MAPSERVICE — Map service

Loads web cartography (WMS, WFS, WMTS or XYZ) into the drawing.

• Command: MAPSERVICE · Global name: _MAPSERVICE · Alias: WEBMAP
• Ribbon: Mapping › Map services
• Menu: Mapping

Loads public cartography from OGC map services (WMS, WFS, WMTS or XYZ) as a background or as drawing vectors, reprojected to the drawing coordinate system (GEOGRAPHICLOCATION). It is a single command with the service as a sub-option; the direct commands WMS, WFS and WMTS also exist.

Use

1. Type MAPSERVICE (or WEBMAP) or click the button. MAPCONNECT opens with every service type.
2. Pick the connection from the list, click Connect to read its layers and check them (XYZ has no layers).
3. Click Load.

Notes

• When the dialog opens, the program reads in the background the layers (name, title, formats and coordinate systems) of every server in the list and keeps them on disk for 7 days: the layer list shows up instantly. Connect requests them again from the service. To download a Cadastre parcel, see CADASTREDOWNLOAD.
• WMS and WMTS/XYZ are added as live map layers of the visible area: they are requested again after panning or zooming and are managed in ONLINEMAPS.
• WFS brings vectors (points, lines and polygons with their attributes), like MAPIMPORT, in GeoJSON or simple GML.
• WMS and WMTS need the drawing to have a coordinate system (GEOGRAPHICLOCATION).

Built-in Spanish servers

Public endpoints (verified against official documentation); if one changes, save a new connection in MAPCONNECT.

• Catastro (Dirección General del Catastro): WMS https://ovc.catastro.meh.es/Cartografia/WMS/ServidorWMS.aspx (layer Catastro) and INSPIRE WFS of parcels https://ovc.catastro.meh.es/INSPIRE/wfsCP.aspx.
• IGN / PNOA: PNOA orthophoto via WMS https://www.ign.es/wms-inspire/pnoa-ma and via WMTS https://www.ign.es/wmts/pnoa-ma; IGN base map (WMTS) https://www.ign.es/wmts/ign-base; MTN raster (WMS) https://www.ign.es/wms-inspire/mapa-raster.
• CartoCiudad (IGN): INSPIRE addresses (WFS) https://www.cartociudad.es/wfs-inspire/direcciones.
• Regional IDE (example): ICGC of Catalonia (WMS) https://geoserveis.icgc.cat/icc_mapesmultibase/utm/wms/service (layer topo).
• OpenStreetMap (XYZ, occasional use only): https://tile.openstreetmap.org/{z}/{x}/{y}.png. The OpenStreetMap Foundation tiles are not meant for heavy or commercial use: LinceCAD identifies itself, caches tiles for 7 days and only downloads the tiles covering the view, as their policy requires. For regular use, choose the IGN base map (first in the list) or an OpenStreetMap-based map provider with your own key, added as a custom server.

Attribution. Data from these services must be credited. LinceCAD automatically adds a "Source: …" text at the bottom-left corner of what it downloads (OpenStreetMap, IGN, Cadastre, CartoCiudad, ICGC); keep it in the drawing or move the credit to the title block. OpenStreetMap data (ODbL licence) can be used in commercial drawings as long as "OpenStreetMap (openstreetmap.org/copyright)" is credited.

Adding other servers

In MAPCONNECT, type a name and the URL and click Save connection: it is saved and stays in the list. Any WMS/WFS/WMTS endpoint works (the service base URL, without parameters) or an XYZ template with the z, x and y placeholders in braces. Respect each service's terms of use.

To work outside Spain, Map servers by country lists the official services of Europe, Latin America and North Africa (cadastre, mapping agency, orthophoto) with their URL, layer, licence and attribution, checked with LinceCAD.

See also

WMS · WFS · WMTS · GEOGRAPHICLOCATION · MAPIMPORT · Georeferencing · Map servers by country