WMTS Time Dimension Support

[MatthewCechini]

When I add the NASA GIBS EPSG:3857 GetCapabilities endpoint to ArcGIS Online, it correctly parses it and I am able to add a layer.  However, ArcGIS Online is not parsing the GC to support the 'time' Dimension.  A sample Dimension element is seen here:

<Dimension>

<ows:Identifier>time</ows:Identifier>

<ows:UOM>ISO8601</ows:UOM>

<Default>2017-04-03</Default>

<Current>false</Current>

<Value>2017-02-15/2017-04-03/P1D</Value>

</Dimension>

When I add a parameter via the interface, it tacks it on as a query parameter, and does not follow the ResourceURL found in the Capabilities document.  A sample is seen here:

https://gibs.earthdata.nasa.gov/wmts/epsg3857/best/AMSR2_Soil_Moisture_SCA_Day/default/{Time}/{TileMatrixSet}/{TileMatrix}/{TileRow}/{TileCol}.png

Note that this usage of 'time' is compliant with Annex C of the WMS 1.3.0 specification, specifically using the "min/max/resolution" nomenclature for possible.

So my question/requests is:  When will ArcGIS support custom Dimensions specified in a Capabilities document, especially 'time'?

[ChrisWhitmore]

Hi Matthew,

As you found, only the default value is supported in ArcGIS Online when adding the capabilities url. You can however still add any time value the WMTS supports by using an alternate workflow: When adding a layer from the web, instead of selecting the WMTS option, select the Tile layer option (Screenshot below). With the tile layer option, you can provide the specific time you want to see when inputting the url.

Here are a couple examples (same structure as the parameterized url you posted from the capabilities doc):

https://gibs.earthdata.nasa.gov/wmts/epsg3857/best/AMSR2_Snow_Water_Equivalent/default/2017-03-01/GoogleMapsCompatible_Level6/{level}/{col}/{row}.png

https://gibs.earthdata.nasa.gov/wmts/epsg3857/best/AMSR2_Snow_Water_Equivalent/default/2016-03-01/Go... 

As for native support of dimensions (time and other), no estimate on when support might be added (though I saw you've submitted on the ideas site for future consideration).

Thanks,

Chris

[MatthewCechini]

Meh.  If I go that route, there isn't a way to change the date without re-adding a whole new layer.  So, sure, this is functional.  But that's a fairly low bar.  Hopefully Esri will get to this eventually.

FYI, you've got the row/col switched.  It should be this:

https://gibs.earthdata.nasa.gov/wmts/epsg3857/best/AMSR2_Snow_Water_Equivalent/default/2016-03-01/Go... 

[Martin1]

Hi Chris,

I am trying to add a WMTS with time support in ArcGIS Enterprise 11.1. and came across this post. Is there meanwhile an option to do that properly? The workaround you mentioned is unfortunately not working anymore, as the option to add a Tile layer seems not to be there anymore.

[ChrisWhitmore]

Hi @Martin1 , sorry for the delay. The tile layer option should still be there for Map Viewer Classic (the only map viewer available when this was first posted). There is a new Map Viewer now, which includes the tile layer option as well but not sure if the tile layer option is available in your particular version of enterprise. Can you post a screenshot of what you are seeing? that should confirm either way.

Cheers,

Chris

[Martin1]

Hi Chris,

Thank you very much for your response.

In fact, I forgot about MapViewer Classic. There I have the option you mentioned.
However, I am not able to get it to work with the following WMTS: https://wmts.geo.admin.ch/EPSG/3857/1.0.0/WMTSCapabilities.xml.
I am trying to adapt the time settings for the layer "SWISSIMAGE Zeitreise" by using the following URL:

https://wmts.geo.admin.ch/1.0.0/ch.swisstopo.swissimage/default/{Time}/3857/{TileMatrix}/{TileCol}/{...

However, the result seems to be empty. Do you have any idea what is wrong?

[ChrisWhitmore]

Hi @Martin1 , great thanks for the additional info. Try making two changes to the url:

1.specify the desired time parameter in the url with the value you want. Replace {Time} with any of the values from the time value list for that layer in the capabilities xml. Here is an example snippet from the xml for the SWISSIMAGE Zeitreise layer:

2. Adjust the XYZ parameters, replacing {TileMatrix}/{TileCol}/TileRow} with {level}/{col}/{row}.

That should give you a url that looks something like this (with 1956 being used as the time dimension).

https://wmts.geo.admin.ch/1.0.0/ch.swisstopo.swissimage-product/default/1956/3857/{level}/{col}/{row...

Those changes appear to help add the layer successfully for me when I tried (I also applied the Darken blend mode so the basemap shows through for reference):

Cheers,

Chris

[Martin1]

Hi Chris,

Thanks a lot for your help, it works for me now.

Replacing "{TileMatrix}/{TileCol}/{TileRow}" with "{level}/{col}/{row}" was the point I had missed.

Cheers,

Martin