3.10.2.6 Visualizing OGC WMS Maps as a Dataset

You can visualize an OGC (Open Geospatial Consortium) WMS (Web Map Service) dataset on a map.

This is in addition to creating a custom basemap that is based on external WMS maps, and switching to such a basemap in your map visualization. The main issue in using basemaps is that a single map visualization can only have one basemap. For instance, if you are using a basemap based on WMS images, then you can no longer display other background maps, such as OpenStreetMap. Therefore, the geographic context is lost as the WMS images typically do not contain detailed administrative boundaries, or other common features seen on a regular background map.

To overcome this limitation, Spatial Studio allows you to use a regular background map, while adding the WMS map images as a dataset layer on top. As the WMS images are just another dataset, which can be displayed as another layer on the map, you can easily reorder the layers, or toggle the visibility of the WMS images just like with any other map layer.

To visualize an OGC WMS dataset on a map, you must perform the following steps.

As a prerequisite ensure the following:

• The OGC WMS dataset is created using an OGC WMS connection and exists in Spatial Studio. See Creating an OGC WMS Dataset for more information.
• The required OGC WMS dataset is added to the project in the Active Project page.

1. Click the Visualizations tab on the left pane in the Active Project page.
   This lists the various visualization options.
2. Click and drag Map from the list to the visualization window on the right to create a map visualization.
   A default base map is displayed with no data visualization layers.
3. Click the Data tab on the left pane in the Active Project page.
   This lists all the Datasets that are loaded for the project.
4. Drag and drop the desired OGC WMS dataset from the list to the map view on the right.
   The OGC WMS data layer gets displayed on the map. The map will automatically zoom to the area covered by the WMS dataset if it is the very first dataset to be added to your map.

   Figure 3-56 Visualizing an OGC WMS Data Layer

   
   Description of "Figure 3-56 Visualizing an OGC WMS Data Layer"

   The preceding figure illustrates the weather pattern images (loaded from a WMS service) which are overlaid on top of the OpenStreetMap background.

   Tip:

   Click the Image link on the map legend to view the legend information generated by the WMS service for the OGC WMS map layer.

   Note:

   When you display a new WMS dataset for visualization, your browser will be sending the WMS image requests directly to the WMS server. You can always refresh the map layer to reflect the current data from the WMS server.