Using MnGeo's Imagery WMS in ArcGIS Online

ArcGIS Online (AGOL) is a popular subscription-based web mapping platform. MnGeo’s WMS Imagery can be added to an AGOL map using these instructions.

1. Go to arcgis.com
2. Click “Sign In” and enter login information if not already signed in
3. Click “Map”
4. Click the dropdown arrow next to “Add” in the layers pane to the left
5. Click “Add layer from URL”
6. In the URL input box, enter one of the following (note that the question mark is part of the URL):
   • For our Geospatial Image Service with a large list of layers: https://imageserver.gisdata.mn.gov/cgi-bin/wmswm?
     • Click “Get Layers” to see a list of layers and choose which one(s) you want (the top checkbox will toggle all layers on/off if desired). For the most recent layers, look at the bottom of the list.
     • If you don’t choose anything, you’ll get all layers and will have to toggle them to see them. Depending on your area of interest, statewide layers will likely work better as a “basemap”.
   • For our “composite” service, which automatically switches layers for you based on extent and scale:
     https://imageserver.gisdata.mn.gov/cgi-bin/mncomp?
7. Under “Type”, click the “Select layer type” dropdown and select “WMS (OGC)”
8. Turn on “Use as a basemap”
9. Click “Next”
10. Use the checkboxes to select which layers you'd like to add
11. Select the “Use as basemap” button in the lower right. You should now see the added WMS within the map. Access these layers by selecting the ellipsis (three dots in a row) in the left window pane for “More”. Select “Basemap”. To avoid confusion, you can now rename the layer as desired using the ellipsis next to the WMS layer name.
12. Save your map if desired. Warning: choosing one of Esri’s basemaps will change your coordinate system and lose the imagery until you make the image service your basemap.
     

If you want to have a reference layer to help you navigate around the map, there are several options. While most are not ideal for a “production map”, they are at least useful in helping orient yourself. Here are three examples:

1. Click the dropdown arrow next to “Add” in the layers pane to the left and select “Add layer from URL”
2. Under “What type of data”, choose “ArcGIS Server web service”
3. For the URL, paste in the following:
   • For “World Reference”, which generally works well at small scales (larger areas): https://services.arcgisonline.com/arcgis/rest/services/Reference/World_Reference_Overlay/MapServer/
   • For “World Transportation”, which is better suited for large scales (smaller areas): https://server.arcgisonline.com/ArcGIS/rest/services/Reference/World_Transportation/MapServer
   • For the Minnesota Department of Agriculture's basemap layer: https://app.gisdata.mn.gov/arcgis/rest/services/MDA_Basemap/MDA_Basemap/MapServer
4. Click “Add to map”

 

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