URLs

Import geospatial data directly from URLs without downloading files first.

Supported URL Types

Hosted files — Paste a direct link to a GeoJSON, CSV, KML, or Shapefile (.zip) hosted on the web. GISOwl downloads and ingests the file.

WMS (Web Map Service) — Connect to OGC-compliant WMS endpoints to stream map images as layers.

WFS (Web Feature Service) — Pull vector features from WFS endpoints with full attribute data.

WMTS (Web Map Tile Service) — Add pre-tiled basemaps or overlays from WMTS servers.

XYZ Tiles — Enter a tile URL template (e.g., https://tiles.example.com/{z}/{x}/{y}.png) to add custom tile layers.

ArcGIS REST Services — Connect to Esri MapServer and FeatureServer endpoints.

PMTiles — Load PMTiles archives hosted on any static file server or CDN.

How to Add a URL

  1. Click Upload in the toolbar.
  2. Select the URL tab.
  3. Paste the URL and click Add.
  4. GISOwl auto-detects the service type and loads the data.

Authentication

For password-protected services, GISOwl supports basic auth and API key authentication. Enter credentials in the URL import dialog. Credentials are encrypted and stored securely in your workspace.

Next Steps