  constructor(token?: string) {
    const mapboxToken = token || process.env.MAPBOX_ACCESS_TOKEN;
    this.headers = {
      'Content-Type': 'application/json',
      Authorization: `Bearer ${mapboxToken}`
    };
  }

  async callTool(toolName: string, params: any): Promise<any> {
    const request = {
      jsonrpc: '2.0',
      id: Date.now(),
      method: 'tools/call',
      params: { name: toolName, arguments: params }
    };

    const response = await fetch(this.url, {
      method: 'POST',
      headers: this.headers,
      body: JSON.stringify(request)
    });

    const data = await response.json();
    return JSON.parse(data.result.content[0].text);
  }
}

// Create Mastra agent with Mapbox tools
import { Agent } from '@mastra/core/agent';
import { createTool } from '@mastra/core/tools';
import { z } from 'zod';

const mcp = new MapboxMCP();

// Create Mapbox tools
const searchPOITool = createTool({
  id: 'search-poi',
  description: 'Find places of a specific category near a location',
  inputSchema: z.object({
    category: z.string(),
    location: z.array(z.number()).length(2)
  }),
  execute: async ({ category, location }) => {
    return await mcp.callTool('category_search_tool', {
      category,
      proximity: { longitude: location[0], latitude: location[1] }
    });
  }
});

const getDirectionsTool = createTool({
  id: 'get-directions',
  description: 'Get driving directions with traffic',
  inputSchema: z.object({
    origin: z.array(z.number()).length(2),
    destination: z.array(z.number()).length(2)
  }),
  execute: async ({ origin, destination }) => {
    return await mcp.callTool('directions_tool', {
      coordinates: [
        { longitude: origin[0], latitude: origin[1] },
        { longitude: destination[0], latitude: destination[1] }
      ],
      routing_profile: 'mapbox/driving-traffic'
    });
  }
});

// Create location agent
const locationAgent = new Agent({
  id: 'location-agent',
  name: 'Location Intelligence Agent',
  instructions: 'You help users find places and plan routes with geospatial tools.',
  model: 'openai/gpt-5.2',
  tools: {
    searchPOITool,
    getDirectionsTool
  }
});

// Use agent
const result = await locationAgent.generate([
  { role: 'user', content: 'Find restaurants near Times Square NYC (-73.9857, 40.7484)' }
]);

Benefits:

• Multi-step geospatial workflows
• Agent orchestration
• State management

Pattern 5: LangChain Integration

Use case: Building conversational AI with geospatial tools

import { ChatOpenAI } from '@langchain/openai';
import { AgentExecutor, createToolCallingAgent } from 'langchain/agents';
import { DynamicStructuredTool } from '@langchain/core/tools';
import { ChatPromptTemplate, MessagesPlaceholder } from '@langchain/core/prompts';
import { z } from 'zod';

// MCP Server wrapper for hosted server
class MapboxMCP {
  private url = 'https://mcp.mapbox.com/mcp';
  private headers: Record<string, string>;

  constructor(token?: string) {
    const mapboxToken = token || process.env.MAPBOX_ACCESS_TOKEN;
    this.headers = {
      'Content-Type': 'application/json',
      Authorization: `Bearer ${mapboxToken}`
    };
  }

  async callTool(name: string, args: any): Promise<string> {
    const request = {
      jsonrpc: '2.0',
      id: Date.now(),
      method: 'tools/call',
      params: { name, arguments: args }
    };

    const response = await fetch(this.url, {
      method: 'POST',
      headers: this.headers,
      body: JSON.stringify(request)
    });

    const data = await response.json();
    return data.result.content[0].text;
  }
}

// Create LangChain tools from MCP
const mcp = new MapboxMCP();

const tools = [
  new DynamicStructuredTool({
    name: 'directions_tool',
    description:
      'Get turn-by-turn driving directions with traffic-aware route distance along roads. Use when you need the actual driving route or traffic-aware duration.',
    schema: z.object({
      origin: z.tuple([z.number(), z.number()]).describe('Origin [longitude, latitude]'),
      destination: z.tuple([z.number(), z.number()]).describe('Destination [longitude, latitude]')
    }) as any,
    func: async ({ origin, destination }: any) => {
      return await mcp.callTool('directions_tool', {
        coordinates: [
          { longitude: origin[0], latitude: origin[1] },
          { longitude: destination[0], latitude: destination[1] }
        ],
        routing_profile: 'mapbox/driving-traffic'
      });
    }
  }),

  new DynamicStructuredTool({
    name: 'category_search_tool',
    description:
      'Find ALL places of a specific category type near a location. Use when user wants to browse places by type (restaurants, hotels, coffee, etc.).',
    schema: z.object({
      category: z.string().describe('POI category: restaurant, hotel, coffee, etc.'),
      location: z.tuple([z.number(), z.number()]).describe('Search center [longitude, latitude]')
    }) as any,
    func: async ({ category, location }: any) => {
      return await mcp.callTool('category_search_tool', {
        category,
        proximity: { longitude: location[0], latitude: location[1] }
      });
    }
  }),

  new DynamicStructuredTool({
    name: 'isochrone_tool',
    description:
      'Calculate the AREA reachable within a time limit from a starting point. Use for "What can I reach in X minutes?" questions.',
    schema: z.object({
      location: z.tuple([z.number(), z.number()]).describe('Center point [longitude, latitude]'),
      minutes: z.number().describe('Time limit in minutes'),
      profile: z.enum(['mapbox/driving', 'mapbox/walking', 'mapbox/cycling']).optional()
    }) as any,
    func: async ({ location, minutes, profile }: any) => {
      return await mcp.callTool('isochrone_tool', {
        coordinates: { longitude: location[0], latitude: location[1] },
        contours_minutes: [minutes],
        profile: profile || 'mapbox/walking'
      });
    }
  }),

  new DynamicStructuredTool({
    name: 'distance_tool',
    description: 'Calculate straight-line distance between two points (offline, free)',
    schema: z.object({
      from: z.tuple([z.number(), z.number()]).describe('Start [longitude, latitude]'),
      to: z.tuple([z.number(), z.number()]).describe('End [longitude, latitude]'),
      units: z.enum(['miles', 'kilometers']).optional()
    }) as any,
    func: async ({ from, to, units }: any) => {
      return await mcp.callTool('distance_tool', {
        from: { longitude: from[0], latitude: from[1] },
        to: { longitude: to[0], latitude: to[1] },
        units: units || 'miles'
      });
    }
  })
];

// Create agent
const llm = new ChatOpenAI({ model: 'gpt-5.2', temperature: 0 });
const prompt = ChatPromptTemplate.fromMessages([
  ['system', 'You are a location intelligence assistant.'],
  ['human', '{input}'],
  new MessagesPlaceholder('agent_scratchpad')
]);
// @ts-ignore - Zod tuple schemas cause deep type recursion
const agent = await createToolCallingAgent({ llm, tools, prompt });
const executor = new AgentExecutor({ agent, tools, verbose: true });

// Use agent
const result = await executor.invoke({
  input: 'Find coffee shops within 10 minutes walking from Union Square, NYC'
});

Benefits:

• Conversational interface
• Tool chaining
• Memory and context management

TypeScript Type Considerations:

When using DynamicStructuredTool with Zod schemas (especially z.tuple()), TypeScript may encounter deep type recursion errors. This is a known limitation with complex Zod generic types. The minimal fix is to add as any type assertions:

const tool = new DynamicStructuredTool({
  name: 'my_tool',
  schema: z.object({
    coords: z.tuple([z.number(), z.number()])
  }) as any, // ← Add 'as any' to prevent type recursion
  func: async ({ coords }: any) => {
    // ← Type parameters as 'any'
    // Implementation
  }
});

// For JSON responses from external APIs
const data = (await response.json()) as any;

// For createOpenAIFunctionsAgent with complex tool types
// @ts-ignore - Zod tuple schemas cause deep type recursion
const agent = await createOpenAIFunctionsAgent({ llm, tools, prompt });

This doesn't affect runtime validation (Zod still validates at runtime) - it only helps TypeScript's type checker avoid infinite recursion during compilation.

Pattern 6: Custom Agent Integration

Use case: Building domain-specific AI applications (Zillow-style, TripAdvisor-style)

interface MCPTool {
  name: string;
  description: string;
  inputSchema: any;
}

class CustomMapboxAgent {
  private url = 'https://mcp.mapbox.com/mcp';
  private headers: Record<string, string>;
  private tools: Map<string, MCPTool> = new Map();

  constructor(token?: string) {
    const mapboxToken = token || process.env.MAPBOX_ACCESS_TOKEN;
    this.headers = {
      'Content-Type': 'application/json',
      Authorization: `Bearer ${mapboxToken}`
    };
  }

  async initialize() {
    // Discover available tools from MCP server
    await this.discoverTools();
  }

  private async discoverTools() {
    const request = {
      jsonrpc: '2.0',
      id: 1,
      method: 'tools/list'
    };

    const response = await this.sendMCPRequest(request);
    response.result.tools.forEach((tool: MCPTool) => {
      this.tools.set(tool.name, tool);
    });
  }

  async callTool(toolName: string, params: any): Promise<any> {
    const request = {
      jsonrpc: '2.0',
      id: Date.now(),
      method: 'tools/call',
      params: { name: toolName, arguments: params }
    };

    const response = await this.sendMCPRequest(request);
    return response.result.content[0].text;
  }

  private async sendMCPRequest(request: any): Promise<any> {
    const response = await fetch(this.url, {
      method: 'POST',
      headers: this.headers,
      body: JSON.stringify(request)
    });

    const data = await response.json();

    if (data.error) {
      throw new Error(data.error.message);
    }

    return data;
  }

  // Domain-specific methods
  async findPropertiesWithCommute(
    homeLocation: [number, number],
    workLocation: [number, number],
    maxCommuteMinutes: number
  ) {
    // Get isochrone from work location
    const isochrone = await this.callTool('isochrone_tool', {
      coordinates: { longitude: workLocation[0], latitude: workLocation[1] },
      contours_minutes: [maxCommuteMinutes],
      profile: 'mapbox/driving-traffic'
    });

    // Check if home is within isochrone
    const isInRange = await this.callTool('point_in_polygon_tool', {
      point: { longitude: homeLocation[0], latitude: homeLocation[1] },
      polygon: JSON.parse(isochrone).features[0].geometry
    });

    return JSON.parse(isInRange);
  }

  async findRestaurantsNearby(location: [number, number], radiusMiles: number) {
    // Search restaurants
    const results = await this.callTool('category_search_tool', {
      category: 'restaurant',
      proximity: { longitude: location[0], latitude: location[1] }
    });

    // Filter by distance
    const restaurants = JSON.parse(results);
    const filtered = [];

    for (const restaurant of restaurants) {
      const distance = await this.callTool('distance_tool', {
        from: { longitude: location[0], latitude: location[1] },
        to: { longitude: restaurant.coordinates[0], latitude: restaurant.coordinates[1] },
        units: 'miles'
      });

      if (parseFloat(distance) <= radiusMiles) {
        filtered.push({
          ...restaurant,
          distance: parseFloat(distance)
        });
      }
    }

    return filtered.sort((a, b) => a.distance - b.distance);
  }
}

// Usage in Zillow-style app
const agent = new CustomMapboxAgent();
await agent.initialize();

const properties = await agent.findPropertiesWithCommute(
  [-122.4194, 37.7749], // Home in SF
  [-122.4, 37.79], // Work downtown
  30 // Max 30min commute
);

// Usage in TripAdvisor-style app
const restaurants = await agent.findRestaurantsNearby(
  [-73.9857, 40.7484], // Times Square
  0.5 // Within 0.5 miles
);

Benefits:

• Full control over agent behavior
• Domain-specific abstractions
• Custom error handling

Architecture Patterns

Pattern: MCP as Service Layer

┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
│         Your Application            │
│  (Next.js, Express, FastAPI, etc.)  │
└────────────────┬────────────────────┘
                 │
                 ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
│        AI Agent Layer               │
│   (pydantic-ai, mastra, custom)     │
└────────────────┬────────────────────┘
                 │
                 ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
│     Mapbox MCP Server               │
│  (Geospatial tools abstraction)     │
└────────────────┬────────────────────┘
                 │
          ┌──────┴──────┐
          ▼             ▼
    ┌─────────┐   ┌──────────┐
    │ Turf.js │   │ Mapbox   │
    │ (Local) │   │   APIs   │
    └─────────┘   └──────────┘

Benefits:

• Clean separation of concerns
• Easy to swap MCP server versions
• Centralized geospatial logic

Pattern: Hybrid Approach

You can use MCP for AI agent features while using direct Mapbox APIs for other parts of your app.

class GeospatialService {
  constructor(
    private mcpServer: MapboxMCPServer, // For AI features
    private mapboxSdk: MapboxSDK // For direct app features
  ) {}

  // AI Agent Feature: Natural language search
  async aiSearchNearby(userQuery: string): Promise<string> {
    // Let AI agent use MCP tools to interpret query and find places
    // Returns natural language response
    return await this.agent.execute(userQuery, [
      this.mcpServer.tools.category_search_tool,
      this.mcpServer.tools.directions_tool
    ]);
  }

  // Direct App Feature: Display route on map
  async getRouteGeometry(origin: Point, dest: Point): Promise<LineString> {
    // Direct API call for map rendering - returns GeoJSON
    const result = await this.mapboxSdk.directions.getDirections({
      waypoints: [origin, dest],
      geometries: 'geojson'
    });
    return result.routes[0].geometry;
  }

  // Offline Feature: Distance calculations (always use MCP/Turf.js)
  async calculateDistance(from: Point, to: Point): Promise<number> {
    // No API cost, instant
    return await this.mcpServer.callTool('distance_tool', {
      from,
      to,
      units: 'miles'
    });
  }
}

Architecture Decision Guide:

Use Cases by Application Type

Real Estate App (Zillow-style)

// Find properties with good commute
async findPropertiesByCommute(
  searchArea: Polygon,
  workLocation: Point,
  maxCommuteMinutes: number
) {
  // 1. Get isochrone from work
  const reachableArea = await mcp.callTool('isochrone_tool', {
    coordinates: { longitude: workLocation[0], latitude: workLocation[1] },
    contours_minutes: [maxCommuteMinutes],
    profile: 'mapbox/driving'
  });

  // 2. Check each property
  const propertiesInRange = [];
  for (const property of properties) {
    const inRange = await mcp.callTool('point_in_polygon_tool', {
      point: { longitude: property.location[0], latitude: property.location[1] },
      polygon: reachableArea
    });

    if (inRange) {
      // 3. Get exact commute time
      const directions = await mcp.callTool('directions_tool', {
        coordinates: [property.location, workLocation],
        routing_profile: 'mapbox/driving-traffic'
      });

      propertiesInRange.push({
        ...property,
        commuteTime: directions.duration / 60
      });
    }
  }

  return propertiesInRange;
}

Food Delivery App (DoorDash-style)

// Check if restaurant can deliver to address
async canDeliver(
  restaurantLocation: Point,
  deliveryAddress: Point,
  maxDeliveryTime: number
) {
  // 1. Calculate delivery zone
  const deliveryZone = await mcp.callTool('isochrone_tool', {
    coordinates: restaurantLocation,
    contours_minutes: [maxDeliveryTime],
    profile: 'mapbox/driving'
  });

  // 2. Check if address is in zone
  const canDeliver = await mcp.callTool('point_in_polygon_tool', {
    point: deliveryAddress,
    polygon: deliveryZone
  });

  if (!canDeliver) return false;

  // 3. Get accurate delivery time
  const route = await mcp.callTool('directions_tool', {
    coordinates: [restaurantLocation, deliveryAddress],
    routing_profile: 'mapbox/driving-traffic'
  });

  return {
    canDeliver: true,
    estimatedTime: route.duration / 60,
    distance: route.distance
  };
}

Travel Planning App (TripAdvisor-style)

// Build day itinerary with travel times
async buildItinerary(
  hotel: Point,
  attractions: Array<{name: string, location: Point}>
) {
  // 1. Calculate distances from hotel
  const attractionsWithDistance = await Promise.all(
    attractions.map(async (attr) => ({
      ...attr,
      distance: await mcp.callTool('distance_tool', {
        from: hotel,
        to: attr.location,
        units: 'miles'
      })
    }))
  );

  // 2. Get travel time matrix
  const matrix = await mcp.callTool('matrix_tool', {
    origins: [hotel],
    destinations: attractions.map(a => a.location),
    profile: 'mapbox/walking'
  });

  // 3. Sort by walking time
  return attractionsWithDistance
    .map((attr, idx) => ({
      ...attr,
      walkingTime: matrix.durations[0][idx] / 60
    }))
    .sort((a, b) => a.walkingTime - b.walkingTime);
}

Performance Optimization

Caching Strategy

class CachedMapboxMCP {
  private cache = new Map<string, { result: any; timestamp: number }>();
  private cacheTTL = 3600000; // 1 hour

  async callTool(name: string, params: any): Promise<any> {
    // Cache offline tools indefinitely (deterministic)
    const offlineTools = ['distance_tool', 'point_in_polygon_tool', 'bearing_tool'];
    const ttl = offlineTools.includes(name) ? Infinity : this.cacheTTL;

    // Check cache
    const cacheKey = JSON.stringify({ name, params });
    const cached = this.cache.get(cacheKey);

    if (cached && Date.now() - cached.timestamp < ttl) {
      return cached.result;
    }

    // Call MCP
    const result = await this.mcpServer.callTool(name, params);

    // Store in cache
    this.cache.set(cacheKey, {
      result,
      timestamp: Date.now()
    });

    return result;
  }
}

Batch Operations

// ❌ Bad: Sequential calls
for (const location of locations) {
  const distance = await mcp.callTool('distance_tool', {
    from: userLocation,
    to: location
  });
}

// ✅ Good: Parallel batch
const distances = await Promise.all(
  locations.map((location) =>
    mcp.callTool('distance_tool', {
      from: userLocation,
      to: location
    })
  )
);

// ✅ Better: Use matrix tool
const matrix = await mcp.callTool('matrix_tool', {
  origins: [userLocation],
  destinations: locations
});

Writing Effective Tool Descriptions

Clear, specific tool descriptions are critical for helping LLMs select the right tools. Poor descriptions lead to incorrect tool calls, wasted API requests, and user frustration.

Common Confusion Points

Problem: "How far is it from A to B?" - Could trigger either directions_tool OR distance_tool

// ❌ Ambiguous descriptions
{
  name: 'directions_tool',
  description: 'Get directions between two locations'  // Could mean distance
}
{
  name: 'distance_tool',
  description: 'Calculate distance between two points'  // Unclear what kind
}

// ✅ Clear, specific descriptions
{
  name: 'directions_tool',
  description: 'Get turn-by-turn driving directions with traffic-aware route distance and travel time. Use when you need the actual route, navigation instructions, or driving duration. Returns route geometry, distance along roads, and time estimate.'
}
{
  name: 'distance_tool',
  description: 'Calculate straight-line (great-circle) distance between two points. Use for quick "as the crow flies" distance checks, proximity comparisons, or when routing is not needed. Works offline, instant, no API cost.'
}

Problem: "Find coffee shops nearby" - Could trigger category_search_tool OR search_and_geocode_tool

// ❌ Ambiguous
{
  name: 'search_poi',
  description: 'Search for places'
}

// ✅ Clear when to use each
{
  name: 'category_search_tool',
  description: 'Find ALL places of a specific type/category (e.g., "all coffee shops", "restaurants", "gas stations") near a location. Use for browsing or discovering places by category. Returns multiple results.'
}
{
  name: 'search_and_geocode_tool',
  description: 'Search for a SPECIFIC named place or address (e.g., "Starbucks on Main St", "123 Market St"). Use when the user provides a business name, street address, or landmark. Returns best match.'
}

Problem: "Where can I go in 15 minutes?" - Could trigger isochrone_tool OR directions_tool

// ❌ Confusing
{
  name: 'isochrone_tool',
  description: 'Calculate travel time area'
}

// ✅ Clear distinction
{
  name: 'isochrone_tool',
  description: 'Calculate the AREA reachable within a time limit from a starting point. Returns a GeoJSON polygon showing everywhere you can reach. Use for: "What can I reach in X minutes?", service area analysis, catchment zones, delivery zones.'
}
{
  name: 'directions_tool',
  description: 'Get route from point A to specific point B. Returns turn-by-turn directions to ONE destination. Use for: "How do I get to X?", "Route from A to B", navigation to a known destination.'
}

Best Practices for Tool Descriptions

1. Start with the primary use case in simple terms
2. Explain WHEN to use this tool vs alternatives
3. Include key distinguishing details : Does it use traffic? Is it offline? Does it cost API calls?
4. Give concrete examples of questions that should trigger this tool
5. Mention what it returns so LLMs know if it fits the user's need

// ✅ Complete example

const searchPOITool = new DynamicStructuredTool({
  name: 'category_search_tool',
  description: `Find places by category type (restaurants, hotels, coffee shops, gas stations, etc.) near a location.

  Use when the user wants to:
  - Browse places of a certain type: "coffee shops nearby", "find restaurants"
  - Discover options: "what hotels are in this area?"
  - Search by industry/amenity, not by specific name

  Returns: List of matching places with names, addresses, and coordinates.

  DO NOT use for:
  - Specific named places (use search_and_geocode_tool instead)
  - Addresses (use search_and_geocode_tool or reverse_geocode_tool)`
  // ... schema and implementation
});

System Prompt Guidance

Add tool selection guidance to your agent's system prompt:

const systemPrompt = `You are a location intelligence assistant.

TOOL SELECTION RULES:
- Use distance_tool for straight-line distance ("as the crow flies")
- Use directions_tool for route distance along roads with traffic
- Use category_search_tool for finding types of places ("coffee shops")
- Use search_and_geocode_tool for specific addresses or named places ("123 Main St", "Starbucks downtown")
- Use isochrone_tool for "what can I reach in X minutes" questions
- Use offline tools (distance_tool, point_in_polygon_tool) when real-time data is not needed

When in doubt, prefer:
1. Offline tools over API calls (faster, free)
2. Specific tools over general ones
3. Asking for clarification over guessing`;

Tool Selection

// Use offline tools when possible (faster, free)
const localOps = {
  distance: 'distance_tool', // Turf.js
  pointInPolygon: 'point_in_polygon_tool', // Turf.js
  bearing: 'bearing_tool', // Turf.js
  area: 'area_tool' // Turf.js
};

// Use API tools when necessary (requires token, slower)
const apiOps = {
  directions: 'directions_tool', // Mapbox API
  geocoding: 'reverse_geocode_tool', // Mapbox API
  isochrone: 'isochrone_tool', // Mapbox API
  search: 'category_search_tool' // Mapbox API
};

// Choose based on requirements
function chooseTool(operation: string, needsRealtime: boolean) {
  if (needsRealtime) {
    return apiOps[operation]; // Traffic, live data
  }
  return localOps[operation] || apiOps[operation];
}

Error Handling

class RobustMapboxMCP {
  async callToolWithRetry(name: string, params: any, maxRetries: number = 3): Promise<any> {
    for (let i = 0; i < maxRetries; i++) {
      try {
        return await this.mcpServer.callTool(name, params);
      } catch (error) {
        if (error.code === 'RATE_LIMIT') {
          // Exponential backoff
          await this.sleep(Math.pow(2, i) * 1000);
          continue;
        }

        if (error.code === 'INVALID_TOKEN') {
          // Non-retryable error
          throw error;
        }

        if (i === maxRetries - 1) {
          throw error;
        }
      }
    }
  }

  async callToolWithFallback(primaryTool: string, fallbackTool: string, params: any): Promise<any> {
    try {
      return await this.callTool(primaryTool, params);
    } catch (error) {
      console.warn(`Primary tool ${primaryTool} failed, using fallback`);
      return await this.callTool(fallbackTool, params);
    }
  }
}

Security Best Practices

Token Management

// ✅ Good: Use environment variables
const mcp = new MapboxMCP({
  token: process.env.MAPBOX_ACCESS_TOKEN
});

// ❌ Bad: Hardcode tokens
const mcp = new MapboxMCP({
  token: 'pk.ey...' // Never do this!
});

// ✅ Good: Use scoped tokens
// Create token with minimal scopes:
// - directions:read
// - geocoding:read
// - No write permissions

Rate Limiting

class RateLimitedMCP {
  private requestQueue: Array<() => Promise<any>> = [];
  private requestsPerMinute = 300;
  private currentMinute = Math.floor(Date.now() / 60000);
  private requestCount = 0;

  async callTool(name: string, params: any): Promise<any> {
    // Check rate limit
    const minute = Math.floor(Date.now() / 60000);
    if (minute !== this.currentMinute) {
      this.currentMinute = minute;
      this.requestCount = 0;
    }

    if (this.requestCount >= this.requestsPerMinute) {
      // Wait until next minute
      const waitMs = (this.currentMinute + 1) * 60000 - Date.now();
      await this.sleep(waitMs);
    }

    this.requestCount++;
    return await this.mcpServer.callTool(name, params);
  }
}

Testing

// Mock MCP server for testing
class MockMapboxMCP {
  async callTool(name: string, params: any): Promise<any> {
    const mocks = {
      distance_tool: () => '2.5',
      directions_tool: () => JSON.stringify({
        duration: 1200,
        distance: 5000,
        geometry: {...}
      }),
      point_in_polygon_tool: () => 'true'
    };

    return mocks[name]?.() || '{}';
  }
}

// Use in tests
describe('Property search', () => {
  it('finds properties within commute time', async () => {
    const agent = new CustomMapboxAgent(new MockMapboxMCP());
    const results = await agent.findPropertiesWithCommute(
      [-122.4, 37.7],
      [-122.41, 37.78],
      30
    );

    expect(results).toHaveLength(5);
  });
});

Resources

• Mapbox MCP Server
• Model Context Protocol
• Pydantic AI
• Mastra
• LangChain
• Mapbox API Documentation

When to Use This Skill

Invoke this skill when:

• Integrating Mapbox MCP Server into AI applications
• Building AI agents with geospatial capabilities
• Architecting Zillow/TripAdvisor/DoorDash-style apps with AI
• Choosing between MCP, direct APIs, or SDKs
• Optimizing geospatial operations in production
• Implementing error handling for geospatial AI features
• Testing AI applications with geospatial tools

Weekly Installs

120

Repository

mapbox/mapbox-a…t-skills

GitHub Stars

35

First Seen

Mar 5, 2026

Security Audits

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Installed on

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