External Connections

The External Connections feature allows you to connect to and integrate data from various external sources, enhancing your projects with dynamic and versatile data inputs. This feature is accessible through the Add Data modal under the Connections tab.

Supported Connections

Atlas supports four types of external connections:

1. Web Map Services (WMS/WMTS) - Connect to web map tile services
2. Feature Server - Connect to ArcGIS Feature Services
3. Google Sheets - Import live data from spreadsheets
4. Postgres - Connect to PostgreSQL databases

1. WMS/WMTS

Web Map Service (WMS) and Web Map Tile Service (WMTS) are widely used protocols for accessing geospatial data over the web. You can seamlessly integrate layers from these services into your projects.

How to Connect to WMS/WMTS:

1. Open the Add Data modal and navigate to the External Connections tab.
2. Select WMS/WMTS.
3. Provide the following details:
   • Service URL: Enter the URL of the WMS/WMTS service.
4. Click Connect to fetch available layers from the service.
5. Select the desired layer(s) from the list and click Add to Project.

Supported Features:

• Customizable layer visibility and opacity.
• Ability to set bounding boxes and resolutions.
• Fetching and rendering tiles dynamically.

2. Google Sheets

Google Sheets integration enables you to import live, structured data into your projects, perfect for scenarios where your data is regularly updated.

How to Connect to Google Sheets:

1. Open the Add Data modal and navigate to the External Connections tab.
2. Select Google Sheets.
3. Provide the following details:
   • Sheet URL: Paste the shareable URL of your Google Sheet.
   • Make sure your sheet is public
4. Click Connect to add the Dataset in the map.

Supported Features:

• Update data with a simple Refresh button.
• Flexible column mapping for seamless integration with project attributes.

3. Feature Server

Connect to ArcGIS Feature Services to import vector data from ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise.

How to Connect to Feature Server:

1. Open the Add Data modal and navigate to the Connections tab.
2. Select Feature Server.
3. Provide the following details:
   • Service URL: Enter the URL of the ArcGIS Feature Service.
4. Click Connect to fetch available layers from the service.
5. Select the desired layer(s) and add them to your project.

Supported Features:

• Import point, line, and polygon features from ArcGIS services.
• Access both public and authenticated Feature Services.

4. Postgres

Connect directly to PostgreSQL databases with PostGIS extension to access your spatial data.

How to Connect to Postgres:

1. Open the Add Data modal and navigate to the Connections tab.
2. Select Postgres.
3. Provide the following connection details:
   • Host: Database server hostname or IP address
   • Port: Database port (default: 5432)
   • Database: Database name
   • Schema: PostgreSQL schema (default: public)
   • Table: Table name containing spatial data
   • Authentication credentials
4. Click Connect to establish the connection.
5. Select the table/layer you want to add to your project.

Requirements:

• Database must have PostGIS extension installed
• Table must contain spatial geometry columns
• Appropriate access permissions for the database user

Managing External Connections

Once connected, all external data sources are listed in your project under External Connections. You can:

• Refresh data: Ensure you’re working with the latest updates from your source.
• Reconfigure connections: Modify authentication details or query parameters.
• Remove connections: Disconnect a source when it is no longer needed.