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Reference Information
Map Tile Servers and Providers

The tables below provide various free and commercial tile servers (attribution provided in the table) as of 11/11/2022.  If there is an issue with a URL template (i.e. the tile server link), please contact us.  To use in the Limelight Interface Architect™ Tiled Map and Tiled Map Overlay controls, copy and paste the URL template below (as is) into the "Tile Server" property.  If an API key is required, enter your key in the "API Key" property.

The tables are broken into two sections - the first is for the Tiled Map control which forms the base map that all overlays sit above.  The second is for the Tiled Map Overlay which sits in layers above the base layer map.  The overlay maps are typically PNG or GIF format which allows for transparency which can be adjusted in the Tile Map Overlay "Alpha Level" property (defaults to 128 which is 1/2 transparent).

To add a map overlay to a base map, select the Tiled Map Overlay control from the Limelight Interface Architect™ control palette and drag and drop it on top of the Tiled Map base map control.  You can then select it from the Displays treeview on the left to change any of the properties including the tile server URL.  Also, while designing, you can right mouse click over the group of controls to set the Z-Order which determines the display order of the layers.  By default, they display in the order they are created.  See the Limelight Interface Architect™ documentation for more information on designing with maps as well as our tutorials.

Note: All links compatible with Limelight XE™ version 2.4.1.1 or later.

Base Maps (Use with the Tiled Map control)

Name (Attribution) URL Template Requires
API key
Example
Open Street Map

https://{a-c}.tile.openstreetmap.org/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
(Note: This is the default base map when the Tiled Map control
is placed on the design grid along with the map features of the Limelight XE Console).

 
Open Topographic Map https://{s}.tile.opentopomap.org/{z}/{x}/{y}.png  
USGS Imagery https://basemap.nationalmap.gov/arcgis/rest/services/USGSImageryOnly/MapServer/tile/{Z}/{Y}/{X}  
USGS Topographical Map https://basemap.nationalmap.gov/arcgis/rest/services/USGSTopo/MapServer/tile/{Z}/{Y}/{X}  
Maps for Free - Relief Map https://maps-for-free.com/layer/relief/z{z}/row{y}/{z}_{x}-{y}.jpg
(Note: Maximum zoom level is 12)
 
NASA Earthdata Imagery https://gibs.earthdata.nasa.gov/wmts/epsg4326/best/BlueMarble_ShadedRelief_Bathymetry/default//EPSG4326_500m/{z}/{y}/{x}.jpeg
(Note: maximum zoom level is 8)
 
ArcGIS Online Maps      
World Street Map https://server.arcgisonline.com/ArcGIS/rest/services/World_Street_Map/MapServer/tile/{z}/{y}/{x}.jpg  
National Geographic World Map https://server.arcgisonline.com/ArcGIS/rest/services/NatGeo_World_Map/MapServer/tile/{z}/{y}/{x}.jpg  
Light Gray Base Map with Labels https://server.arcgisonline.com/ArcGIS/rest/services/Canvas/World_Light_Gray_Base/MapServer/tile/{z}/{y}/{x}.jpg  
Dark Gray Base Map with Labels https://server.arcgisonline.com/ArcGIS/rest/services/Canvas/World_Dark_Gray_Base/MapServer/tile/{z}/{y}/{x}.jpg  
World Imagery https://server.arcgisonline.com/ArcGIS/rest/services/World_Imagery/MapServer/tile/{z}/{y}/{x}.jpg  
World Imagery (Firefly)

https://fly.maptiles.arcgis.com/arcgis/rest/services/World_Imagery_Firefly/MapServer/Tile/{z}/{y}/{x}.jpg

Note: low zoom levels have less color saturation allowing for brighter overlay layers to be clearer and not compete with the base map layer. 

 
World Topographic Map https://server.arcgisonline.com/ArcGIS/rest/services/World_Topo_Map/MapServer/tile/{z}/{y}/{x}.jpg  
World Terrain Base https://server.arcgisonline.com/ArcGIS/rest/services/World_Terrain_Base/MapServer/tile/{z}/{y}/{x}.jpg  
World Ocean Base https://server.arcgisonline.com/ArcGIS/rest/services/Ocean/World_Ocean_Base/MapServer/tile/{z}/{y}/{x}.jpg  
       
Wikimedia Map https://maps.wikimedia.org/osm/{z}/{x}/{y}.png  
Carto Base Maps (Excellent base maps for data / tracking overlays)    
Voyager with Labels https://{s}.basemaps.cartocdn.com/rastertiles/voyager_labels_under/{z}/{x}/{y}.png  
Voyager without Labels https://{s}.basemaps.cartocdn.com/rastertiles/voyager_nolabels/{z}/{x}/{y}.png  
Positron with Lables https://{s}.basemaps.cartocdn.com/rastertiles/light_all/{z}/{x}/{y}.png  
Positron without Lables https://{s}.basemaps.cartocdn.com/rastertiles/light_nolabels/{z}/{x}/{y}.png  
Dark Matter with Labels https://{s}.basemaps.cartocdn.com/rastertiles/dark_all/{z}/{x}/{y}.png  
Dark Matter without Labels https://{s}.basemaps.cartocdn.com/rastertiles/dark_nolabels/{z}/{x}/{y}.png  
Thunderforest Maps (Free API Key available for up to 150,000 tile requests per month)    
Open Cycle Map https://tile.thunderforest.com/cycle/{z}/{x}/{y}.png YES
Transport https://tile.thunderforest.com/transport/{z}/{x}/{y}.png YES
Landscape https://tile.thunderforest.com/landscape/{z}/{x}/{y}.png YES
Outdoors https://tile.thunderforest.com/outdoors/{z}/{x}/{y}.png YES
Atlas https://tile.thunderforest.com/atlas/{z}/{x}/{y}.png YES
Spinal Map https://tile.thunderforest.com/spinal-map/{z}/{x}/{y}.png YES
Geoapify Base Maps (Nice collection of base maps - requires API key, but free for testing or simple projects)    
OSM Carto https://maps.geoapify.com/v1/tile/osm-carto/{z}/{x}/{y}.png YES
Dark Matter https://maps.geoapify.com/v1/tile/dark-matter/{z}/{x}/{y}.png YES
Dark Matter Brown https://maps.geoapify.com/v1/tile/dark-matter-brown/{z}/{x}/{y}.png YES
Dark Matter Dark Grey https://maps.geoapify.com/v1/tile/dark-matter-dark-grey/{z}/{x}/{y}.png YES
Dark Matter Dark Purple https://maps.geoapify.com/v1/tile/dark-matter-dark-purple/{z}/{x}/{y}.png YES
Dark Matter Purple Roads https://maps.geoapify.com/v1/tile/dark-matter-purple-roads/{z}/{x}/{y}.png YES
Dark Matter Yellow Roads https://maps.geoapify.com/v1/tile/dark-matter-yellow-roads/{z}/{x}/{y}.png YES
Klokantech Basic https://maps.geoapify.com/v1/tile/klokantech-basic/{z}/{x}/{y}.png YES
Maptiler 3D https://maps.geoapify.com/v1/tile/maptiler-3d/{z}/{x}/{y}.png YES
OSM Bright https://maps.geoapify.com/v1/tile/osm-bright/{z}/{x}/{y}.png YES
OSM Bright Grey https://maps.geoapify.com/v1/tile/osm-bright-grey/{z}/{x}/{y}.png YES
OSM Bright Smooth https://maps.geoapify.com/v1/tile/osm-bright-smooth/{z}/{x}/{y}.png YES
OSM Liberty https://maps.geoapify.com/v1/tile/osm-liberty/{z}/{x}/{y}.png YES
Positron https://maps.geoapify.com/v1/tile/positron/{z}/{x}/{y}.png YES
Positron Blue https://maps.geoapify.com/v1/tile/positron-blue/{z}/{x}/{y}.png YES
Positron Red https://maps.geoapify.com/v1/tile/positron-red/{z}/{x}/{y}.png YES
Toner https://maps.geoapify.com/v1/tile/toner/{z}/{x}/{y}.png YES
Toner Grey https://maps.geoapify.com/v1/tile/toner-grey/{z}/{x}/{y}.png YES
 

 

Overlays (Use with the Tiled Map Overlay control)

Name (Attribution) URL Template Requires
API key
Example
Iowa State University Meteorlogical Data Tile Server (Extensive set of real-time weather data tiles - Click on an example image below for a larger view)    
ISU - NEXTRAD Base Reflectivity (current) https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/cache/tile.py/1.0.0/nexrad-n0q-900913/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
(note: base map in the example is ArcGIS Dark Gray - see above)
 
ISU - NEXTRAD Echo Tops EET (current) https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/cache/tile.py/1.0.0/nexrad-eet-900913/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
(note: base map in the example is ArcGIS Dark Gray - see above)
 
ISU - 1 Hour Precipitation https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/cache/tile.py/1.0.0/q2-n1p-900913/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
(note: base map in the example is ArcGIS Dark Gray, additional overlay is reference on top of rainfall - see above and below)
 
ISU - 24 Hour Precipitation http://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/cache/tile.py/1.0.0/q2-p24h-900913/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
(note: base map in the example is ArcGIS Dark Gray, additional overlay is reference on top of rainfall - see above and below)
 
ISU - 48 Hour Precipitation https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/cache/tile.py/1.0.0/q2-p48h-900913/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
(note: base map in the example is ArcGIS Dark Gray, additional overlay is reference on top of rainfall - see above and below)
 
ISU - 72 Hour Precipitation http://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/cache/tile.py/1.0.0/q2-p72h-900913/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
(note: base map in the example is ArcGIS Dark Gray, additional overlay is reference on top of rainfall - see above and below)
 
ISU - MRMS Hybrid-Scan Reflectivity Composite https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/cache/tile.py/1.0.0/q2-hsr-900913/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
(note: base map in the example is ArcGIS Dark Gray, additional overlay is reference on top of radar image - see above and below)
 
ISU - GEOS Satellite IR Image https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/cache/tile.py/1.0.0/goes-ir-4km-900913/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
(note: base map in the example is ArcGIS Dark Gray, additional overlay is reference on top of radar image - see above and below)
 
ISU - GEOS Satellite Images https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/cache/tile.py/1.0.0/goes_east_conus_ch01/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
(note: base map in the example is ArcGIS Dark Gray, additional overlay is reference on top of satellite image - see above and below).
You can modify the "goes_east_conus_ch01" section with the form "goes_yyyy_conus_chxx" where yyyy="east" (as above) or "west" to select the satellite, xx="01" through "16" for the channel.  For example, https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/cache/tile.py/1.0.0/goes_west_conus_ch15/{z}/{x}/{y}.png selects the west satellite and channel 15.See GOES Satellite Imagery for more information.
 
       
Bing Traffic Overlay http://trafficrenderer-prod.trafficmanager.net/comp/ch/{quadkey}.png
(note: base map in the example is Cardo Dark Matter with Labels - see above)
 
Open Railway Maps (Great collection of railroad infrastructure and associated geo-data for overlaying maps)    
Open Railway Overlay - Track Infrastructure https://{a-c}.tiles.openrailwaymap.org/standard/{z}/{x}/{y}.png  
Open Railway Overlay - Maximum Speed https://{a-c}.tiles.openrailwaymap.org/maxspeed/{z}/{x}/{y}.png  
Open Railway Overlay - Electrification https://{a-c}.tiles.openrailwaymap.org/electrification/{z}/{x}/{y}.png  
Open Railway Overlay - Signals https://{a-c}.tiles.openrailwaymap.org/signals/{z}/{x}/{y}.png  
Maps For Free Project (Excellent collection of map overlays showing various geo-data)    
Administrated Area Overlay https://maps-for-free.com/layer/admin/z{z}/row{y}/{z}_{x}-{y}.gif  
Crops Overlay https://maps-for-free.com/layer/crop/z{z}/row{y}/{z}_{x}-{y}.gif  
Forest Overlay https://maps-for-free.com/layer/forest/z{z}/row{y}/{z}_{x}-{y}.gif  
Grass Overlay https://maps-for-free.com/layer/grass/z{z}/row{y}/{z}_{x}-{y}.gif  
Ice Overlay https://maps-for-free.com/layer/ice/z{z}/row{y}/{z}_{x}-{y}.gif  
Sand Overlay https://maps-for-free.com/layer/sand/z{z}/row{y}/{z}_{x}-{y}.gif  
Streets Overlay https://maps-for-free.com/layer/streets/z{z}/row{y}/{z}_{x}-{y}.gif  
Swamp Overlay https://maps-for-free.com/layer/swamp/z{z}/row{y}/{z}_{x}-{y}.gif  
Tundra Overlay https://maps-for-free.com/layer/tundra/z{z}/row{y}/{z}_{x}-{y}.gif  
Water Overlay https://maps-for-free.com/layer/water/z{z}/row{y}/{z}_{x}-{y}.gif  
USGS Overlays (Note: the URLs must not include a file type as shown below.  The source returns a .png formatted tile which Limelight XE can automatically detect)    
USGS National Hydrography Overlay https://basemap.nationalmap.gov/arcgis/rest/services/USGSHydroCached/MapServer/tile/{z}/{y}/{x}  
Open Sea Maps (Free nautical maps)    
Sea Marks http://tiles.openseamap.org/seamark/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
(note: major marks visible only above zoom level 9 and certain marks only visible above zoom level 12
to prevent data congestion)
 
NOAA Navigational Charts (Note: the URLs must not include a file type as shown below.  The source returns a .png formatted tile which Limelight XE can automatically detect)     
NOAA Navigational Chart Overlay https://gis.charttools.noaa.gov/arcgis/rest/services/MCS/NOAAChartDisplay/MapServer/exts/MaritimeChartService/MapServer/export?transparent=true&bboxSR=3857&imageSR=3857&DPI=90&size=256,256&bbox={bbox}

(note: the dynamic value {bbox} fills in the bounding box of each tile to emulate the normal {x}/{y}/{z} values. This is supported directly by Limelight XE version 2.4 or higher)

Various layers can be enabled or disabled on this map server. For more information see NOAA Electronic Navigation Charts for more details.
 
NOAA Electronic Navigation Chart (ENC) Online Overlay https://gis.charttools.noaa.gov/arcgis/rest/services/MCS/ENCOnline/MapServer/exts/MaritimeChartService/MapServer/export?transparent=true&bboxSR=3857&imageSR=3857&DPI=90&size=256,256&bbox={bbox}

(note: the dynamic value {bbox} fills in the bounding box of each tile to emulate the normal {x}/{y}/{z} values. This is supported directly by Limelight XE version 2.4 or higher)

Various layers can be enabled or disabled on this map server. For more information see NOAA Electronic Navigation Charts for more details.
 
NOAA Vessel Traffic Heat Maps (Note: the URLs must not include a file type as shown below.  The source returns a .png formatted tile which Limelight XE can automatically detect)    
2015 https://coast.noaa.gov/arcgis/rest/services/MarineCadastre/
2015VesselTransitCounts_AllVessels/MapServer/tile/{z}/{y}/{x}
 
2016 https://coast.noaa.gov/arcgis/rest/services/MarineCadastre/
2016VesselTransitCounts_AllVessels/MapServer/tile/{z}/{y}/{x}
 
2017 https://coast.noaa.gov/arcgis/rest/services/MarineCadastre/
2017VesselTransitCounts_AllVessels/MapServer/tile/{z}/{y}/{x}
 
2018 https://coast.noaa.gov/arcgis/rest/services/MarineCadastre/
AISVesselTransitCounts2018/MapServer/tile/{z}/{y}/{x}
 
2019 https://coast.noaa.gov/arcgis/rest/services/MarineCadastre/
AISVesselTransitCounts2019/MapServer/tile/{z}/{y}/{x}
 
2020 https://coast.noaa.gov/arcgis/rest/services/MarineCadastre/
AISVesselTransitCounts2020/MapServer/tile/{z}/{y}/{x}
 
2021 https://coast.noaa.gov/arcgis/rest/services/MarineCadastre/
AISVesselTransitCounts2021/MapServer/tile/{z}/{y}/{x}
 
       

 

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