Layers Panel

Overview

The Layers Panel is your central hub for managing all map layers. Control visibility, transparency, styling, labels, and more through an intuitive interface.

Key Features:

• Layer visibility control
• Transparency adjustment
• Label and popup management
• Layer type switching
• Active filter indicators
• Advanced styling options

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Accessing the Panel

1. Click the layers icon in the main toolbar
2. Panel opens on the left side of the screen
3. Click again to close

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Core Functions

Visibility Control

Toggle layer on/off using the eye icon

• ✅ Layer visible (eye open)
• ❌ Layer hidden (eye closed)
• Layer stays in project when hidden

Transparency Control

Adjust layer opacity

1. Click the three-lines icon next to the layer name
2. Use the opacity slider (0 = transparent, 1 = opaque)
3. Changes apply immediately
4. Slider has precise control (0.01 increments)

Special Note: The Slope Degree Range layer has dual sliders (degree range + opacity). The Canopy Height Model's height filter is no longer here — it has moved to the Imagery Tool (see Canopy Height Model Filter below).

Legend Display

View layer symbology

1. Click three-lines icon
2. Legend appears below the slider
3. Shows colors, symbols, and what they represent

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Layer Actions

Access via the three-dots icon

Available Actions

Action	Available For	What It Does
Enable/Disable Label	Feature Layer, Map Image Layer	Toggle layer labels on/off
Enable/Disable Popup	Feature Layer, Map Image Layer	Toggle popup information
Change Style	Vector layers (not raster)	Opens the Style Editor on that layer; on a treetop layer, its Tree Style section
Reset Style	Vector layers (not raster)	Restores the layer's published styling; a treetop layer goes back to its treetop style
Metadata	Layers with metadata	View layer metadata
Information	Layers read from a service (not WMS)	View layer properties and details. Not offered on layers whose data is in your browser: uploaded files, GeoParquet layers, Analysed treetops
Filter this layer	Feature Layer, Map Image Layer	Apply attribute filter to the layer
Reset Filter	Feature Layer, Map Image Layer	Remove active attribute filter
Export SHP	Route Layer	Export route geometry as Shapefile
Export KML	Route Layer	Export route geometry as KML file
Switch to Feature/Image Layer	Compatible MapServer layers	Convert layer type
Remove	All layers	Remove layer from map

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Layer Types

Feature Layers

Best for: Interactive data, editing, analysis

Features:

• Individual feature selection
• Detailed popup information
• Attribute access
• Label control
• Popup toggle
• Layer type conversion (if MapServer-based)
• Filter support

When to Use:

• Need to select individual features
• Require detailed attribute information
• Performing analysis or editing
• Working with manageable dataset size

Map Image Layers

Best for: Large datasets, display-only, performance

Features:

• Server-side rendering
• Fast performance for large data
• Sublayer management
• Advanced styling options
• Label control (per sublayer)
• Popup toggle
• Layer type conversion (if compatible)
• Custom style parameters

When to Use:

• Large datasets (thousands of features)
• Display-only purposes
• Need fast map rendering
• Print-quality symbology required

Important: Only Map Image Layers with feature sublayers (containing geometry data) can be converted to Feature Layers. Raster sublayers cannot be converted.

WMS/WMTS/Tile Layers

Limited options available

Features:

• Visibility control
• Transparency adjustment
• Basic information
• Remove option

Route Layers

Display and export solved routing results

Features:

• Visibility control
• Transparency adjustment
• Export direction lines to Shapefile (.shp)
• Export direction lines to KML (.kml)
• Basic information

When to Use:

• Reviewing solved cart routes or network routes
• Exporting route geometry for use in other GIS tools

Group Layers

Manage multiple layers together

Features:

• Sort/reorder layers (via three-dots menu)
• Bulk removal (via three-dots menu)
• Hierarchical structure
• Expand/collapse

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Special Features

Active Filter Indicators

Visual feedback for filtered layers

What it shows:

• Red filter color next to filtered layers
• Indicates an active filter expression is applied
• Works for Feature Layers and Map Image Layers
• Updates in real-time

How it works:

• Automatically detects filters
• Shows for both regular and sublayer filters
• Tooltip shows "Layer has active filters"
• Updates when you add/remove filters

Canopy Height Model Filter

Moved to the Imagery Tool. The height-range slider that used to appear when you expanded Canopy Height Model (100m) is no longer in the layer list. The layer is now an image service, so expanding it shows the standard opacity slider and legend, and you filter it by height with the Value Range in the Imagery Tool.

For step-by-step instructions, see Canopy Height Model Filter.

Slope Degree Filter

Special controls for the Slope layer

Features:

• Dual-handle range slider with discrete degree values
• Degree values: 0°, 11°, 19°, 26°, 35°, 36°
• Range display shows current selection (e.g., "Range: 0° - 36°")
• Reset button returns to default (0° - 36°)
• Opacity slider for transparency control
• Real-time updates with loading indicator

How to use:

1. Expand the Slope layer in the Layers Panel
2. Click the three-lines icon to open the panel
3. Drag left handle for minimum slope degree
4. Drag right handle for maximum slope degree
5. Map updates automatically (300ms debounce)
6. Use Reset Range to restore defaults

Treetop Layers

Tree Height Filter and Tree Style, for layers of treetops

Treetop layers are:

• the Analysed treetops layer that the Treetops tool draws;
• a GeoParquet file of treetops added with Add External Service.

Their dots are coloured by height in the canopy height model's classes. Expanding one (the three-lines icon) shows two sections above its opacity slider and legend.

Tree Height Filter

• A dual-handle slider (Min Height / Max Height) in the canopy height model's steps, from 0m to 100m+. The range shows under it, for example Range: 10m - 30m
• Only the treetops in the range are drawn, gathered into bins, shown in pop-ups and printed. A GeoParquet treetop layer's row also shows the filter indicator
• Reset Range shows every height again
• On the Analysed treetops layer this is the same filter as a click on the Treetops tool's Height classes chart, and the chart follows it

Tree Style

• Color: Height classes (the default) or One color, chosen with a colour picker
• Size: Small, Medium or Large dots
• Bins when zoomed out: on or off. With it on, further out than Bins from (1:2,000, 1:4,000 or 1:10,000) the treetops are gathered into bins coloured by their mean height. The default is 1:4,000 for a GeoParquet layer and 1:10,000 for Analysed treetops
• Reset Style puts the default style back

From the three-dots menu:

• Change Style opens the Tree Style section;
• Reset Style restores the default style;
• Enable Label shows each treetop's height, at 1:1,000 and closer.

Layer Type Switching

Convert between Feature and Image layers

When to Switch:

To Feature Layer when you need:

• Individual feature selection
• Detailed popups
• Attribute access
• Analysis tools

To Image Layer when you need:

• Faster rendering
• Large dataset handling
• Better print symbology
• Server-side caching

How to Switch:

1. Click three-dots on compatible layer
2. Select "Switch to Feature/Image Layer"
3. Conversion happens automatically
4. Properties preserved (visibility, opacity, filters)

Requirements:

• Must be MapServer-based layer
• For Map Image Layers: Must have feature sublayers with geometry data
• Not available for: Raster layers, Editor layers (FPP, Sketch, etc.)

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Best Practices

Organization

✅ Do:

• Arrange layers logically (base maps at bottom, data on top)
• Group related layers together
• Use consistent naming
• Collapse unused groups

❌ Don't:

• Keep too many layers active at once
• Mix different project layers randomly

Performance

✅ Optimize:

• Use Image Layers for large datasets
• Use Feature Layers for interactive data
• Turn off unused layers
• Remove layers you don't need
• Apply appropriate scale ranges

❌ Avoid:

• Having 20+ layers visible at once
• Using Feature Layers for millions of features

Visual Display

✅ Best Practices:

• Adjust opacity for layered viewing
• Enable labels only when needed
• Check legend before applying filters
• Use reset style to fix rendering issues

❌ Avoid:

• Setting all layers to 100% opacity
• Enabling labels on all layers
• Applying complex filters without checking results

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Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Problem	Solution
Layer not visible	Check: Eye icon status, map extent, scale range, active filters
Labels missing	Use "Enable Label" in layer menu
No popup on click	Use "Enable Popup" in layer menu
Slow performance	Reduce active layers, switch to Image Layer, check filter complexity
Can't switch layer type	Verify: MapServer-based, not editor layer, has feature geometry
Conversion fails	Check: URL structure, network connection, layer compatibility
Style issues	Use "Reset Style" to restore defaults
Transparency not working	Use opacity slider in layer panel (three-lines icon)
Filter indicator missing	Check if a filter expression is set, may need to refresh
Canopy filter not updating	Wait a moment for the filter to apply, check network connection
Slope filter not updating	Wait a moment for the filter to apply, check network connection
Raster layer shows switch option	Bug - raster layers should not show switch option (report if seen)
Route export fails	Ensure route has been solved and has direction lines; check network

Layer Type Conversion

"Switch to Feature Layer" not available?

• Layer might be raster-based (no feature geometry)
• Could be WMS/WMTS (not convertible)
• Might be editor layer (excluded from conversion)
• Check if it's MapServer-based

Conversion fails with error?

• Verify layer URL is accessible
• Check network connectivity
• Ensure layer is not corrupted
• Try refreshing the page

Performance Issues

Map running slow?

• Count active layers (aim for <10)
• Switch large datasets to Image Layers
• Disable labels on dense layers
• Check for complex filters
• Remove unused layers

Layer loading slowly?

• Check internet connection
• Verify server availability
• Try switching layer type
• Contact administrator if persistent

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Video Tutorial

Watch this guide on using the Layers Panel:

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Quick Tips

💡 Did you know?

• You can drag layers to reorder them
• The filter indicator updates automatically
• Canopy height uses the ∞ symbol for 100+ meters
• Slope degree values are discrete: 0°, 11°, 19°, 26°, 35°, 36°
• Layer conversion preserves all your filters and styling
• Map Image Layers with only raster sublayers can't be converted to Feature Layers
• Route layers can be exported to Shapefile or KML directly from the layer menu
• "Filter this layer" and "Reset Filter" actions work on both Feature Layers and Map Image Layers

See Also

• Concepts: FeatureLayer vs MapImageLayer - Understanding when to use each layer type
• Add Layer - Import layers from the data catalog and external services
• Filter Tool - Apply attribute and spatial filters to layer data
• Style Editor - Customise layer symbology and styling