Setting a basemap in Hub and Enterprise sites
As an organization administrator or site editor, you can specify the basemap used across your ArcGIS Hub sites. Basemaps are a big part of how we create, share, and understand geographic information. A basemap is a background map for other data layers, all anchored by location to the surface of the earth. Consult the newly republished Esri GIS dictionary for a full definition.
As a basis for geographic analysis and visualization, basemaps provide spatial context, place names, a lot of style, and so much more. ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Pro, and other applications offer basemaps featuring satellite imagery, streets, topography, and oceans, just to name a few.
Set a base map for your organization
In ArcGIS Online, be sure to set a default region for your organization as this controls the default basemap gallery, basemap, and map extent. Administrators can go to your ArcGIS Online home page (Organization > Settings tab) and configure a basemap and extent under General > Organization defaults or under Map and scene settings.
We recommend configuring an appropriate default basemap for your organization from the beginning. This default organizational basemap is applied to new sites when initially created. This also provides a consistent basemap as a backup in cases where the site basemap is not set. However, site editors can configure a basemap at any time.
Set a basemap in ArcGIS Hub
A basemap goes a long way in ArcGIS Hub and ArcGIS Enterprise sites. In the settings for each site, you can select a custom basemap and geographic extent to be applied across the site. The basemap appears on the search page, as a way to display search results, underneath datasets, as the location selector map on projects (Hub Premium), and for other items with workspaces (beta) enabled.
Setting a basemap in Hub is simple: Open your site in edit mode, go to Settings, and select Set basemap. From the dropdown menu, you can choose from the array of maps available in your ArcGIS Online basemap gallery. This includes basemaps within the group designated as the basemap gallery group for the organization.
Here's an example of where your site basemap will show up, using one of this writer’s favorite basemaps: Colored Pencil Map.
Let's break it down by item > site > organization > gallery:
- If an item (such as a web map) has a basemap set, Hub uses that basemap.
- If an item is included (such as a feature layer) with the site, Hub uses the site basemap.
- If no site basemap is set, Hub uses the default basemap for the organization.
- If no organizational basemap is set, Hub uses the first map in the basemap gallery.
If you don't see the custom basemap you want in Hub, you can add it the ArcGIS Online basemap gallery or contact your administrator. Look to our web help for steps on how to configure basemap and extent settings.
Basemaps in the Living Atlas
Many of the basemaps you use in Hub are part of the Living Atlas. Esri Living Atlas is a veritable treasure trove of rich and authoritative data, including a wide range of curated datasets and basemaps. Here is a very small but interesting subset of basemaps:
Earlier this year, Esri published a new set of custom basemaps for the United States, which include updated place names recently defined by the U.S. Government. Tune in to the recent blog on how to best utilize this set of vector basemaps: Esri Vector Basemaps for United States.
Take basemaps even further in ArcGIS Hub Premium
If you are a Hub Premium customer, you can take basemaps even further. With initiatives and projects, you can efficiently manage and share your organized work. If you’re already using projects and/or have enabled workspaces (beta), you are using this new interface for managing items across Hub.
Note: Hub users can opt in to workspaces at any time. Sign in, select Settings from your user profile, and select the button to enable workspaces. Learn more about Workspaces (beta) now available in ArcGIS Hub.
In the project workspace, you can designate one or multiple locations to represent your project. The header of the project view will display a map with the project locations (if set).
In workspaces (beta), you can leverage redefined initiatives which also utilize a workspace. You can feature a map (uses site basemap) on the initiative’s header and show the location of your initiative on this map. Read the Introducing redefined initiatives in ArcGIS Hub blog to learn more. The site basemap will also display on any map-based discussion boards, a tool to gather public feedback connected to location (Hub Premium only).
Thanks for reading and happy basemapping! Please post any comments or questions on Esri Community.