Viewing Metadata and Data

This section will guide users and visitors to the site on viewing metadata and previewing data using the interactive map.

Viewing metadata records

Clicking on the title of a record (from either the search results or those presented on the main page) will allow the user to view the metadata record. Below the record title, the abstract provides a brief description of what the dataset (or service) is and what it is used for. The spatial extent of the resource can be seen in the map to the right. Access to the data itself can be gained from the options listed in the Download and links section.

userdoc_fig_3_1_1_DefaultViewA

Figure 3.1.1: Default record view

Scrolling down the page, the About this resource and Technical information headings provide details on topic categories and keywords, licencing information, contacts, maintenance frequency, coordinate systems and data formats are provided. Information on the history of a resource and how it was created can be found in the lineage section.

Note that the default view for a metadata record displays a summary of the information in the record. To change the display view of the metadata record:

1| Click on button_view_display at the top right of the record.

2| Choose ‘Full view’ to display a detailed view of the record.

For detailed descriptions of each of the elements included in the metadata record, consult the Metadata Elements section.

Exporting metadata records

Metadata records can be exported from spatialdata.gov.scot via the download icon menu at the top right of the record. To export a record:

1| Click on button_view_download at the top right of the record.

2| Choose the format to export (ZIP, PDF, XML, or RDF). The permalink option will provide a URL for the record that can be copy and pasted.

userdoc_fig_3_2_1_ExportMetadata

Figure 3.2.1: Export metadata menu

Previewing data in the map

Spatial data can be previewed in the interactive map using the web services referenced in the metadata. This capability can be accessed either from the search results page, the metadata record view, or from the interactive map tab in the header menu.

To add a layer to the map from the search results page:

1| Click on button_view_globe visible at the bottom right of the record.

2| If there are multiple layers in the service, click the desired layer or choose to add all layers to the map.

userdoc_fig_3_3_1_AddtoMapSearch

Figure 3.3.1: Adding a layer to the map via the search results page

To add a layer from the main map page:

1| Click on button_map in the header menu to navigate to the main map page.

2| On the right-hand side of the map, click button_map_addlayer at the top of the menu to open the Add a Layer dialog.

3| On the Search tab of the Add a Layer dialog, enter text in the search box to find a layer. Alternately, copy and paste a URL for a service into the WMS, WMTS, or WFS boxes on the Services tab. KML can be added to the map via the Files tab.

4| Click button_map_addicon beside the layer to add it to the map. If adding from a URL, click on the layer name to add it to the map.

Note: when adding straight from the map page, using the search tab, you may see layers with no name. This is caused by the web service layer names not being referenced properly in the associated resources part of the dataset metadata record. Contributors to spatialdata.gov.scot should update their metadata records so their resources in the dataset metadata are named with the layer name as it appears in the service (i.e. as listed in the GetCapabilities request). See the Associated Resources section for guidance on how to set up associated resources.

userdoc_fig_3_3_3_AddtoMapMapPage

Figure 3.3.3: Adding a layer to the map via the map interface

To add a layer to the map from the metadata record view:

1| Scroll to the Downloads and links section of the record. Services that can be added to the map will have button_view_addtomap beside them.

2| For view services (i.e. WMS), Click on button_view_addtomap. The user will be automatically taken to the map page.

3| For download services (i.e. WFS), select the layer from the drop down menu then click on button_view_addtomap.

userdoc_fig_3_3_2_AddtoMapRecordView

Figure 3.3.2: Adding a layer to the map from the metadata record view

Note: with respect to WFS, users may experience occasions where the layer appears to have been added to the map, yet does not display. This occurs when the Access-Control-Allow-Orgin header (CORS access policy) is missing from the remote server, and thus the request is blocked by the browser. This is out of the control of the portal as it is dependent on the organisations’ server configuration, however, an error message shall be displayed.

Managing layers in the map

Available tools for the map are arranged down the right-hand side of the page.

To manage layers displayed in the map:

1| Click button_map_managelayers on the right-hand side of the map. This will display a list of layers currently added to the map.

Note: those with scale-dependent visibility that are not currently visible will be greyed out. Layers that cannot be added for some other reason, such as an error with the service, will display the layer name in red next to an error icon (button_map_exclamationicon).

2| To toggle a layer on or off, click on the layer name or check/uncheck the box.

3| Click the cog icon (button_map_cogicon) to access a menu to zoom to the extent of the layer, select syle (if available), adjust the opacity, or remove the layer from the map.

4| To toggle the layer legend on or off, click button_map_legendicon.

userdoc_fig_3_4_1_ManageLayers

Figure 3.4.1: Manage layers menu

Other map functions

Other functionality available from the tabs on the main map page is as follows:

button_map_default Default Map:
 via the manage layers tab, allows the user to reload the default map settings (removes all layers, etc.).
button_map_measure Measure:
 allows the user to draw a line on the map to measure it’s length. Single-click to create a node and double-click to finish.
button_map_graticules Projection Switcher:
 change the projection of the map to one of the supported projections in the dropdown list.
button_map_zoomin button_map_zoomout Zoom in and out:
 zoom in or out on the map.
button_map_zoomextent Zoom to initial map extent:
 zoom to the full extent of the map.
button_map_graticules Graticule:
 adds a grid to the map (in lat/long).