Using Web Map Services from a

range of government sources to

enhance/value add your

mapping output

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Ross Johnson, RJ Consulting

&

Gaby van Wyk, Open Spatial

SSSI NSW 2015 Regional Conference, Hunter Valley

What is Web Map Services

(WMS) ?

• Data exchange standard – i.e. can be used to stream live data.

• OGC – i.e. international standard

• Web service specification – i.e. requires a live connection

• Protocol for serving georeferenced map images – i.e. it delivers a set of images

• Normally data extracted from a spatial database

• Often a FREE data source

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Source: OGC

How can WMS be used?

• In GIS software

• In CAD software

• It’s a data source

• As a reference layer

• Use for georeferencing

• Use to compare (quality check) existing spatial data

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Source: Esri

Advantages of WMS?

• Easy Access (web URL)

• Can be used as backdrop in modern GIS software • Sometimes as overlay

• Often “Open Data” – i.e. free to access • No data licencing needed (just acknowledge the source)

• Available to any user who knows the web URL and has internet connection

• Definitive Government Custodian data source

• Usually a Single Source of Truth (most current and complete)

• Can be combined with your own data for decision support

Disadvantages of WMS?

• Requires LIVE internet connection • Data attributes

– Not usually available or queryable – When available, a single query only

• Scale of data may not be fit for purpose / align with project requirements

• Metadata – Not always included with WMS data – Not always easy to access

• (Presently there is No single online directory of WMS layers) – NOTE – LPI offers an extensive and a growing list!

Who’s creating and using WMS?

• WMS is open to all

• To date, mainly academic and government have been creating WMS layers

• More layers coming online in line with State and Commonwealth Government’s Open Data policies.

• Some savy Local Councils also providing WMS layers

Anatomy of a web service URL

• BASE URL – http://maps.six.nsw.gov.au/arcgis/services/public/NSW_Cadastre/Ma

pServer/WMSServer

• The Request – REQUEST (GetCapabilities / GetMap / GetFeatureInfo) – PROTOCOL (WMS / WFS / WCS) – VERSION

• Parameters, including: – WIDTH – HEIGHT – LAYERS – FORMAT – SRS (Spatial Reference System) – BBOX (Bounding Box)

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LPI WMS for Cadastre

• URL + ?REQUEST=GetCapabilities

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LPI WMS for Cadastre

• <Abstract>Dynamic Map Service of Plan, Section and Lot extents. Control of the display of symbology, labelling or both is available. Metadata_link http://sdinsw/sdi.nsw.gov.au/catalog/search/resource/details.page?uuid=%7B1AF21EC5-C147-427A-937E-237B3A1C89DC%7D</Abstract>

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LPI WMS for Cadastre

• <GetCapabilities>

– <Format>application/vnd.ogc.wms_xml</Format>

– <Format>text/xml</Format>

– <DCPType><HTTP><Get>

• <OnlineResource xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="http://maps.six.nsw.gov.au/arcgis/services/public/NSW_Cadastre/MapServer/WMSServer"/>

– </Get></HTTP></DCPType>

• </GetCapabilities>

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LPI WMS for Cadastre - GetMap

• <Format>image/bmp</Format> • <Format>image/jpeg</Format> • <Format>image/tiff</Format> • <Format>image/png</Format> • <Format>image/png8</Format> • <Format>image/png24</Format> • <Format>image/png32</Format> • <Format>image/gif</Format> • <Format>image/svg+xml</Format>

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LPI WMS for Cadastre - GetFeatureInfo

<Format>application/vnd.esri.wms_raw_xml

</Format>

<Format>application/vnd.esri.wms_featureinfo_xml

</Format>

<Format>application/vnd.ogc.wms_xml</Format>

<Format>text/xml</Format>

<Format>text/html</Format>

<Format>text/plain</Format>

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LPI WMS for Cadastre - A Layer definition

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General Layer Information Available Projections The Spatial Extents

Bounding Box

The Bounding Boxes for each available

projection

Style information

Maximum available scale. (Smallest zoom

scale)

Web Browser Trial

http://maps.six.nsw.gov.au/arcgis/services/public/NSW_Cadastre/MapServer/WMSServer?SERVICE=WMS& VERSION=1.3.0& REQUEST=GetMap& TRANSPARENT=TRUE& WIDTH=500& HEIGHT=700& LAYERS=PlanExtent,Lot,Lot_Labels& CRS=EPSG:4326& STYLES=& FORMAT=image/png& BBOX=-32.836141,151.349252,-32.834238,151.350973

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What to look for when

discovering a WMS • some agencies have good directories to locate

WMS data

Source: GA

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WMS examples

- NSW State Government

Source: Cadastre from NSW LPI (Cessnock region)

WMS examples - LPI Base with Cadastre superimposed

18 Source: Cadastre from NSW LPI (Cessnock region)

WMS examples

- NSW State Government

Source: Imagery from NSW LPI

With Cadastre

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WMS examples

- NSW State Government

Source: Cadastre and imagery from NSW LPI

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WMS examples

- Commonwealth Government

Surface Geology from Geoscience Australia

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WMS examples

- Commonwealth Government

Catchments and drainage from Bureau of Meteorology Geofabric

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WMS examples

- CSIRO

Soil and landscape grid from CSIRO

WMS examples - Local Government

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Residential areas from City of Greater Geelong Council (Vic)

QGIS project file

• For those who are interested, a QGIS Project file with all LPI Web Services preconfigured is available, email either Gaby or Ross and we will be happy to provide it.

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Live Demo

(if it works)

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Some WMS URL’s

http://maps.six.nsw.gov.au/arcgis/rest/services/public/NSW_Cadastre/MapServer http://maps.six.nsw.gov.au/arcgis/rest/services/public/NSW_Imagery/MapServer http://www.ga.gov.au/gis/services/earth_science/GA_Surface_Geology_of_Australia/MapServer/WMSServer?request=GetCapabilities&service=WMS http://geofabric.bom.gov.au/documentation/ http://www.clw.csiro.au/aclep/soilandlandscapegrid/GetData-GIS.html http://data.gov.au/geoserver/geelong-built-environment-inventory/wms?request=GetCapabilities https://data.gov.au/dataset/4ea8c8c5-4afe-4b03-b2a0-810ad61f2afc

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