Layers

In the Layers section, layers can be added and organized. Among others, the layer order can be adjusted, layers can be enabled/disabled, duplicated, renamed, downloaded, and removed.

How to manage your Layers

The Layers Panel is your central hub for organizing and controlling all the data in your GOAT project. Here you can add new datasets, arrange layer order for optimal visualization, group related layers together, and control visibility.

Add Layers

You can add layers from different sources to your map. You can either:

• Integrate datasets from your data explorer or the catalog explorer
• Upload new datasets from your local device (GeoPackage, GeoJSON, Shapefile, KML, CSV, or XLSX).
• Add external layers by inserting the url of the external source (WFS, WMS, WMTS, XYZ Tiles, or COG).
• Create a new empty layer directly in your project.

1

On the left panel, click on + Add Layer to open the layer options.

2

Select if you like to integrate a dataset using the: Dataset Explorer, Dataset Upload, Dataset External, Catalog Explorer, or Create Layer to choose your data source.

Dataset Explorer

3

Select the file you want to import.

4

Click on + Add Layer to add the selected file.

Dataset Upload

3

Select the file you want to import.

4

Define the name of the dataset and add a description, if you like.

5

Check the information and click on Upload to upload the dataset.

Dataset External

3

Insert your external URL and follow the steps depending on the type of dataset you would like to add.

WFS

When you would like to add a WFS layer you need to have a GetCapabilities link.

In the next step you can choose which layer you would like to add to your dataset. You can only choose one layer at a time.

WMS

When you would like to add a WMS layer you need to have a GetCapabilities link.

Here you have the option to select multiple layers, but when added to GOAT it will be merged onto one layer.

WMTS

You can add a WMTS to your dataset via a direct URL or GetCapabilities link. You can only choose *one layer* at a time if your URL contains more than one layer.

The projection needs to be WEB Mercator (EPSG:3857) and GoogleMaps compatible. Because they have different zoom levels, the dataset would not show up in the list of available layers if it doesn't meet both requirements.

Catalog Explorer

3

Browse GOAT Dataset Catalog to explore available datasets.

4

Select the Dataset you want to import.

5

Click on + Add Layer to add the selected dataset.

Create Layer

3

Create a new empty layer directly in your project. Enter a layer name, select the geometry type (Point, Line, Polygon, or Table), and define your fields. For full details, see Layer Editing.

tip

You can manage all your datasets on the Datasets page.

Order Layers

When visualizing several data sets at once, the layer order is crucial for creating clear, readable maps. Therefore, the layer order can be changed interactively.

Click on the layer you want to move, then drag and drop the layer to your desired position.

Show / Hide Layers

Click the icon next to the layer name to temporarily hide a layer from the map view. Clicking the eye again will make the layer visible again.

Group Layers

Click the Group Layers button on top of the Layers Panel to create layer groups that help organize related datasets together.

1

Click the Group Layers button at the top of the Layers Panel.

2

Enter a name for your layer group in the dialog that appears.

3

Click Create to create the new layer group.

4

Drag and drop layers from the main layers list into your newly created group to organize them.

5

Use the expand/collapse arrow next to the group name to show or hide the group contents.

Layer Options

By clicking on more options icon next to each layer you have further options to manage and organize the selected layer.

tip

Want to change the design of your layers? See Layer Style.
Only want to visualize parts of your dataset? See Filter.

Edit Features

Use Edit features from the layer's more options menu to update feature data directly on the map.

1

Click Edit features in the layer options to start editing mode.

2

Click a feature on the map to open its attributes in the right-side panel.

3

Update the values you want to change in the Feature attributes panel.

4

Click Done to confirm the feature edit.

5

Click Save to apply all pending changes, or Discard to cancel them.