Web Services
Data on the GIS Hub is available as feature services and as image services. The feature services are ArcIMS-based, meaning that ESRI tools such as ArcMap and ArcExplorer can use these services, allowing you to modify the symbology of the displayed vector data. The image services are in ArcIMS and in Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) Web Map Service (WMS) format and are most useful for displaying raster data such as aerial photography without having to save those very large data sets to your computer. The ArcIMS image services can be used with ArcMap and ArcExplorer while the WMS image services can be used by ArcMap and non-ESRI products.
Access Methods
This tool will allow you to browse data on the GIS Hub, print it, and make simple queries. The Hub Explorer is a great method for becoming familiar with the data that is on the Hub. This is also a good tool for providing Hub access to those who do not have an ESRI tool, such as ArcView on their desktop. It supplements, but does not replace software such as ArcView. Access the Hub Explorer.
ArcExplorer - ArcIMS Web Services
This free software provides a relatively simple set of tools that allows one to view, query, and print maps using data from a variety of sources including web services. ArcExplorer supplements, but does not replace software such as ArcView. When downloading ArcExplorer be sure to select the Java version. You can access GIS Hub web services by clicking on the "Add Layers" icon or menu item, expanding the "WWW" item, then double-clicking on "Add Web Site" then entering the URL to the server. You will then be presented with a list of services which can be selected for display.
The feature services on the GIS Hub are prefixed with "fea_" and contain within them one or more GIS Hub layers. You can change the display of this data, e.g., changing the color of a road or water feature. There are two varieties of ArcIMS image services on the GIS Hub; those with the "ras_" contain a raster layer such as aerial photography. Those services without a prefix are more generic image services containing multiple layers that are already symbolized. The GIS Hub server URL to use for accessing the web services is "web.apps.state.nd.us".
If you are using ArcGIS 9.x or above, you can use Web services within ArcMap. This is done by selecting the "Add Data" menu option, double clicking on the GIS Servers item. You will then be presented with a dialog. Web Services consist of image services and feature services. Image services can be used in ArcMap as background information, load relatively quickly, and offer limited editing ability. Feature services can be used in ArcMap similar to a direct connection, load slower (more noticeable if loading into a projected view), and offer a high degree of editing ability.
The feature services on the GIS Hub are prefixed with "fea_" and contain within them one or more GIS Hub layers. There are a variety of image services on the GIS Hub; those with the "ras_" contain a raster layer such as aerial photography. Those services without a prefix are more generic image services containing multiple layers that are already symbolized. The GIS Hub server URL to use for accessing the web services is "web.apps.state.nd.us".
ArcMap - OGC Web Map Services (WMS)
The North Dakota GIS Hub offers Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) Web Map Services (WMS). If you are using ArcGIS 9.x or above, you can use these OGC-compliant web services. This is done by selecting the "Add Data" menu option (in ArcCatalog or in ArcMap), double clicking on the "GIS Servers" item, then double clicking on the "Add WMS Server" item shown in the list. You will be presented with a new dialog window titled, "Add WMS Server." Into the URL field on that dialog, please paste one of the following URLs:
| URL | Contents |
|---|---|
| web.apps.state.nd.us/wmsconnector/com.esri.wms.Esrimap?ServiceName=NDWMS_GeneralInfo& | Statewide data - vector and raster |
| web.apps.state.nd.us/wmsconnector/com.esri.wms.Esrimap?ServiceName=NDWMS_aerialimages& | Aerial Imagery - statewide and local jurisdictions |
Then click on the Get Layers button followed by clicking on the OK button. You will be returned to the dialog window titled, "Add Data" where you had clicked on "Add WMS Server." You have just made a connection which will automatically be titled for example, "North Dakota GIS Hub Web Map Service - NDWMS_GeneralInfo on web.apps.state.nd.us" and will be available in the current and future ArcGIS sessions.
To use the connection, in the current and future sessions, double click on the name of the connection, for example "North Dakota GIS Hub Web Map Service - NDWMS_GeneralInfo on web.apps.state.nd.us," highlight the "North Dakota GIS Hub Web Map Service - NDWMS_GeneralInfo" item then click on the Add button to make the service available in ArcCatalog or ArcMap. In ArcMap, click on the "plus sign" symbol to expand the contents of the service and select which layers you wish to display. Note that by default ArcMap automatically makes visible the first 20 layers.
OGC Web Map Services (WMS)
The North Dakota GIS Hub offers Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) Web Map Services (WMS). Though ArcGIS products are capable of utilizing a WMS, a WMS is generally most useful as a means of getting GIS Hub information to non-ESRI products and applications. WMS is a more generic, non-propriety form of a web service compared to the ESRI-centric web services (image and feature) provided by the GIS Hub. In general, if you are using ESRI's ArcGIS and wish to access the Hub via the Internet, you should use the image and feature web services provided by the GIS Hub. Please view the ArcMap - Web Services section on this page for more information. If you wish, you could also use the WMS-enabled web service with ArcGIS as noted above in the ArcMap - OGC Web Services section above.
If you are not using ArcGIS, then you will use only the WMS-enabled web service. In the future, demand will guide the GIS Technical Committee in providing additional WMS and possibly WFS (Web Feature Service) web services. Please contact us if you are interested.
| Service Name: | NDWMS_GeneralInfo |
|---|---|
| URL: | http://web.apps.state.nd.us/wmsconnector/com.esri.wms.Esrimap?ServiceName=NDWMS_GeneralInfo& |
| OGC Version: | 1.0.0, 1.1.0, 1.1.1 |
| Projection: | GCS North American 1927, GCS North American 1983, GCS WGS 1984, NAD 1983 UTM Zone 13N, NAD 1983 UTM Zone 14N, NAD 1983 UTM Zone 15N |
| Visible scales for layers: | varies |
| Footprint: | most layers cover the entire state of North Dakota |
| Capabilities (1.1.1): | Click to download NDWMS_GeneralInfo |
| Service Name: | NDWMS_aerialimages |
|---|---|
| URL: | http://web.apps.state.nd.us/wmsconnector/com.esri.wms.Esrimap?ServiceName=NDWMS_aerialimages& |
| OGC Version: | 1.0.0, 1.1.0, 1.1.1 |
| Projection: | GCS North American 1927, GCS North American 1983, GCS WGS 1984, NAD 1983 UTM Zone 13N, NAD 1983 UTM Zone 14N, NAD 1983 UTM Zone 15N |
| Visible scales for layers: | varies |
| Footprint: | Local jurisdictions and statewide |
| Capabilities (1.1.1): | Click to download NDWMS_aerialimages |
OGC Web Feature Services (WFS)
The North Dakota GIS Hub will offer Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) Web Feature Services (WFS) in the future. Due to server software dependency issues WFS will probably not become available until we upgrade to ArcGIS 9.2. If your organization can make use of WFS from the GIS Hub, please let us know as we would like to determine the level of WFS interest.
Other Web Services
MapDex
MapDex is a global index of OGC- and ESRI-format web services. One can use this tool to locate GIS Hub and other web services that apply to North Dakota.
WMS Sites
WMS Sites contains a listing of OGC Web Mapping Services (WMS). One can use this tool to locate GIS Hub and other web services that apply to North Dakota.
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