Once you have done that you can either delete the null, just leave it, or remove parenting. This will line up your map layers on the X/Y plane. Another solution is to attach all of your 3D layers and camera to a 3D null located at comp center (1/2 width, 1/2 height, zero) and then rotate the null 90º in X. This happens when you have the camera pointed straight down. You are probably experiencing gimbal lock. Ive attached a video which should help explain things. I'm now at that point where the only thing that will help is a sledgehammer to my machine - Obviously, this won't improve the situation so I'm appealing to other souls who share my pain of being up against a deadline and hitting a dead end! I can't find and such keyframe to suggest why it would do this? I have been through all the layers, effects, cameras and can't find why it would do this. However, when I create a camera and a null to then follow this icon the map flips back and forth meaning that the map has flipped and become inverted. I then have an arrow icon representing the car, now obviously i want the arrow to move along a path which it does nicely, this then orients the set path.
I have some stacked maps at different scales, this much is fine. Nothing to fancy, just a typical satnav scene. Been having headaches today trying to create a satnav-style map effect in after effects.