Connect ArcGIS Layers

If your team uses ArcGIS to manage design context, utilities, exclusion zones, or aerial imagery, you can bring that same data into Aphex. The ArcGIS integration allows you to overlay live GIS layers directly onto your Map, so that short-term planning happens with real site context in view.

This guide walks you through how to connect your ArcGIS account, find the correct URL for your layer, add it to your project in Aphex, and manage the integration moving forward.

Supported ArcGIS Layer Types

Aphex supports a range of commonly used ArcGIS layer types. Here’s what you can connect and display in your project. We’ll keep this list updated as more are added:

Feature Layers

Map Image Layers

Tile Layers (Raster and Vector)

Retrieving the Layer URL

To connect a layer to Aphex, you’ll need the page URL from the ArcGIS Item Details page. This makes sure the layer metadata and access permissions load correctly.

To find the Layer URL:

• Login to your ArcGIS instance

• Navigate to the layer you want to connect to your Aphex Project

• Make sure the layer is one of the supported layer types

• Click into the layer to open the Item Details Page

• Copy the URL from your browser’s address bar - this is the URL you’ll use in Aphex

The ArcGIS Item Details URL will commonly appear in a format similar to the below;

https://<your-source>.maps.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=<id>

Connect your ArcGIS account to Aphex

You can connect your ArcGIS account to Aphex using either your ArcGIS login credentials or a registered app. Once linked, you’ll be able to access and validate layers tied to your connected ArcGIS account.

To add your ArcGIS credentials into Aphex:

• Open your Aphex Project

• Click your Project Title in the top left then select Integrations

• Scroll to the Mapping Connection section

• Click and select from:

  • Registered User

  • Registered App (Client ID and Client Secret - OAuth2)

• Select

Add Layers to the Map

Once you've got your Layer URL handy, you can add it to any of your real-world your Locations inside your Project. As soon as you've connected it, all updates made in ArcGIS will appear in Aphex automatically - no need to re-upload or re-import.

Both private and public layer sources from ESRI ArcGIS can be used as a canvas for mapping in Aphex. Each Aphex Location will accept up to 10 ArcGIS layer sources.

Visit our Add Map Layers doc for step by step instructions on how to add layers to the Map.

Common Connection Errors

Aphex supports layers being connected from any ArcGIS service (Online or Enterprise); however, there are some common things to validate if you experience issues;

Credentials do not have Layer Access

Check that the ArcGIS user or app you’re using has permission to view the layer. Try logging into ArcGIS directly and opening the layer using the same credentials - if it works there, it should work in Aphex.

Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS) Restrictions

By default, ArcGIS allows CORS - meaning external services like Aphex can, with the appropriate credentials, view resources such as layers. However, some GIS administrators may disallow this feature as an added security feature.

If you find that a layer connects successfully, but no data is visible on the map, it may be a result of the ArcGIS CORS policy at your company.

ArcGIS supports CORS access enabled, disabled, or disabled with exceptions. Therefore you can either ask your GIS administrator to return the CORS policy to default enabled or to add the following domains as CORS exceptions;

• https://app.aphex.co

• https://dev.aphex.co

For guides on adjusting the ArcGIS CORS policy, please refer to the ArcGIS Help Guide here.

Unsupported Layer Type or Invalid URL

Make sure you're using the Item Details page URL (not the direct tile or REST endpoint). Only supported layer types (listed above) will load.

Layer Performance Tips

Aphex is designed to be as fast and lightweight as possible for users who could be accessing their project on poor connections or underpowered devices.

ArcGIS, however, is a powerful GIS service that allows its customers to create immense geographical datasets.

Connecting an ArcGIS layer to Aphex will allow that layer to be loaded to an almost identical way to the way that layer is loaded from ESRI services.

To keep load times as short as possible, each sublayer within a layer can be set to Hide or Show, depending on the context needed at the time.

There is currently a limit of 42 sublayers per layer - any sublayers that attempt to load past this amount will not render.

Therefore, teams creating layers for use in Aphex should seek to balance information and end-user performance. The more data that is included in a layer, the longer it will take to load for everyone.

Reduce Server Requests (Low Data Mode)

For ArcGIS Map Service Layers (Raster Tile Layers & Map Image Layers) you have the ability to change the request mode, once the Layer has been connected to your Aphex Location, to reduce server requests.

To switch to Low Data Mode:

• Open your Aphex Project

• Click your Project Title in the top left then select Locations

• Locate your Layer and click ...

• Select View Summary and scroll to the Minimise Server Requests section. Make a choice between:

  • Optimised (default)

  • Reduce Server Requests

• Click

This mode is set on a layer-by-layer basis.