Topics and data records: where / how do I find what?
In this part of the map viewer help you will find information about the thematic content and data collections, the geodata and maps available at map.geo.admin.ch and how they can be found, used, combined and compared.
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Directory structure (layertree) and geodata sets / maps
The map viewer now comprises around 900 thematic geodata sets and maps (also known as (geo)data layers or publication layers) and is constantly being supplemented and further developed with new, modified or discontinued themes. All these geodata sets are organised in various so-called catalogues with their own directory structures, which can be searched according to specific topics. By default, the general geocatalogue is set to the fifth position from the top in the function menu on the left. This includes all geodata sets from map.geo.admin.ch and offers a directory structure organised according to the Swiss standard eCH-0166 Geocategories.
If you open the directory structure with the triangular icon to the left of «Geocatalogue», it becomes visible. The individual data categories can be expanded and collapsed using the other triangular icons. Using the eCH-0166 catalogue as an example, there are two hierarchical levels of categories, the three main categories "Fundamentals and planning", "Nature and environment" and "Population and economy", which in turn comprise subcategories under which the geodata sets are then contained.
Other thematic catalogues sometimes include more than two hierarchical levels of categories.
As an alternative to the eCH-0166 geocatalogue, map.geo.admin.ch also offers a general catalogue based on the European INSPIRE Directive.
Tip: To find a specific map/geodata layer, you can always use the search field at the top of the map viewer.
Change topic
If you click on "Change topic", you will be shown the selection of available topic summaries. In addition to the general red boxes Geocatalogue and INSPIRE, there are blue (these are geodata catalogues of individual federal agencies) and green topics (specialised topics). If one of the boxes is activated, the name and categorisation of the directory structure on the left-hand side of the menu changes and the corresponding thematic view can be used. Some of the topics have already loaded preset geodata layers.
Note: the office and specialised themes available in map.geo.admin.ch are described in more details here. (The list will be updated soon)
Tip: To find a specific map/geodata layer, you can always use the search field at the top of the map viewer, regardless of which thematic view is currently selected.
Loading a data set into the map
Once you have opened the geocatalogue in the menu, a list appears with categories and possibly subcategories containing the geodata sets. Select the dataset you are looking for by simply clicking on it. This is then loaded into the map and also appears in the bottom menu item "Maps displayed".
Tip: If you hover over a geodata set in the catalogue with the mouse, a preview is displayed directly on the map.
Tip: To (re)find a specific geodata set, it can always be found using the search field at the top of the map viewer and loaded directly into the map from there.
The displayed maps
The selected maps / layers / data are stored in this section of the menu.
Note: If you change the theme, the list of cards will be deleted.
Display of legend and additional information
On the right-hand side of each geodata set (in the catalogue, in the search results and also under "Maps displayed") there is an information icon. This opens a pop-up window (info box) with the following valuable contextual information on the entire geodata set:
- Exact designation of the data set and its property (usually the federal authority responsible for the data set)
- A detailed description of the information at the data level
- The legend, which explains the representation / colouring of the geographical objects or the map
- The ID of the official geodata set in accordance with Annex 1 GeoIV (optional)
- The valid scale range or acquisition scale of the visible geodata (optional)
- A link to the detailed description, the metadata of the map, the geodata set in the geographic catalogue of Switzerland, geocat.ch
- A link to a detailed description with further technical information on the map/geodata set
- A link to the data reference if the geodata set is also available for download as Open Government Data (optional)
- A link to the specialised portal (optional)
- A link to the WMS service via which the map/geodata set can also be used
- The data status as a date (usually the time of the last update)
Tip: You can not only move the infobox around on the map, but you can also print it out using the ‹print› icon in the upper right corner of the box as well as hide it using the triangular icon.
Changing the order of the data records
If several geodata sets are loaded in the menu under "Maps displayed", their vertical arrangement on the map can be changed. This allows the geodata sets to be overlaid or underlaid.
The vertical order can be adjusted either by moving the geodata sets up or down using drag & drop or by using the arrow icons under the properties ("open cogwheel" icon of the geodata set).
Changing the transparency / opacity of the map
The transparency/opacity of the loaded maps/geodata sets can be changed by expanding the properties ("cogwheel" icon) in the menu under "Displayed maps" and moving the horizontal slider.
Note: The transparency/opacity of the background data sets (national maps and aerial photographs) cannot be changed.
View the object information of a map (attributes)
Many geodata sets in map.geo.admin.ch have so-called object information, i.e. information / attributes that describe an individual object of a geodata set in more detail. Left-clicking on the corresponding object on the loaded thematic map / geodata set opens the object information box with the associated information.
Note: Object information is usually only available for vector data sets (geometry types point, line and polygon), not for all geodata sets from map.geo.admin.ch.
Note: Some datasets contain a lot of additional object information, sometimes also graphics and other content relating to a specific geographical object, which cannot all be accommodated in the small object information box at map.geo.admin.ch. The object information box for these datasets has an «Additional information» link at the bottom, which can be used to call up this extended content in a separate browser page.
Tip: If several geodata sets are loaded into the map, the object information of all available objects on the click coordinate is returned (maximum 25 results).
Rectangle selection
If you want to search multiple object information of the same geodata set at the same time, hold down the CTRL key while drawing a rectangle with the left mouse button on the desired area on the map. A pop-up window opens with all the object information in the red rectangle (maximum 200 results possible at once).
Time travel: the time function
Map.geo.admin.ch provides a series of maps/geodata layers with historical time values. Once such a map has been loaded, a clock icon appears at the top right next to the function buttons. This clock icon calls up a time slider at the top of the map window, which shows in red the years in which there are time values for the currently loaded data set.
Tip: In the "swisstopo" topic under the "Journeys through time" category, you will find a collection of geodata layers that you can use to travel through time.
Operation of the time slider:
- The time slider can be operated manually with the mouse. You can either set the year to be displayed with the mouse on the slider or type the year of your choice directly into the input field.
- "Play" mode. The start button on the right-hand side of the time controller starts an automatic time journey, which "plays" the available time states on the map one after the other.
- The time slider is designed to display a (reference) year for one or more geodata layers.
Handling of time states in the properties of the geodata layer ("Displayed maps"):
- At the bottom of the menu on the left, under "Displayed maps", an additional selection field appears for a dataset with time periods, in which the available years/time periods can also be selected. This selection field is synchronised with the time slider at the top of the map window for the data record in question as long as only one data record with a time series is loaded.
- There are maps for which, in addition to the seasonal values, all time values can be displayed at once. Typically, this is geodata of a vectorial nature, in which the time states differ spatially, such as the historical aerial photographs from swisstopo.
- The time function in the properties of the geodata layers is intended for comparing different times from one or more different maps.
Compare (multiple) geodata layers with time series:
- As for normal geodata layers, maps with time series can also be combined at map.geo.admin.ch by simply loading several maps with time series into the map.
- If two levels with different time coverage are loaded, this will be visible on the time slider. Years in which both datasets have time statuses are marked red, years in which only one of the two datasets has time statuses are dashed light red and years in which neither dataset has time statuses are grey.
- In the properties under «Displayed maps», both loaded data sets can also be assigned different dates in order to be able to compare them with each other (e.g. the area statistics from 2018 can be compared with the current aerial images from 2016). If this is the case, the time slider at the top of the map disappears.
- A map with time series can be duplicated in its properties using the "Copy" symbol. The map then appears twice under "Displayed maps". This makes it possible to compare different points in time of the same map/geodata set using the year setting (e.g. the national map from 1920 with that from 2021).
Tip: The "Compare" tool is ideal for comparing the time statuses of different maps with each other
Note: Reactivating the time controller using the clock symbol resets the different year for additionally loaded or duplicated map layers.
Remove data records from the map
The loaded data layers can be removed from the map in the menu on the left under "Displayed maps" or in the catalogue with the "X" icon.
Tip: the map application can be restored to its original state by clicking on the Swiss Confederation icon at the top left. This will reset all user customisations (including zoom or other user-defined settings).
