The HDDS Web Map Service (WMS) provides access to a georeferenced representation of data for basic mapping and data visualization applications. A geographic Information System (GIS) software application or online mapping tool that supports WMS is required for viewing the georeferenced data from the WMS server. The WMS link provides access to data by connecting to a server over the Internet without having to download large files on your computer.

A WMS On-Demand Request can be placed for georeferenced products from the Results tab. Individual scenes can be added to the ‘Item Basket’ using the ‘Order Scene’ icon (Figure 1). All scenes can be added by selecting ‘Add All Results From Current Page to Order’ from the ‘Show Result Controls’ menu. The WMS data is created from the 90 percent quality medium resolution product. Note:  The ‘Order Scene’ icon is only available for georeferenced products.

Figure 1 - Scenes added to WMS Item Basket   

After adding the scenes to the Item Basket, click on ‘Item Basket’ on the top toolbar to display the ‘On-Demand Item Basket’. Expand an event to view the list of ordered scenes (Figure 2). 

Figure 2 - On-Demand Item Basket

Review the scenes in the WMS request. The product type will be listed as ‘EO WMS On-Demand.’ The order can be modified by selecting ‘Remove Scene’. If the order request is correct, select ‘Proceed to Checkout’.

Select the ‘Submit Order’ button in Figure 3 to submit the WMS request for processing.

Figure 3 - WMS On Demand Submittal

Figure 4 is the WMS order summary screen. Select the ‘Return To HDDS Explorer’ to continue.

Figure 4 - WMS on Demand Order Summary

A USGS Online Order Confirmation email will be sent with the order details (Figure 5).

Figure 5 - WMS On Demand Order Confirmation

When the order is complete, a USGS WMS email notification (Figure 6) that contains the WMS link is delivered. The link can be copied into a GIS software package or mapping tool. The resulting WMS link will only be maintained for two weeks allowing users ample time to access the data.

Figure 6 - WMS On Demand email with WMS Link

The USGS WMS server provides access to a georeferenced representation of the data for basic mapping and data visualization applications, but does not provide access to the actual data files. If more complex analysis is required, return to HDDS Explorer to download the data products. Please note that the link is not intended to work in a basic web browser or as a download.

Viewing the WMS Link

A GIS software application or online mapping tool that supports WMS is required for viewing the georeferenced data from the WMS server. A web search for tutorials for a software package along with the version will provide the most useful information for a specific software application. A web search for “online mapping tool wms” or “web map service open source’” will provide a variety of options that support WMS.

The USGS EROS Center does not endorse any specific software packages. The example shown below depicts how to use a WMS link in ESRI ArcMap. Other GIS packages provide similar capabilities.

To add the WMS layer to ArcMap, select the ‘Add Data’ function (Figure 7).

Figure 7 - Example ESRI ArcMAP - Add Data

In the ‘Add Data’ function, select ‘GIS Servers’ from the ‘Look in’ dialog box (Figure 8).

Figure 8 - Add GIS Servers      

Figure 9 is the ArcMap GIS Servers dialog box. Select ‘Add WMS Server’ then click the ‘Add’ button in the dialog box.

Figure 9 - Add WMS Server

The ‘Add WMS Server’ dialog allows you to insert the WMS link received in the email into the ‘URL’ field in the dialog box (Figure 10). After pasting the WMS link into the URL field, select the ‘Get Layers’ button.

Figure 10 - Paste link from email into URL

Selecting the ‘Get Layers’ button displays the list of scenes included in the WMS request (Figure 11). Select the ‘OK’ button.

Figure 11 - Display list of scenes

Select the ‘Add’ button in the ‘Add Data’ dialog in Figure 12 to add the WMS layer to the ArcMap layout.

Figure 12 - Add server to ArcMap layout

Select ‘USGS WMS server’ from the ‘Add Data’ dialog box and click ‘Add’ to include the WMS layer in the ArcMap layout (Figure 13).

Figure 13 - Add layer to ArcMap layout

Figure 14 is an example of the WMS layer in the ArcMap Table of Contents dialog and a representation of the data on the map display.

Figure 14 - Example of WMS scenes displayed in ArcMap