How to add a basemap - PIX4Dfields

IN THIS ARTICLE

Basemaps in PIX4Dfields
Change a basemap in PIX4Dfields
Use a custom basemap in PIX4Dfields
Supported arguments for a custom basemap in PIX4Dfields
To create a locally hosted tile web map service of an orthomosaic using python and QGIS
To add a custom Mapbox layer

Basemaps in PIX4Dfields

Basemaps serve as a reference map on which projects are overlaid. PIX4Dfields provides several options for these maps. The Standard basemap option is a full global basemap with either Street or Satellite content provided by Mapbox. A custom basemap option is available to display customized content utilizing a tiled web map service. This service can be hosted locally or online.

Change a basemap in a PIX4Dfields project

Open a project in PIX4Dfields.
Click on Select basemap .
Select Custom, Satellite, Street, or None.

To add a custom basemap in PIX4Dfields

To add a custom basemap provider:

In the Dashboard screen, click SETTINGS .
In the APP SETTINGS section, click Basemap.
Select Your custom basemap.
Type or paste the URL for the map service.
Create a new project in PIX4Dfields.
Click on Select basemap .
Click on Custom.

Supported arguments for a custom basemap in PIX4Dfields

Note: The URL must have this format: http://tiles.example.com/path/{z}/{y}/{x}. For more information: Tiled web map.

The table below describes the arguments supported on PIX4Dfields:

Arguments

Description

{x}

X position of tile

{y} or {-y}

Y position of the tile, starting at the top/north. Use {-y} if the origin is at the bottom/south (TMS).

{z}

Zoom

{r}

Scale value. Can be used to add "@2x" to the URL to load retina tiles

{q}

Quadtree

{bbox4326}
{bbox4326_latlon}
{bbox4326_lonlat}
{bbox3857}

Bounding box coordinates for WMS Urls. If ‘latlon’ or ‘lonlat’ are not provided then order is determined by version, where < 1.3 uses lonlat

{s}

Subdomains a,b,c.

To create a locally hosted tile web map service of an orthomosaic using python and QGIS

Create a local server using python:
- Create a dedicated folder on the windows machine (e.g. “Local_Basemap”).
- Open a windows console and navigate to the folder “Local_Basemap”.
- Execute the following command: "C:\Program Files\QGIS 3.16\apps\Python37\python" -m http.server (check that the path to where python is installed is correct).
- The console will show the following message: Serving HTTP on 0.0.0.0 port 8000 (http://0.0.0.0:8000/) ... The URL of the local server will be http://localhost:8000/
Generate XYZ tiles from the orthomosaic that you want to use.
- Open QGIS and load the orthomosaic.
- Click Processing> Toolbox> Raster tools>Generate XYZ tiles (Directory)
- Fill in the following parameters as follows:
  - Extent: the orthomosaic.
  - Zoom level range: it depends on the ortho size, but 12-19 should be ok for all cases.
  - Tile format: JPG.
  - Output directory: save into the folder “Local_Basemap”.
  - Output html: give a name and save it in the “Local_Basemap” folder (to test if the tiles were created correctly).
Open PIX4Dfields and add the following URL http://localhost:8000/{z}/{x}/{y}.jpg in the custom basemap section.

To add a custom Mapbox layer

It is possible to create custom basemaps in Mapbox that can be imported into PIX4Dfields as a tile web map service.

In Mapbox Studio, navigate to Share & Develop.
Under Developer resources, select Third party.
PIX4Dfields will support either Carto or Fulcrum formats.
Copy the Integration URL.
Paste into Your custom basemap in the APP SETTINGS of PIX4Dfields.