gismap

# GISMap Online

> GISMap Online is a free, open-source, browser-based GIS workspace for people and AI agents to explore, style and share geographic data in 2D and 3D. A language model can make a map for someone by producing a URL: no API key, account or server call is needed. It opens public ArcGIS REST (FeatureServer, MapServer, ImageServer), GeoJSON, WMS, WFS and KML sources over HTTPS.

## If you have no tools

- If you cannot fetch URLs: use a layer URL the user gave you or a curated dataset below, use `style=auto`, and don't invent field names.
- If the user gave places, not a layer: build a guided tour (`#tour=json:`) with their places as stops, and say the coordinates came from your own knowledge and should be checked.
- Report the result as prepared.

Curated datasets (the link needs no field names):

- `https://gismap.online/?example=usa-wildfires`: Current wildfire incidents and daily fire perimeter data for the United States. Key fields: IncidentName, DailyAcres, PercentContained.
- `https://gismap.online/?example=modis-active-fires`: Recent thermal anomalies detected by the MODIS satellite instruments. Key fields: BRIGHTNESS, FRP, ACQ_DATE.
- `https://gismap.online/?example=active-hurricanes`: Current tropical cyclone tracks, forecasts, and related observations. Key fields: STORMNAME, MAXWIND.
- `https://gismap.online/?example=recent-hurricanes`: Recent tropical cyclone tracks and observations published for hurricane analysis. Key fields: STORMNAME, INTENSITY.
- `https://gismap.online/?example=air-quality-pm25`: Latest particulate matter air-quality observations and results. Key fields: city, country, value.
- `https://gismap.online/?example=california-fire-perimeters`: Mapped perimeters of California wildfires from 1878 to 2025, from CAL FIRE's historic fire perimeter record. Key fields: FIRE_NAME, YEAR_, DECADES, GIS_ACRES.
- `https://gismap.online/?example=usgs-seismic-activity`: Recent earthquake and seismic activity reported by the USGS. Key fields: mag, place, eventTime.
- `https://gismap.online/?example=usgs-recent-earthquakes-map-service`: A USGS ArcGIS MapServer presenting recent earthquake activity. Key fields: mag, place, depth.
- `https://gismap.online/?example=ndfd-wind-gusts`: Forecast wind-gust conditions from the National Digital Forecast Database. Key fields: label, fromdate.
- `https://gismap.online/?example=ndfd-precipitation`: Forecast precipitation from the National Digital Forecast Database. Key fields: label, fromdate.
- `https://gismap.online/?example=ndfd-daily-temperature`: Daily temperature forecasts from the National Digital Forecast Database. Key fields: Temp, Period.
- `https://gismap.online/?example=historical-quakes`: A stable historical earthquake archive published as an ArcGIS FeatureServer, with source-authored magnitude symbols. Key fields: mag, magType.
- `https://gismap.online/?example=usgs-earthquakes`: Continuously updated GeoJSON feed of global earthquake activity. Key fields: mag, place, time.
- `https://gismap.online/?example=world-countries-generalized`: Generalized country boundaries from an ArcGIS feature service. Key fields: COUNTRY, ISO.

The map in a link is one JSON object (map-v1): layers with filters and styles, basemap, camera. It can also carry "analysis" steps the browser runs after loading, such as [{"operation":"buffer","input":0,"options":{"distanceKm":5}}]; the operations are in /api/capabilities.json under map.analysisOperations. It can open linked chart panels beside the map with "charts", such as [{"type":"bar","layer":0,"dimension":"POOState","style":{"topN":10}}]: field names only, and the numbers are computed from the layer when the link opens. Write it after #map=json: in the URL. Invalid parts are skipped and reported; the rest of the map still opens.

## Links a chatbot can write (no code, no account)

Every GISMap Online artifact can be written as one link: URI-encode the JSON (encodeURIComponent) after `json:`. Return the link to the user; it opens the finished result. To credit the agent that wrote it, start the link with `?via=<agent>`, as in `https://gismap.online/?via=<agent>#map=json:…` (lowercase letters, digits and hyphens; aggregate counts only, never personal data).

- Map: `https://gismap.online/#map=json:{"version":1,"layers":[{"url":"<layer URL>","where":"<filter>","renderer":{"type":"choropleth","field":"<FIELD>","ramp":"purples"}}],"basemap":"gray-vector"}`
- Map with a linked chart: add `"charts":[{"type":"bar","title":"…","layer":0,"dimension":"<CATEGORY FIELD>","measure":{"field":"<NUMERIC FIELD>","aggregation":"sum"},"placement":"right","style":{"topN":10,"theme":"futuristic"}}]` to the map JSON (leave `measure` out to count features). The chart's colours follow the layer's style; hovering a mark highlights its features and clicking zooms to them.
- Briefing (slides): add `"briefing":{"layerId":"<layer URL>","selection":{"useAll":true},"slides":[{"template":"title","title":"…"},{"template":"key-numbers","title":"At a glance","blocks":[{"type":"stat","stat":"count","label":"Features"}]},{"template":"feature","title":"…","featureId":"<OBJECTID>","fit":"feature","blocks":[{"type":"text","markdown":"…"}]}]}` to the map JSON; the link opens presenting (schema: [briefing-v1](https://gismap.online/schemas/briefing-v1.schema.json)).
- Guided tour: `https://gismap.online/?tourOnly=1#tour=json:{"title":"…","autoplay":true,"stops":[{"name":"Coit Tower","caption":"…","lat":37.80238,"lon":-122.40583,"zoom":17,"tilt":55,"heading":200,"basemap":"usgs-imagery","seconds":6}]}`
- LiDAR or 3D model (MapLibre engine): a map layer with `"type":"pointcloud"` (LAS, LAZ, XYZ) or `"type":"model"` (glTF/GLB, OBJ, PLY) and `"scene3d":{"crs":"EPSG:26910","classes":[3,4,5,14],"colorBy":"classification"}` or, for models, `"scene3d":{"anchor":[lon,lat,0],"heading":0,"scale":1}`.
- Field task: `https://gismap.online/?workflow=tasks#fieldTask=json:{"title":"…","location":"…","lat":37.75972,"lon":-122.42713,"notes":"…","steps":["…","…"]}` (up to 10 steps and 5 features: `{"layerUrl","objectId","lat","lon","label"}`).

Readable links hold up to 8,192 characters. Inspect real fields first (`<layer URL>?f=pjson`) when you can fetch. Use `usgs-imagery` for aerial imagery on the default MapLibre engine; it covers the United States only and is blank elsewhere. Step-by-step: [agent recipes](https://gismap.online/agent-recipes/).

## What can AI agents create with GISMap Online?

Print-ready PDFs and branded Smart Images come from `gisMapOnline.print` in a running page; see the [print reference](https://gismap.online/skills/gismap/references/print.md).

Finished maps, linked charts and Instant Dashboards, briefings, guided tours, field task packages, 3D maps, cinematic presentations and themed maps. Start with [Discover](https://gismap.online/discover/) and its [current examples](https://gismap.online/discover/examples/) when choosing a public workflow. Each recipe gives the interface to use (a URL you write, a standalone JavaScript module, or the in-page API; never a hosted REST endpoint), how to verify the result, and its limits: [recipe pages](https://gismap.online/agent-recipes/) · [recipe catalog (JSON)](https://gismap.online/api/agent-recipes/index.json). For engine-specific work, read the [Map engines guide](https://gismap.online/discover/engines/) before selecting styling or 3D behavior.


| User asks for… | Agent selects… | Primary artifact |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Map this data and color it by population | [interactive-map](https://gismap.online/skills/#recipe-interactive-map) | Filtered, styled interactive map |
| Create slides about these districts | [interactive-briefing](https://gismap.online/skills/#recipe-interactive-briefing) | Map-based briefing |
| Show me these locations in sequence | [geographic-tour](https://gismap.online/skills/#recipe-geographic-tour) | Guided geographic tour |
| Inspect this location and complete these tasks | [field-tasks](https://gismap.online/skills/#recipe-field-tasks) | Five-task fieldwork package |
| Make the county heights represent acreage | [3d-extrusion](https://gismap.online/skills/#recipe-3d-extrusion) | 3D extruded map |
| Separate overlapping events by year and height | [spatial-3d-chart](https://gismap.online/skills/#recipe-spatial-3d-chart) | 3D spatial chart and five-scene Brief |
| Show this LiDAR or CAD model in 3D | [lidar-and-3d-models](https://gismap.online/skills/#recipe-lidar-and-3d-models) | Point cloud or 3D model map |
| Make a printable map, poster or Smart Map Image | [print-map](https://gismap.online/agent-recipes/print-map/) | Branded PDF or Smart Image |
| Make the map feel like Halloween in California | [vibe-map](https://gismap.online/skills/#recipe-vibe-map) | Coordinated theme and styled map |
| Turn this layer into an interactive dashboard | [dashboard workflow](https://gismap.online/skills/gismap/references/dashboard-chart-animation.md) | Linked chart panel, skin, basemap and map filtering |
| Animate observed changes in this layer | [cinematic animation](https://gismap.online/skills/gismap/references/dashboard-chart-animation.md#cinematic-animation) | Evidence-preserving playback, clip or poster |
| Put this configured map on my website | [embedding](https://gismap.online/skills/gismap/references/sharing.md#embeds) | Public map link and ready-to-paste iframe |

Combine recipes for one request: a 3D fire-history map with chronological strata, a linked dashboard, a five-slide briefing and a QR uses interactive-map, spatial-3d-chart, vibe-map and interactive-briefing. Check compatibility, virtual-Z semantics, actual outputs and reopening; do not assume every combination is portable.

## Charts, Instant Dashboards and animation

Inspect the actual layer before choosing a chart. Use category or time values for grouping and a verified numeric measure for sum/mean/min/max; otherwise use count. Chart Builder supports bar, column, line, area, histogram, scatter, bubble, box, donut, metric, conventional 3D bar/scatter and map-chart presets. Its destinations are Chart panel, Instant Dashboard, On the map and Brief slide. A chart scope can be filtered, all, viewport or selected data; label a bounded browser query, sample or partial response honestly.

For a fast, coherent dashboard in an active GISMap Online session, use `create_instant_dashboard` only after inspecting a loaded queryable layer. Choose a skin and basemap based on the subject and data density: `skin` basemap follows the selected skin on MapLibre, while the renderer must still keep meaningful data colours and readable contrast. The resulting chart marks must filter/select the matching map records; activate a bar, donut segment or grouped mark, then clear the map filter and verify both states.

A map-v1 link carries chart panels in its `charts` list: type, dimension, measure, the layer (its position in `layers` or its URL), `style` (palette, theme, topN, other, hidden) and placement (right or bottom). Opening it adds each chart beside the map, linked to its layer, and leaves the sidebar as it is; `mapSpec.fromCurrent()` writes the open chart panels back into `charts`. Worked example: [wildfires by state](https://gismap.online/examples/ai/wildfires-by-state-chart/). The link does not carry the skin chosen by an Instant Dashboard unless `skin` is set, nor other application panels, floating positions or panel sizes in pixels; the app's Share menu link carries no charts. Reopen the link and check the chart before calling the dashboard shared.

Chart colours follow the layer's map style by default (`style.palette: "inherit"`): a chart grouped by the styled category field takes the map's category colours, classed and ramped styles colour marks along the same ramp, and a single symbol (including a 3D extrusion) colours every mark. Keep that link when the colours carry meaning; `theme` (the interface skin) and `neon` are the alternatives. `style.topN` sets how many categories show (0 = all), `style.other` groups the rest as one clickable "Other" mark (`group`) or leaves them out (`hide`), and `style.hidden` lists categories left out by name; say so when categories are left out. `create_instant_dashboard` accepts `chartTheme`: `futuristic` draws a neon HUD for operations, tech or night-time subjects, and `auto` (default) uses it with the violet-circuit, velvet-orbit and wavelength skins. Hovering a chart mark highlights its features on the map and clicking one also zooms to them. Adding a chart to the ordinary workspace leaves the sidebar panels as they were.

Cinematic mode is for observed records or explicit numeric scenarios, not an inference engine. Confirm the source date/time or numeric field, units and time zone; disclose whether playback is instant, cumulative, rolling or scenario-based. Keep effects subordinate to the source data, test local and overview scales, respect reduced-motion behavior, and pause/remove an effect before removing its layer. Verify that no derived or ghost overlay remains. Effects are primarily a MapLibre capability; another engine may render the source without the animated effect.

## Embed a configured public map

When a user wants to publish a configured map on another site, use `get_map_embed` if you are the in-app Map assistant (input: optional `title` and `height`; output: the embed URL and iframe HTML) or `createEmbedUrl` / `createEmbedIframe` from [embed-share.js](https://gismap.online/js/embed-share.js). A map embed preserves public layers, styles, filters, camera, basemap and skin from the share URL. It cannot carry local files, device-only layers, private service URLs, credentials or tokens. Test the final iframe in its destination page.

## Make a map from a URL (no code)
- One layer: `https://gismap.online/?layer=<HTTPS service URL>&layerType=feature`
- Styled: add `&style=choropleth&field=<FIELD>&method=auto&ramp=greens&exclude=-1&basemap=gray-vector` (`method=auto` picks the class breaks from the data)
- Not sure which style suits the field: `&style=auto&field=<FIELD>` lets the app choose
- Full control: `https://gismap.online/#map=json:<URI-encoded map-v1 JSON>` (at most 8192 characters) or `?spec=<URL of a hosted map-v1 JSON file>`
- Inspect a service's fields first: append `?f=pjson` to the layer URL.
- Worked example: https://gismap.online/#map=json:%7B%22version%22%3A1%2C%22basemap%22%3A%22gray-vector%22%2C%22layers%22%3A%5B%7B%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fservices.arcgis.com%2FP3ePLMYs2RVChkJx%2FArcGIS%2Frest%2Fservices%2FCorn%2FFeatureServer%2F0%22%2C%22renderer%22%3A%7B%22type%22%3A%22choropleth%22%2C%22field%22%3A%22CORN_SALES_IN_DOLLARS%22%2C%22method%22%3A%22auto%22%2C%22ramp%22%3A%22greens%22%2C%22exclude%22%3A%5B-1%5D%7D%7D%5D%7D

## Finish and verify the map
1. Retrieve source metadata (append ?f=pjson), inspect actual fields and query real filter values; do not guess field names. Check the publisher's null and sentinel conventions.
2. Construct a map-v1 spec and validate it and its renderer. In code, mapSpec.prepareVerification(spec) returns a URL and an offline report; metadata, filtering, rendering and reopening remain not_checked until independently tested.
3. Generate the canonical URL using mapSpec.createLink or URI-encoded #map=json: JSON. Return the actual URL to the user.
4. With browser access, open it, wait for layers, check issues and the intended features, filter, style and camera, then reopen the share URL.
5. **Reporting.** Always return the actual URL. Then state one status (prepared, validated, loaded or verified) and one line listing what you could not check. Don't withhold a link because you couldn't verify it. Definitions: [sharing](https://gismap.online/skills/gismap/references/sharing.md#status-definitions).

Follow-up refinement: [derive year and acreage maps from one filtered California fire map](https://gismap.online/examples/ai/california-fire-refinement/). Preserve the source, filter, basemap and camera; use map-v1 when a simple URL is insufficient. The linked example reports which checks remain unverified.

## Contracts
- [Map spec schema](https://gismap.online/schemas/map-v1.schema.json): layers, renderers, filters, linked charts, camera, basemap
- [Renderer schema](https://gismap.online/schemas/renderer-v1.schema.json): choropleth, graduated symbols, categories, heat map, simple
- [Briefing schema](https://gismap.online/schemas/briefing-v1.schema.json): slides that present a map
- [Layer style schema](https://gismap.online/schemas/layer-style-v1.schema.json): a reusable 2D or 3D layer file from the Cartography Lab (colour, 3D height, filter, opacity); `gisMapOnline.layerStyles` saves, applies and turns it into a map link or briefing
- [Agent recipe schema](https://gismap.online/schemas/agent-recipe-v1.schema.json): the format of /api/agent-recipes/*.json
- Tours and field tasks without the app: `createEmbeddedTourUrl` from [tour-share.js](https://gismap.online/js/tour-share.js) and `createFieldTaskUrl` from [field-task-share.js](https://gismap.online/js/field-task-share.js) build their links (see the [tour](https://gismap.online/agent-recipes/geographic-tour/) and [field task](https://gismap.online/agent-recipes/field-tasks/) recipes)
- Public embeds: `createEmbedUrl` and `createEmbedIframe` from [embed-share.js](https://gismap.online/js/embed-share.js) make map, briefing or tour iframe URLs; the share URL remains authoritative
- [URL parameters](https://gismap.online/api/url-parameters.json): every query and fragment parameter
- [Capabilities](https://gismap.online/api/capabilities.json): in-page API, tools, error codes, limits
- [Application manifest](https://gismap.online/api/manifest.json) and [API explorer](https://gismap.online/api/explorer/): privacy-safe state and live registry discovery
- [TypeScript types](https://gismap.online/js/gismap-core.d.ts)

## Guides
- [GISMap Online Agent Skill](https://gismap.online/skills/): installable instructions, validation and implementation proposal
- [Making maps with an AI agent](https://gismap.online/guides/ai-agents/): chat-only, code-running and browser-driving recipes
- [AI ArcGIS map generator](https://gismap.online/ai-arcgis-map-generator/): inspect a FeatureServer, style a map, and share a working link
- [ArcGIS FeatureServer viewer](https://gismap.online/arcgis-feature-service-viewer/)

## Worked examples
- [A police divisions briefing, from one prompt or one click](https://gismap.online/examples/ai/philadelphia-police-divisions/): Philadelphia's six police divisions, with the police districts inside them, as a nine-slide interactive briefing on a dark 3D map, opened from one link or QR code.
- [A two-layer briefing with spatial queries, built by an agent](https://gismap.online/examples/ai/mlb-ballparks-by-state/): An AI agent built a ten-slide briefing that shows each state with only the Major League ballparks inside it, using a spatial query per slide, an automatic style and cut transitions.
- [A map with linked charts, in one link](https://gismap.online/examples/ai/wildfires-by-state-chart/): Current U.S. wildfire incidents coloured by state, with a bar chart of incidents by state and a column chart of today's acres, wildfire against prescribed fire, both opened and linked to the map by one readable link.
- [A styled map in one link, written by a chatbot](https://gismap.online/examples/ai/corn-sales-one-link/): Any chatbot, even one that cannot run code, can make a styled county map by writing one JSON object into a link: corn sales by county, with "Not Disclosed" counties kept out of the colour classes.
- [A guided tour of eight classic ballparks](https://gismap.online/examples/tours/classic-ballparks/): A guided tour that flies the 3D map from Fenway Park to Petco Park, with a caption at each of eight ballparks, opened from one link or QR code.
- [A field task and its report, sent as two links](https://gismap.online/examples/field-tasks/opening-day-wayfinding/): A two-ballpark field check sent as a link or QR code, and the completed report that comes back the same way: check-in, steps, features and notes, with no server.
- [A trip as a guided tour](https://gismap.online/examples/ai/trip-tour/): Prompt: "Make me a map of our three days in Kyoto: Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizu-dera, then Kinkaku-ji." Status reached: loaded.
- [A coffee crawl as a guided tour](https://gismap.online/examples/ai/coffee-crawl-tour/): Prompt: "Plot a coffee crawl around Seattle's Pike Place and Capitol Hill." Status reached: loaded.
- [Colour states by a value](https://gismap.online/examples/ai/colour-states/): Prompt: "Colour US states by population density." Status reached: loaded.
- [Earthquakes this week](https://gismap.online/examples/ai/earthquakes-this-week/): Prompt: "Show me this week's earthquakes on a map." Status reached: loaded.
- [Wildfire perimeters](https://gismap.online/examples/ai/wildfire-perimeters/): Prompt: "Map the current US wildfire perimeters." Status reached: loaded.
- [A county choropleth with sentinels](https://gismap.online/examples/ai/county-choropleth-sentinels/): Prompt: "Map corn sales by county, and don't let undisclosed counties skew the colours." Status reached: loaded.
- [A two-layer map](https://gismap.online/examples/ai/two-layer-map/): Prompt: "Show state populations with the Major League ballparks on top." Status reached: loaded.
- [A briefing](https://gismap.online/examples/ai/state-briefing/): Prompt: "Turn US state population density into a short presentation." Status reached: loaded.
- [A contact-page embed](https://gismap.online/examples/ai/contact-page-embed/): Prompt: "Add a map of Fenway Park to my contact page." Status reached: loaded.
- [A 3D map](https://gismap.online/examples/ai/3d-extrusion/): Prompt: "Show California's big wildfires stacked in 3D by decade." Status reached: loaded.
- [A themed map](https://gismap.online/examples/ai/vibe-map/): Prompt: "Make a moody, late-night map of US state populations." Status reached: loaded.
- [A LiDAR view](https://gismap.online/examples/ai/lidar-view/): Prompt: "Show this LiDAR file in 3D: autzen_trim.las from the PDAL samples." Status reached: loaded.
- [A field task](https://gismap.online/examples/ai/field-task/): Prompt: "Send a colleague to check the signs at Oracle Park's main gate." Status reached: loaded.
- [A refinement of an existing link](https://gismap.online/examples/ai/refine-a-link/): Prompt: "Take my California fire map and colour it by year, keeping the 2000 to 2010 filter." Status reached: loaded.
- [A failure: CORS_BLOCKED](https://gismap.online/examples/ai/cors-blocked/): Prompt: "Put https://example.com/ on a map as GeoJSON." Status reached: prepared.

## Data
- [Curated public datasets (JSON)](https://gismap.online/api/catalog.json): 14 services with ready links

## Limits
- At most 10 layers per map; HTTPS only; URLs containing tokens or keys are refused; sources must allow browser (CORS) access.
- Layer types: arcgis-auto, feature, map-image, imagery, geojson, geoparquet, wms, wfs, kml, pointcloud, model, vector-tiles.
- Renderer types: service, simple, choropleth, graduated-symbols, categories, heatmap, arcgis, auto.
- Basemaps: topo-3d, navigation-3d, navigation-dark-3d, osm-3d, gray-3d, dark-gray-3d, streets-3d, streets-dark-3d, topo-vector, streets-vector, navigation, gray-vector, dark-gray-vector, osm, satellite, hybrid, usgs-imagery, usgs-imagery-topo, open-liberty, open-bright, open-positron, open-dark, open-fiord, skin.
- Colour ramps: greens, blues, reds, oranges, purples, viridis, magma, red-blue-diverging, brown-teal-diverging.

## Optional
- [Full documentation in one file](https://gismap.online/llms-full.txt)