Upload Data

At the heart of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) lies the fundamental importance of data. Data serves as the building blocks upon which comprehensive maps and impactful visualizations are constructed.

Accessing the Add Layer Dialog

To add data to your Atlas project, click the Add layer button in the Layers panel (left sidebar). When you create a new empty project, Atlas automatically opens the Add Data dialog to help you get started.

The Add Data dialog provides four different methods for bringing data into your project:

1. Upload Data - Upload files from your computer
2. Connections - Connect to external data sources
3. Shared Datasets - Import datasets shared within your workspace
4. Atlas Data Hub - Access 500+ curated public datasets

Upload Data

The Upload Data tab provides a simple drag-and-drop interface for uploading files from your computer.

Supported Formats

Atlas supports a wide range of file formats, with support for files up to 250 MB in size. You have the option to upload files in their original format or choose to compress them into .zip files.

Atlas reads most common geospatial data formats, including:

How to Upload

You can upload data in three ways:

1. Drag and drop - Drag files directly onto the upload area
2. Click to browse - Click "Click to browse" to open your file picker
3. Paste - Copy and paste supported file data directly

Once uploaded, your data will appear as a new layer in the Layers panel and be visible on the map.

Connections

The Connections tab allows you to connect to live external data sources. Atlas supports four connection types:

• Web Map Services (WMS/WMTS) - Connect to web map tile services
• Feature Server - Connect to ArcGIS Feature Services
• Google Sheets - Import live data from Google Sheets
• Postgres - Connect to PostgreSQL databases

For detailed information about setting up and managing external connections, see the External Connections guide.

Shared Datasets

The Shared Datasets tab provides access to datasets that are shared across your workspace. These datasets can be organized into folders and are available to all workspace members.

How to Import Shared Datasets

1. Navigate to the Shared Datasets tab
2. Browse through workspace folders or view individual shared datasets
3. Check the box next to any dataset you want to add to your project
4. Selected datasets will appear in the Layers panel with a "Workspace" tag

Workspace datasets sync automatically - any changes made in one project will be reflected in all projects using that dataset.

For more information, see the Workspace Data guide.

Atlas Data Hub

The Atlas Data Hub provides access to over 500 curated public datasets from trusted sources. These datasets are ready to use and cover a wide range of categories.

How to Use Atlas Data Hub

1. Navigate to the Atlas Data Hub tab
2. Browse through featured datasets or use the filters to narrow your search:
   • Type - Vector or Raster
   • Capabilities - Static or Dynamic data
   • Countries - Filter by geographic region
   • Categories - Infrastructure, Environment, Demographics, etc.
   • Data Source - OpenStreetMap, Natural Earth, and more
3. Click on a dataset card to preview details
4. Select datasets you want to add to your project
5. Use "Select all filtered datasets" or "Deselect all" to manage bulk selections

Dataset Types

Atlas Data Hub includes:

• Vector datasets - Points, lines, and polygons (e.g., roads, boundaries, POIs)
• Raster datasets - Imagery and elevation data (e.g., satellite imagery, DEMs)
• Global coverage - Many datasets cover the entire world
• Regional datasets - Country or region-specific data

Request Custom Data

If you need data that's not available in the Atlas Data Hub, use the Request data button to submit a request to the Atlas team.

Dataset Types in Atlas

Once added to your project, datasets are categorized by type:

Troubleshooting

Are you encountering problems during the upload process? Refer to our Troubleshooting Guide for solutions to repair broken files!