Web Map Service
Web Map Service (WMS) provides visualization of publicly accessible geospatial information from Web-based sources. Web Map Service (WMS) servers follow a standard developed by the Open Geospatial Consortium, Inc.® (OGC) and provide access to a wealth of geospatial information. With maps from WMS servers, you can:
Use any publicly available WMS data
Easily adjust colors and styles to more clearly display information
Update your map to reflect the most recent data
Share your map with others
Mapping Toolbox™ software simplifies the process of WMS map creation by using a stored database of WMS servers. You can search the database for layers and servers that are of interest to you. You can also host your own WMS server and share the maps you create with others. For an overview of the WMS workflow, see Basic Workflow for Creating WMS Maps.
As an example, the WMS Global Mosaic map (on the left) displays data from Landsat7 satellite scenes. The Ozone Effect on Global Warming map (on the right) displays data from the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) computer model study.
Functions
Classes
WebMapServer | Web map server |
WMSCapabilities | Web Map Service capabilities document |
WMSLayer | Web Map Service layer |
WMSMapRequest | Web Map Service map request |
Topics
Basic WMS Workflow
Learn about common terms encountered when working with Web Map Service (WMS), such as layers, capabilities documents, and WMS servers.
Basic Workflow for Creating WMS Maps
To create a WMS map, search the WMS database for useful servers and layers, request the most recent data of an interesting layer, and display the data.
Additional WMS Interactions
This examples shows how to save your favorite layers for easy access in the future. You can search for fields within the set of favorite layers.
Explore Other Layers using a Capabilities Document
Once you find a layer you like in the WMS Database, you can search the same WMS server for similar layers.
Search for Layers Outside the Database
This example shows how to search for layers outside the WMS Database by using a search engine in your Web browser.
These examples show how to merge multiple layers, including mixed vector and raster formats, into a single raster map.
These examples show how to create maps of the same geographic region at different times and view them as a movie.
Display Animation of Radar Images over GOES Backdrop
This example shows how to display a movie of radar images collected once per hour over a backdrop from the Geostationary Satellite.
Retrieve Data from Web Map Server
These examples show how to retrieve actual data instead of an image from a WMS server.
Write WMS Images to a KML File
Learn how to render a map in a non-image format such as KML.
Learn about connection errors and other common WMS server errors, and suggested workarounds.
