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:

New data

• Upload dataset: a dataset from your device (GeoPackage, GeoJSON, Shapefile, KML, CSV, XLSX, Parquet, and GTFSGlossaryGTFSAn open standard for publishing public transport timetables, stops and routes as a set of text files, so any software can read the same data.Read more ↗ or OvertureGlossaryOverture MapsAn open map dataset of roads, buildings, places, addresses and boundaries, released monthly in one schema by the Overture Maps Foundation.Read more ↗ archives)
• Create layer: a new empty layer you draw into
• Connect service: a layer served by WFS, WMS, WMTS, XYZ Tiles or COG, added by URL

Existing data

• My datasets: anything already in your spaces
• Catalog: ready-made datasets from official providers

1

On the left panel, click + Add layer.

2

Choose where the layer comes from.

Upload dataset

3

Drag a file onto the drop zone, or click to choose one. The supported formats are listed above it.

4

Give the dataset a name and, if you like, a description. For a CSV or XLSX you can also open Set up columns to pick the worksheet and say whether the first row holds column names.

5

Click Upload.

Street networks and GTFS feeds: a GTFS or Overture archive is imported as a bundle rather than a single layer, and a public transport feed asks you to link it to a street network. See Network Datasets for where to get this data and what happens on import.

Create layer

3

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

My datasets

3

Browse or search your spaces for the dataset you want.

4

Select one or more and click Add layer (Add 3 layers when you have selected three).

Catalog

3

Search and filter the Catalog for the dataset you need. The same filters as the Catalog page are available here.

4

Select one or more datasets and click Add layer. GOAT prepares a copy for your project; the layer reads Preparing data … while that runs.

Connect service

3

Enter the URL of the service, then follow the steps for the kind of source you are adding.

WFS

A WFS layer needs a GetCapabilities link.

You then choose which layer to add. Only one layer can be added at a time.

WMS

A WMS layer also needs a GetCapabilities link.

You can select several layers here, but GOAT merges them into one.

WMTS

A WMTS can be added by direct URL or GetCapabilities link. If the URL carries more than one layer, only one can be added at a time.

The projection must be Web Mercator (EPSG:3857) and GoogleMaps compatible. Zoom levels differ otherwise, so a source that does not meet both will not appear in the list.

XYZ

An XYZ Tiles layer is any tile URL with {z}/{x}/{y} placeholders. The address is the layer, so there is no list to choose from — check the preview shows what you expect.

COG

A Cloud Optimized GeoTIFF (COG) is added by a direct .tif/.tiff link. The file is read in pieces straight from where it is stored, so nothing is uploaded to GOAT.

tip

You can manage all your datasets on the Content 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.