Can a Bot programically use and consume large amounts of ArcGIS Online Credits via Living Atlas Content map requests or in any other way?

Question

We have a publicly facing application that uses Premium Content from Esri's Living Atlas.

We are not as concerned about humans consuming credits as we are Bots.

Bots that can be programmed to make map requests or other method to Premium Content.

Is this possible?

Thank you in advance,

Aaron Paul

BenTurrell · Answer

Hey Aaron Paul‌,

There are a few different ways. Generally you can find the endpoint to a service using a browsers developer tools and then checking the network tab to get the url. Once you have that you can send requests through and save the results. If its a tiled service then you can send the layer and tiles as part of the url or if it is a map service you can send a map extent as part of a POST request.

You could also create a tool using something like https://www.autohotkey.com/  to move the mouse and pan the map. I would personally just use the top method as scripting mouse movements or key presses can be a pain.

I wouldn't be too concerned about it if you just set the maximum amount of requests.

Thanks,

Ben

evtguy · Answer

I suppose you could script to repeatedly direct a browser to an AGOL webmap url & add action parameters like this.

AaronPDXPaul · Answer

Hi Ben,

Thank you for responding and tips on how to secure the content to lessen chances of credits being used.

Your answer implies it is possible.

But I'm not sure how a bot would open a web map or application, then pan, zoom an click on the map.

Premium Content uses credits by number of map requests.

A map request is pan, zoom or a click.

Can a Bot be programmed to make map requests?

Better yet, can it do it within the ecosystem of Esri's AGOL sites?

Thank you again,

Aaron