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Last updated September 16th 2020

Global Forest Watch Help Center

https://www.globalforestwatch.org/help

Upload custom basemaps and contextual layers

Forest Watcher offers the ability to upload custom basemaps and contextual layers directly into the mobile app. This is an innovative feature for users who would like to complement the data from GFW with location-specific information.

Below you will find steps on how to upload custom basemaps, contextual layers and GFW layers directly to your device.

  1. To start, navigate to the homepage and tap “Settings.” On the settings page, you can access basemaps or contextual layers by tapping the appropriate icon.
From the homepage, tap “Settings.”
Tap “Basemaps” or “Contextual Layers” to access the applicable features.

Upload custom basemaps

  1. Tap “Basemaps” on the settings page. From here, you can manage both the default and custom basemaps on the app. Tap the “+” icon on the top right to upload a custom basemap.
Upload a new custom basemap by tapping the “+” icon.
  1. You will then be prompted to choose the basemap type. Tap “Custom Basemap” and select the custom basemap file you would like to upload. The only file type supported for custom basemaps on Forest Watcher is .mbtiles.
Tap “Custom Basemap.”
Select and upload your custom basemap from your device’s files.
  1. After selecting your basemap file, you will be prompted to name your basemap. Once you have decided on a name, tap the green “Import Basemap” icon at the bottom of the screen.
Enter a name for your basemap then tap “Import Basemap.”
  1. Your custom basemap will automatically download to the app and should be available under “Custom Basemaps” on the manage basemaps page. You will now be able to access your custom basemap when viewing your areas of interest.
Your custom basemap will be accessible from the manage basemaps page.

Upload contextual layers

  1. Tap “Contextual Layers” on the settings page. From here, you can manage all contextual layers stored on the app, including contextual layers available from GFW and your own contextual layers. Tap the “+” icon on the top right to add a new contextual layer.
Upload a new contextual layer by tapping the “+” icon.
  1. You will then be prompted to choose contextual layer type, with two options: Add a GFW layer or add your own contextual layer.
Add a contextual layer from GFW or import your own contextual layer.

Upload a GFW layer

  1. To add a GFW layer, tap “Add Global Forest Watch Layer.” From here, you can scroll through the additional contextual layers available from GFW.
Tap “Add Global Forest Watch Layer.”
Scroll through the available contextual layers from GFW and tap on the one you’d like to add.
  1. Tap the contextual layer you’d like to add then choose whether to download the data for offline use or to access it when online only.
Choose to either download the data or access it while online only, then tap “Add Layer.”
  1. Once done, click “Add Layer” and the contextual layer will automatically download. You will find it under “GFW Layers” on the manage contextual layers page.
The mining concessions contextual layer now appears under “GFW Layers.”

Upload a custom contextual layer

  1. To add your own contextual layer, tap “Custom Contextual Layer.” Supported file types include: .json, .geojson, .topojson, .gpx, .zip, .kmz and .kml
Tap “Custom Contextual Layer” to add your own data.
  1. From here, you will be prompted to select your file. Select the file from your device and you will be directed to a new page where you can name the contextual layer. After naming your contextual layer, tap “Import Layer” at the bottom of the screen.
Select the file from your device.
Give the contextual layer a name then tap “Import Layer.”
  1. Your custom contextual layer will automatically import. You can find it under “Custom Layers” on the manage contextual layers page.
The contextual layer now appears under “Custom Layers.”

Learn more about sharing custom basemaps and contextual layers with another device here.

Hand graphic by Rawpixel.

Print this article
Last updated September 16th 2020

Global Forest Watch Help Center

https://www.globalforestwatch.org/help

Upload custom basemaps and contextual layers

Forest Watcher offers the ability to upload custom basemaps and contextual layers directly into the mobile app. This is an innovative feature for users who would like to complement the data from GFW with location-specific information.

Below you will find steps on how to upload custom basemaps, contextual layers and GFW layers directly to your device.

  1. To start, navigate to the homepage and tap “Settings.” On the settings page, you can access basemaps or contextual layers by tapping the appropriate icon.
From the homepage, tap “Settings.”
Tap “Basemaps” or “Contextual Layers” to access the applicable features.

Upload custom basemaps

  1. Tap “Basemaps” on the settings page. From here, you can manage both the default and custom basemaps on the app. Tap the “+” icon on the top right to upload a custom basemap.
Upload a new custom basemap by tapping the “+” icon.
  1. You will then be prompted to choose the basemap type. Tap “Custom Basemap” and select the custom basemap file you would like to upload. The only file type supported for custom basemaps on Forest Watcher is .mbtiles.
Tap “Custom Basemap.”
Select and upload your custom basemap from your device’s files.
  1. After selecting your basemap file, you will be prompted to name your basemap. Once you have decided on a name, tap the green “Import Basemap” icon at the bottom of the screen.
Enter a name for your basemap then tap “Import Basemap.”
  1. Your custom basemap will automatically download to the app and should be available under “Custom Basemaps” on the manage basemaps page. You will now be able to access your custom basemap when viewing your areas of interest.
Your custom basemap will be accessible from the manage basemaps page.

Upload contextual layers

  1. Tap “Contextual Layers” on the settings page. From here, you can manage all contextual layers stored on the app, including contextual layers available from GFW and your own contextual layers. Tap the “+” icon on the top right to add a new contextual layer.
Upload a new contextual layer by tapping the “+” icon.
  1. You will then be prompted to choose contextual layer type, with two options: Add a GFW layer or add your own contextual layer.
Add a contextual layer from GFW or import your own contextual layer.

Upload a GFW layer

  1. To add a GFW layer, tap “Add Global Forest Watch Layer.” From here, you can scroll through the additional contextual layers available from GFW.
Tap “Add Global Forest Watch Layer.”
Scroll through the available contextual layers from GFW and tap on the one you’d like to add.
  1. Tap the contextual layer you’d like to add then choose whether to download the data for offline use or to access it when online only.
Choose to either download the data or access it while online only, then tap “Add Layer.”
  1. Once done, click “Add Layer” and the contextual layer will automatically download. You will find it under “GFW Layers” on the manage contextual layers page.
The mining concessions contextual layer now appears under “GFW Layers.”

Upload a custom contextual layer

  1. To add your own contextual layer, tap “Custom Contextual Layer.” Supported file types include: .json, .geojson, .topojson, .gpx, .zip, .kmz and .kml
Tap “Custom Contextual Layer” to add your own data.
  1. From here, you will be prompted to select your file. Select the file from your device and you will be directed to a new page where you can name the contextual layer. After naming your contextual layer, tap “Import Layer” at the bottom of the screen.
Select the file from your device.
Give the contextual layer a name then tap “Import Layer.”
  1. Your custom contextual layer will automatically import. You can find it under “Custom Layers” on the manage contextual layers page.
The contextual layer now appears under “Custom Layers.”

Learn more about sharing custom basemaps and contextual layers with another device here.

Hand graphic by Rawpixel.

Print this article

Upload custom basemaps and contextual layers

Forest Watcher offers the ability to upload custom basemaps and contextual layers directly into the mobile app. This is an innovative feature for users who would like to complement the data from GFW with location-specific information.

Below you will find steps on how to upload custom basemaps, contextual layers and GFW layers directly to your device.

  1. To start, navigate to the homepage and tap “Settings.” On the settings page, you can access basemaps or contextual layers by tapping the appropriate icon.
From the homepage, tap “Settings.”
Tap “Basemaps” or “Contextual Layers” to access the applicable features.

Upload custom basemaps

  1. Tap “Basemaps” on the settings page. From here, you can manage both the default and custom basemaps on the app. Tap the “+” icon on the top right to upload a custom basemap.
Upload a new custom basemap by tapping the “+” icon.
  1. You will then be prompted to choose the basemap type. Tap “Custom Basemap” and select the custom basemap file you would like to upload. The only file type supported for custom basemaps on Forest Watcher is .mbtiles.
Tap “Custom Basemap.”
Select and upload your custom basemap from your device’s files.
  1. After selecting your basemap file, you will be prompted to name your basemap. Once you have decided on a name, tap the green “Import Basemap” icon at the bottom of the screen.
Enter a name for your basemap then tap “Import Basemap.”
  1. Your custom basemap will automatically download to the app and should be available under “Custom Basemaps” on the manage basemaps page. You will now be able to access your custom basemap when viewing your areas of interest.
Your custom basemap will be accessible from the manage basemaps page.

Upload contextual layers

  1. Tap “Contextual Layers” on the settings page. From here, you can manage all contextual layers stored on the app, including contextual layers available from GFW and your own contextual layers. Tap the “+” icon on the top right to add a new contextual layer.
Upload a new contextual layer by tapping the “+” icon.
  1. You will then be prompted to choose contextual layer type, with two options: Add a GFW layer or add your own contextual layer.
Add a contextual layer from GFW or import your own contextual layer.

Upload a GFW layer

  1. To add a GFW layer, tap “Add Global Forest Watch Layer.” From here, you can scroll through the additional contextual layers available from GFW.
Tap “Add Global Forest Watch Layer.”
Scroll through the available contextual layers from GFW and tap on the one you’d like to add.
  1. Tap the contextual layer you’d like to add then choose whether to download the data for offline use or to access it when online only.
Choose to either download the data or access it while online only, then tap “Add Layer.”
  1. Once done, click “Add Layer” and the contextual layer will automatically download. You will find it under “GFW Layers” on the manage contextual layers page.
The mining concessions contextual layer now appears under “GFW Layers.”

Upload a custom contextual layer

  1. To add your own contextual layer, tap “Custom Contextual Layer.” Supported file types include: .json, .geojson, .topojson, .gpx, .zip, .kmz and .kml
Tap “Custom Contextual Layer” to add your own data.
  1. From here, you will be prompted to select your file. Select the file from your device and you will be directed to a new page where you can name the contextual layer. After naming your contextual layer, tap “Import Layer” at the bottom of the screen.
Select the file from your device.
Give the contextual layer a name then tap “Import Layer.”
  1. Your custom contextual layer will automatically import. You can find it under “Custom Layers” on the manage contextual layers page.
The contextual layer now appears under “Custom Layers.”

Learn more about sharing custom basemaps and contextual layers with another device here.

Hand graphic by Rawpixel.

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