Skip to content

Layers overview

A layer is a renderable thing the user sees on the map. The definition of a layer comprises:

  • Where it lives in the UI — an interface group (and optional sub-interface group), or the basemap picker for base layers.
  • What it shows — one or more data sources (service+layer references or direct URLs to COG, GeoJSON, FlatGeoBuf, CSV, WMS/WMTS layers, etc.).
  • How it is visualised — colormap, RGB composite, vector styling rules, or categorical classes.
  • Supporting content — description, attribution, legend, units.
  • Functional controls — opacity, temporal controls, zoom to layer, download link, layer toggles.
  • Advanced features — statistics, constraints, charts.

The Configuration Builder supports three layer types. Each behaves differently in the deployed APEx Geospatial Explorer.

The three layer types

Standard layer

The default and the most common type. A user-facing layer card with a title, description, an interface group, and a styling choice. It can carry a single or multiple data sources for a raster dataset rendered as a colormap, an RGB composite, a time-series, plus statistics, constraints and charts.

Use a standard layer for almost everything you want a user to be able to toggle on the map.

→ Standard layers

Swipe layer

Compares two raster sources side-by-side under a draggable handle on the map. The user drags the handle to reveal more or less of the clipped source over the base source.

Use a swipe layer for before/after imagery, A/B comparisons of model outputs, or comparing band combinations or processing levels.

→ Swipe layers

Base layer

A background basemap. Selected from the basemap picker, no UI controls, no statistics, no constraints. Only one base layer is visible at a time.

Use a base layer for OSM, satellite imagery, terrain hillshades, or any custom organisation basemap.

→ Base layers

How to choose

If you want… Use
A toggleable data overlay with styling, statistics, or constraints Standard
Two rasters compared under a draggable handle Swipe
The map background under everything else Base

Where layers live in the tab

```text Interface Group └── Sub-Interface Group (optional) └── Layer Card (Standard or Swipe) └── Data Source(s)

Base Layers (separate section at the top of the Layers tab) └── Base Layer └── Data Source ```

See Layers tab overview for the full structure of the tab.