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Adding a WMS Layer to Places
Adding a WMS Layer to Places

Learn how to add another layer to your places tool to provide more information.

Vishwas Prasad avatar
Written by Vishwas Prasad
Updated this week

A Web Mapping Service (WMS) layer will help you add extra information to your Places map. You could show place-based information relevant to your project, such as:

  • Electoral boundaries

  • Transport routes

  • Green wedge zones

  • Infrastructure

  • Custom image overlays, such as:

    • Concept designs

    • Construction plans

    • Topographical information

You cannot upload a .wms file directly to EngagementHQ – they must be hosted externally. Additionally, WMS files must be publicly available and cannot be protected by an API key.

You’ll need to create your WMS files internally, particularly if you’re using a custom GIS-coded image in your file; if you have a GIS team, we recommend you consult with them.

How to Add a WMS Layer

Once you have created a Places tool, you can add a .wms layer:

  1. In the Add Map Layer of your Places tool, use the App a map layer dropdown menu to select WMS 1.3.0 or WMS 1.1.1. Select the correct option based on your file.

  2. Give your layer a Name and paste the URL to the externally hosted file in the URL field.

  3. Open the file URL in your browser and use ctrl + F (PC) or command + F (Mac) to search for the layer name you need.

  4. You can find the layer name within a <name> attribute, and once you do, copy and paste it into the Layer Name field. In this example, the Layer Name is “National_Ferry_Terminals”

  5. Select Save layer and you will see it on the map.

  6. Use the eye icon to Hide your layer or the bin icon to Delete it

  7. Save when you’re finished and configure any remaining tabs for the Places tool.

Always Preview your tool to ensure the layer is loading correctly. You can follow the same process to add more .wms layers, including adding another Layer Name from the same file. The last layer you add will be the topmost layer on the live site.

If your layer information doesn't load on your map, ensure you have applied the correct layer name and that the URL to your .wms file is correct.

Using WMS for a Custom Image Layer

You can also follow these instructions to add a GIS-coded image-based overlay onto your Places map. These are custom WMS files, and you will need to source this yourself, either via your GIS team or an external consultant.

The image(s) are rendered as 2D layers. To be overlaid on the Places map, they must be in aerial view and oriented north.

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