topic Re: Add Google Maps as a basemap via Python in Python Questions

Add Google Maps as a basemap via Python

AurelienRobert — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 00:00:56 GMT

Hello everyone,

I'm creating customs webmaps with points and markers using Python.

I'd like to have Google Maps' satellite imagery (https://mt1.google.com/vt/lyrs=y&x={col}&y={row}&z={level}) as a basemap. In the online MapViewer it's easy to add a tile layer from an url but I don't see how to do it through Python.

The guide to use the widget (https://developers.arcgis.com/python/latest/guide/using-the-map-widget/) doesn't mention how to add a layer from an url as basemap, and I didn't find any solution in the documentation or in this questions board.

I've also tried manually creating a layer in the My Content folder of my Arcgis Location Platform but the add tile and add layer features are different from that in the online MapViewer.

Any help appreciated.

Thank you

Re: Add Google Maps as a basemap via Python

HaydenWelch — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 19:42:36 GMT

You can use the `addDataFromPath` method of a `Map`:

import arcpy prj = arcpy.mp.ArcGISProject('CURRENT') m = prj.listMaps('MapName')[0] lay: arcpy.mp.Layer = m.addDataFromPath(r'https://mt1.google.com/vt/lyrs=y&x={col}&y={row}&z={level}', 'AUTOMATIC') lay.name = 'Google Hybrid' prj.save()

Re: Add Google Maps as a basemap via Python

TonyAlmeida — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 20:36:26 GMT

This works for me, but it's not google maps.

import arcpy import os # Get project and map prj = arcpy.mp.ArcGISProject('CURRENT') m = prj.listMaps()[0] # Gets the first map # Path to connection file conn_path = os.path.join(os.environ['USERPROFILE'], 'Documents', 'ArcGIS', 'Connections', 'GoogleMaps.wmts') try: # Add the connection lyr = m.addDataFromPath(conn_path) lyr.name = "Google Satellite" # Refresh view aprx = arcpy.mp.ArcGISProject('CURRENT') #aprx.save() print("Successfully added Esri World Imagery") except Exception as e: print(f"Error: {str(e)}") # Alternative legal basemap if Google fails world_imagery = m.addDataFromPath(r"https://services.arcgisonline.com/ArcGIS/rest/services/World_Imagery/MapServer") world_imagery.name = "Esri World Imagery"

Re: Add Google Maps as a basemap via Python

AurelienRobert — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 23:42:42 GMT

Thank you Hayden, unfortunately Cursor tells me arcpy can only be imported when using Arcgis Pro, which I do not have as I use a simple Arcgis online account.

Re: Add Google Maps as a basemap via Python

AurelienRobert — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 23:43:31 GMT

Thank you Tony, unfortunately Cursor tells me arcpy can only be imported when using Arcgis Pro, which I do not have as I use a simple Arcgis online account.

Re: Add Google Maps as a basemap via Python

HaydenWelch — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 04:27:56 GMT

In that case you'll have to use the Arcgis API for Python. Arcpy is mostly for managing a Pro instance and wrangling tools/data.

The general flow should be the same though.

Re: Add Google Maps as a basemap via Python

AurelienRobert — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 20:29:18 GMT

Replit found the solution: call the Google Maps satellite view as a basemap layer when creating a webmap object.

# Create web map JSON with Google satellite as basemap
sat_url = "https://mt1.google.com/vt/lyrs=y&x={col}&y={row}&z={level}"
webmap_json = {
"operationalLayers": operational_layers,
"baseMap": {
"baseMapLayers": [{
"id": "google_satellite",
"title": "Google Satellite",
"url": sat_url,
"layerType": "WebTiledLayer",
"templateUrl": sat_url.replace("{col}", "{x}").replace("{row}", "{y}").replace("{level}", "{z}"),
"visibility": True,
"opacity": 1,
"subDomains": ["mt0", "mt1", "mt2", "mt3"],
"copyright": "Google"
}],
"title": "Google Satellite"
},
"spatialReference": {
"wkid": 102100,
"latestWkid": 3857
},
"initialExtent": {
"xmin": -9548000,
"ymin": 1166000,
"xmax": -9542000,
"ymax": 1172000,
"spatialReference": {"wkid": 102100}
},
"version": "2.22"
}

# Create the web map item
create_item_url = "https://www.arcgis.com/sharing/rest/content/users/self/addItem"

item_data = {
'f': 'json',
'token': access_token,
'title': 'title1',
'type': 'Web Map',
'tags': 'test',
'snippet': 'Property map with 6 points',
'text': json.dumps(webmap_json)
}

response = requests.post(create_item_url, data=item_data)

Re: Add Google Maps as a basemap via Python

TimWestern — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 13:56:57 GMT

Does google allow you to link to its maps from an application with other map sources? I think with 'StreetView' they specifically disallow that in the Terms of Service.

I would be careful about grabbing map imagery from sources you don't have known licenses for, as it could also possibly be a copyright issue.