You can use Shapefile or KML files to display extra information on your map. This can be information relevant to your location-based consultation, such as:
Electoral boundaries
Transport routes
Green wedge zones
Infrastructure
Once you have created the Places tool, you can upload up to 30 shapefile or KML files, but please note that uploading many or large files can impact your loading times. Additionally, if your Shapefile is larger than 5 MB, you'll need to convert it to GeoJSON before uploading.
Your Shapefile must be a zipped file containing all your Shapefile information, including the SHP file with the layer information. If you add your files to a folder before zipping it, it will not work.
Your KML file should be an independent file with a ".kml" extension; you cannot upload a KMZ file. We recommend consulting your GIS team to create your shapefile or KML file.
How to Add a Shapefile or KML Layer
In the Add Map Layer of your Places tool, use the App a map layer drop-down menu to select Shapefile or KML.
Give your layer a Name and select Choose file to select and upload your file.
Select your Target SRS, if the default value is incorrect. The SRS is the Spatial Reference System (also known as the Coordinate Reference System) and it helps the map render the shapefile. You can find the SRS in the GIS library from which you downloaded the shapefile, or you could ask your GIS team if they created it. If your SRS is not listed, please contact our support team and we can add it.
Select Save layer and you will see it on the map.
Select the layer again to change the Color, Opacity, Width (in px), or Restrict Pins within Boundary.
Use the Properties drop-down menu to select the metadata options that you want the pins to display.
Use the eye icon to Hide your layer, or the bin icon to Delete it
Save when you’re finished and configure any remaining tabs for the Places tool.
If the shapefile doesn't appear, you can try using the other SRS numbers in the drop-down.
Shapefiles works best with EPSG:4326 (WGS 84) because:
It is the standard coordinate system for the format.
It's universally supported by mapping libraries and tools.
It provides a simple and intuitive way to represent geographic data.
Using other spatial reference systems with Shapefiles often requires conversion, re-projection, and may reduce compatibility and ease of use.
If your layer information still fails to appear in the places map, ensure you have uploaded the correct file type and that the folder containing your files is zipped. A Shapefile is more than just the actual SHP file; it is a combination of the file types listed below:
CPG
DBF
PRJ
QPJ
SHP
SHX
XML
If you need to add colors or data to the shapefile layer, convert it to a WMS file and add it there.
The Shapefile used in the example is taken from Open Data SA (https://data.sa.gov.au/data/dataset/park-land-toilets). Many cities and states around the world now have open data sets for you to use with EngagementHQ.