Accessing Web Services

Medium

Web services are a means of streaming GIS data to your computer without having to download the data in order to use it. Using web services avoids the need to download data which can be very large and avoids the problem of not knowing if you are using the most recent dataset.

GIS Hub data is made available via ArcGIS Online (the Hub Data Portal is a means for accessing this data) for use by desktop and web applications. These web services are best used when there is:

  • Low Internet bandwidth/VPN speed restrictions (e.g., working from home)
  • Greatest ease of access and use when using ArcGIS Pro (these services can also be used with ArcMap though not as streamlined)
  • Desire to symbolize the data as you wish
  • Familiarity with other ArcGIS Online-based data sources

Using ArcGIS Pro

  • It is recommended to directly search and access this data via the 'Portal' tab in the Catalog Pane using 'ndgishub' as a prefix of the search
  • In the Catalog Pane, click on the 'Portal' tab and then click on the ArcGIS Online icon
  • By default, the search will be set to 'Content'; you can also click on the 'Groups' button
  • For 'Content' search by name, type for example: 'ndgishub roads' then press <enter> to see a list of items

ndgishub

  • For 'Groups' search by name, type for example: 'ndgishub roads' then press <enter> to see only the 'NDGISHub Transportation' group that contains the roads data
  • To list all groups, type only: 'ndgishub'

results

  • Then double-click on a group name to see all data items, for example:

details

More advanced searching is done the same way as done in ArcGIS Online. Here are some examples, type the following:

  • title:"missouri" AND owner: "ndgishub"
  • title: "ndgishub parcel" and owner: ndgishub
  • ndgishub usda 2020
  • owner: nddoh OR owner: nd-deq
  • Once the data has been added to the map, it can be treated in the same fashion as adding data from a geodatabase

You may find it helpful to select the Filter icon (to the left of the search box) and then select Status - Authoritative

Please note that once vector data have been added to the map, the appearance of that data can be changed, e.g., color, line width, etc., the same way it is done when adding data from a geodatabase.

One can also use the GIS Hub Data Portal and once an item of interest is found, e.g., 'NDGISHUB County Roads' add the data to the map. There are three ways to do this:

1. Use that title shown in the Hub Data Portal within ArcGIS Pro's Catalog Pane - Portal tab search

OR

2. In map view, click 'View Full Details' or 'I want to use this' then select 'View API Resources' and click the 'Copy link' icon:

arcpro

  • Now add the item directly to ArcGIS Pro following these steps HERE. Note that before using this URL, you must remove the information at the end of the URL that you copied in, removing the text beginning with 'Query' to the end of the line, so when finished the URL ends with '/0'.

3. Click on the 'Open in ArcGIS Online'

arcpro2

  • Use the 'Open in ArcGIS Desktop' option

Web Applications

  • The GIS Hub Data Portal is used for searching and/or browsing for data and the associated web service and download links
    • Simply enter the name (full name or partial) in the search box and then either wait for a moment to see the items to appear below the search box or press <enter> to see a full listing
  • Links to GeoService and GeoJSON services are available when viewing a data item In the GIS Hub Data Portal. These links are found by navigating to the View API Resources and/or View Data Source.