Working with Web Map Layers

AIR has released Web Map Layers as a Beta feature so that users can begin to use it and can provide feedback on how best AIR should continue this development.

Note:

You can use the web map layers only for visualization. You cannot run Geospatial analyses against the web map layers.

Web Map Services

Many organizations publish spatial data over the Internet using web map servers, which are becoming the common currency of GIS data sharing in the geospatial industry. There are many types of web map servers and protocols/specifications that are used to serve GIS data so that web map layers can be used in commercial off-the-shelf systems as well as in custom applications. Some commonly used products in the industry include, among others:

  • MapServer

  • GeoServer

  • ArcGIS for Server

  • MapNik

Web map servers are used to perform the following functions:

  • Accept requests, from users or applications, to generate a map

  • Process the requests on a map server to generate the requested output

  • Serve the map back to the requesting user or application

The map can be a complete product or a layer that can be displayed on a base map or in an application. The GIS data is served most commonly as an image (via map services) or as a collection of features (via feature services). Based on how you configure a map service, you can do different things with the data. Map services, where images are primarily used for visualization, are the more common implementation of map servers; however, feature services, which support an expanded set of uses, are becoming more prevalent. Many public agencies in the US, such as FEMA, USGS, and NOAA, are serving GIS data, which is sometimes updated in real time, through their own map servers. Many organizations also serve their data to their users through web map servers, a trend that is likely to continue in the future.

AIR does not control how other organizations configure their map servers and host their data, that is, AIR does not control the colors of the data or the way agencies configure or organize their data. AIR has built into Touchstone software basic flexibility that enables users to bring in third-party servers.

How to Use Web Map Services in Touchstone

To bring web map layers into Touchstone, you must have a Geospatial 5.1 or later license. You can then:

  • Configure a Web Map Service. You only have to do this once for a business unit, after which you can use it on any map in Touchstone.

  • Visualize layers on Touchstone maps as needed.

Configuring a Web Map Service

With a Touchstone 5.1 or later Geospatial license, you can bring in some of the more commonly used web map servers, listed below, so that you can visualize the associated web map layers on any map in Touchstone:

Note:

Geospatial Analysis 5.1 and 6.0 do not support WMS layers with external linked resources, such as a layer symbol reference from other point resources

  • Esri REST Map services

  • Web Map Services that follow the Open Geospatial Consortium protocol (OGC WMS)

  • KML

Before using web map services, you must configure Touchstone to add a web map server. You do this in the Administration Console by selecting Object Management and then selecting Web Map Layers.

Here's how this works:

  • The Web Map Layers object works the same way as the rest of the objects. You can add or delete the object or edit it, name it and rename it, and provide a description. You can also sort the objects. Web Map Layers is available only to those with administrator privileges.

  • Administrative users add a new Web Map Layers service endpoint by clicking (Create). The administrative user must then enter the URL for the map service and select the type of map service/layer. A sample URL in the Url field provides an example of the expected URL based on the selected type. After specifying the required information, the user clicks Validate and Preview.

    • If validation is successful, the web map layers appear in the Map Preview pane. A list of all the child layers under the web layer service endpoint appears in the Layers pane.

    • If validation is not successful, an error message appears next to Validate and Preview. Errors may occur because: the web site is down; the URL is not valid; there is a mismatch between the URL and the service selected in the Type list; or because the service contains an external source that Touchstone does not currently support.

  • When validation is successful, click (Save) to save the configuration of the web map service. Touchstone adds the entire web layer service endpoint to Touchstone for visualization use in any map—for the business unit only—where the service was configured.

  • Individual layers from the same map service endpoint are grouped under the web map layer endpoint. Users can turn layer visualization on or off of each child layer individually in the Map Layers tool on each map.

  • The added web map layers will not be available in an already opened project because there is no push notification for adding new web map layers. The user must close the project and then reopen it to see the newly configured web map layers in the Map Layer tool's Search list.

Some users may need to work with their IT departments to make sure that firewall rules are followed and that any required exceptions are implemented. After a map service is configured through the Administrative Console, it will be available to all users in that business unit.

Currently, no authentication is planned for web map servers that require authentication.

Adding or Visualizing Web Map Layers on Touchstone Maps

To add configured map services to your maps:

  1. On the map, click (Map Layers) and then search for configured web map servers by entering the name of the web map layer service endpoint (or part of the name) in the Search field, or click (Filter) and then select UNKNOWN in the TYPE list. ("UNKNOWN" only appears if web map layer services have been added.)

  2. Select the check box next to the name of the service endpoint or click the black triangle next to the service endpoint name to expand the list and see all the child layers. Then select only child layers by selecting the check box next to each child layer to be used.

    • The check box is used both to select the layers to be added to the active layers and to allow preview of the layers during a search—before adding the layers to the Active Layers tab.

    • If you select the root of the service endpoint, all the child layers appear under the selected endpoint. All of them are selected and are previewed on the map.

    • If you select only one or more child layers, the user will only see those layers on the map.

  3. Select or clear individual check boxes under the service endpoint to preview layers individually before deciding which layers to add to the map.

  4. Click Add to add the selected layers to the map for further use.

    On the Active Layers tab, the selected layers appear as a grouped layer with the same name as the service endpoint in the active layer. While you can add the entire end point or individual child layers only into your active maps, the added web map layers behave as a single image and you cannot interact with individual layers.

  5. Add one service endpoint at a time to the active layers.

    After adding a web map layer to the active layers, you can go back to the Search tab and add additional layers from that endpoint. You do this by selecting the additional child web map layers that you want to view on the map, without having to click the Add button again. You can also clear the layers for the selected endpoint by clearing the check boxes.

Usage notes

  • The legend for each layer appears separately on the Legend tab and will be grouped by the web map server.

  • If the server hosting the web map layers is no longer available or if the URL has changed for the configuration, Touchstone displays an error message.

  • Currently, there are some check box alignment issues with the child web map layers. Sometimes they appear on the right side of the list instead of aligning on the left side.

  • There is no push notification for adding web map layers while the exposure summary map or geospatial configuration map is open. You must close and reopen the map to see the new web map layers and then can search for layers and add them.

Sample Web Map Layers

FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer – FEMA NFHL

NOAA sites for storm tracking

Other NOAA sites for weather

USGS Earthquakes ShakeMap

USGS Wildfires