Add Living Atlas layers to maps or scenes

If your portal administrator configured the portal to use ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World content, you can add these Living Atlas layers to the maps or scenes you create. Apps you create that contain these maps and scenes will use the Living Atlas layers too.

Browse or search for layers in Map Viewer

When you create a map in Map Viewer, you have two options for finding Living Atlas layers to add to your map. Both options give you access to the same content but present the layers in a different format. Use the format you prefer.

• You can browse Living Atlas layers, which presents the layers in pages you can browse through to see thumbnails of the layer and layer descriptions. This option allows you to filter layers by predefined categories.
• You can search for Living Atlas layers from within the map's Contents pane, which presents you with a list of layers you can scroll through. When you find a layer in the Contents pane, you can click the layer's name to open the layer's item page for further information about the layer.

Browse Living Atlas layers

If you want to browse based on layer categories, use the Browse Living Atlas Layers dialog box.

Follow these steps to browse Living Atlas layers in Map Viewer:

1. Sign in to your portal.
2. Click Map at the top of the portal website.
3. Click Add > Browse Living Atlas Layers.

   This opens the Browse Living Atlas Layers dialog box. By default, only those layers that fall within the extent of your map appear in the dialog box.

4. To filter the number of layers present in the Browse Living Atlas Layers dialog box, you can use the following filters. Filters can be used singly or in combination.
   • As mentioned in the previous step, the filter to restrict layers to those that apply to the spatial extent of your map is already applied. If you want to see layers outside the map extent, uncheck Within map area. Check Within map area to apply the filter again.
   • To filter for types of layers based on predefined categories, use the drop-down list.

     Tip:

     If your portal administrator published Living Atlas boundary layers to your portal, they are included in the Boundaries category.

   • To find layers based on keywords or titles, type a word or phrase in the search box and press Enter.
5. Click the page numbers at the bottom of the Browse Living Atlas Layers dialog box to move through the pages.
6. To see a summary of the layer's contents, hover over the thumbnail.

   Tip:

   The summary indicates if the layer is part of ArcGIS Online premium content and, therefore, consumes ArcGIS Online credits.

7. When you find the layer you want to use, click Add layer to map and choose to add the layer As Layer (which adds the layer as an operational layer) or As Basemap (which adds the layer as a reference layer).
8. You can search for more layers to add. Click Close on the Browse Living Atlas Layers dialog box when you finish adding all the layers you require.

Search Living Atlas layers

If you want to search through a list of Living Atlas layers in the Contents pane, use the Search for Layers option.

Follow these steps to search for Living Atlas layers in Map Viewer:

1. Sign in to your portal.
2. Click Map at the top of the portal website.
3. Click Add > Search for Layers.
4. Choose Living Atlas Layers from the In drop-down list.

   This populates the Contents pane with a list of Living Atlas layers. By default, only those layers that fall within the extent of your map appear in the list.

5. To filter the number of layers present in the list, you can use the following filters. Filters can be used singly or in combination.
   • As mentioned in the previous step, the filter to restrict layers to those that apply to the spatial extent of your map is already applied. If you want to see layers outside the map extent, uncheck Within map area. Check Within map area to apply the filter again.
   • To find layers based on keywords or titles, type a word or phrase in the Find box and click Go.

     Tip:

     To filter the list for only Living Atlas boundary layers running directly on the portal, type owner: esri_boundaries in the Find box.

6. Use the scroll bar on the Contents pane to scroll through the list.
7. Click the name of a layer to access the following:
   • A thumbnail of the layer
   • A summary of the layer's content, which also indicates if the layer is part of ArcGIS Online premium content, and would, therefore, consume ArcGIS Online credits
   • An option to open the item's detail page
   • An option to add the layer to the map
   • For some layers, an option to add the layer as a basemap
8. Alternatively, you can add the layer to the map without opening the pop-up by clicking Add in the Contents pane.
9. Add as many layers as you require. When you finish, click Done Adding Layers to close the Search for Layers dialog box.

Add Living Atlas layers to scenes

You can add 3D Living Atlas layers to scenes you create in Scene Viewer.

Follow these steps to add 3D layers from the Living Atlas to your scene:

1. Sign in to your portal.
2. Click Scene at the top of the portal website.
3. Click Add Layers in the Contents pane of Scene Viewer.

   Living Atlas layers are listed in the Esri Featured Content section of the Add Layers pane. Only the first few layers are listed. Click More to expand the list of layers.

4. Type a keyword in the Search for layers box to filter the list of layers.

   Tip:

   To filter the list for only Living Atlas boundary layers running directly on the portal, type owner: esri_boundaries in the Search for layers box.

5. To see a layer's details page, click Web Scene under the layer's name.
6. Click the Import button to add the scene layer to your scene.

   The layer is added, and the scene zooms to the location of the layer.

7. To add more scene layers, click their Import button.
8. While the Add Layers pane is still open, you can search for and add 2D layers from the My Content or Content sections.
9. When you finish adding layers to your scene, click Done.