Layer catalog overview

Introduction

Easily reference 400+ layers available in the Layer catalog ranging from national to state datasets. Here you can also find any custom layers that your team has saved or we've integrated for you.

Below is a quick breakdown of what's included.

U.S. Nationwide Layers 

These layers are available in the layers menu for all U.S. states and include layers in the following categories:

• Administrative Boundaries/Regions
• Demographic
• Infrastructure (both energy-related and general). Learn more in Grid layers. 
• Environmental
• Protected/Cultural
• Resource Availability (solar irradiance, wind speeds, etc.)
• Socioeconomic
• Topographic

State-specific layers

 In many states, there are state/county-specific layers available from local GIS resources and tools.

Custom layers

We can typically integrate custom data layers for a client as long as the data is geolocated (e.g. ArcGIS/Esri layers, shapefile, KMZ, excel sheet with lat/long coordinates). If the data is proprietary/not publicly available, we can load it into the layers menu so that only your company has access to that data. 

Please contact us for more details.

View layers on the map 

1. On any map, click the Layer catalog icon.

2. Scroll through the layer list to find desired layers or search by layer keyword/name in the Filter by name or source field.
3. Click on the desired layer name in the menu list to view the layer as an overlay on the map. The layer should activate once the layer is selected in the layers menu, but it may take a few seconds to load. If you're still not seeing the layer, try zooming in on the map. 

Interacting with layers on the map

1. Click on an object in the layer to view more details. If there are multiple layers enabled on the map, the pop-up window will appear and each layer will have a separate tab listed across the top of the pop up.
2. Select the desired layer tab to view details about that layer. Scroll up and down in the pop-up window with your mouse wheel.
3. Click, drag and drop the pop-up window to move it around on the map.
4. Click and drag the tab at the bottom right corner of the pop-up window to adjust the window size.

Copy/save an object from a layer to the map 

See how to copy/save objects from a layer overlay to your map. 

Adjusting the appearance of active layers

Change layer opacity/transparency

1. Turn on desired layer from the layers menu.  The layer will now be listed at the top under Active Layers and you'll see the checkmark box to the left of the layer name turn blue.
2. Click on the small three-dot button on the right-side of layer name.

3. Adjust the sliding bar under Opacity to adjust the opacity/transparency of the layer on the map.

• Left = completely transparent
• Right = completely opaque 

Pin Layers to Projects and/or a State

Pin any layer to the project map or all projects in a particular state. 

From the three-dot menu located to the right of the layer name, click to pin. 

Favorite Layers

You can create a custom list of your favorite layers: 

1. Click on the three-dot button to the right of layer name. 
2. From there, click Favorite. 

The layer catalog will create a Favorites header at the top of the layer catalog, so all your favorited layers are easily accessible. Layers that have been added as a favorite will have a star displayed next to their title in the catalog.

View layer data source

To view the layer source/read more info about a layer:

1. Click the source link icon to the right of the layer name. It will open up a new tab with information about that dataset. 
2. Hover over the source link to display the source name. 

Turn a layer off

There are two ways to turn off a layer: 

Original layers menu

1. Relocate the layer in the original layers menu.
2. Click on the check marked box/layer name to turn the layer off.

Layer catalog

1. Go to the top of the layer catalog.
2. Click anywhere on the layer name to turn the layer off.
    

Change basemap imagery

Switch the basemap on a project to Satellite, Terrain, or Gray by clicking the desired option at the top of the Layer catalog.