We updated the look of Spatial Hub on 25 June 2026 - but don't worry, your account & login details are still the same. To provide feedback, Contact us.

Help Centre

Read files into ArcGIS Online from the Spatial Hub

2024-06-05

Introduction

Data from the Improvement Service Spatial Hub can be mapped using ArcGIS Online (AGOL). Below are examples showing how this can be achieved using WFS & WMTS pathways.

Web Feature Services (WFS) are a means of accessing geographic data via a file pathway, drawing directly from the Spatial Hub. The advantage of utilising WFS files lies in their ability to fetch data in real-time from the Spatial Hub each time a map is refreshed. This approach is more dynamic compared to using static file types that are downloaded and stored on a local device (such as those in a downloads folder). Static files risk becoming outdated unless the source data is frequently checked and manually updated with the latest versions.

Web Map Tile Services (WMTS) are an international specification for serving digital maps over the web using cached image tiles in a raster format. They enable quicker loading of and navigation around a map or image than a direct download of static raster data. As with a WFS, they are also a dynamic format, ensuring that the source dataset remains the current version.

This guide assumes that the reader has already registered for a Spatial Hub Account. If this is not the case, please see our FAQ ‘How can I access the Spatial Hub?’ and register for a free account here.

This guide also assumes the user has an AGOL account.

Co-ordinate Reference Systems

All Spatial Hub datasets are provided in the OSGB 1936 / British National Grid (EPSG:27700) CRS, so please ensure that your AGOL project is using the same CRS, otherwise datasets may display inaccurately.

Reading Shapefiles

Shapefiles are available for each dataset on the Spatial Hub.

On https://data.spatialhub.scot/ log in and navigate to your chosen dataset, it is essential that you are logged into your account at this stage, otherwise you will not be able to download the data.

This guide uses the ‘Air Quality Management Areas – Scotland’ dataset as an example:

Clicking the ‘Download’ button opens a drop-down menu offering a choice of Web Services, GeoJSON, Shapefile, or CSV.

Selecting ‘Shapefile’ will open a dialogue box with a dropdown menu offering you a choice of layers to download – most datasets only comprise one layer but some (i.e., Historic Environment Records) will have more.

Select your layer, click ‘Submit’ and then click ‘Accept and Download’ in the subsequent Terms and Conditions dialogue box. The layer will download as a zip file to your default download location (usually the ‘Downloads’ folder), from there you can copy it across to the source folder for your AGOL project.

This screenshot shows the downloaded ZIP file that you will need to successfully load the shapefile into ArcGIS Pro.

In your AGOL map, select and click ‘Add layer from file’ in the dropdown menu beside the ‘Add’ button:

The ‘Add layer’ dialogue box will open, click the button corresponding to your data source (i.e., if the .zip file is in your Downloads folder, click ‘Your device’:

Navigate to the folder containing your downloaded .zip folder then drag-and-drop the .zip folder into the ‘Add layer’ dialogue box. A summary of the file (name and type) will appear, click ‘Next’, then a dialogue box will open allowing you to make any adjustments to the storage location and metadata that you require:

Make any changes you want, then click ‘Create and add to map’. Your dataset will appear in your AGOL project; visible both on the map and listed in the ‘Layers’ pane.

From here you can interrogate the shapefile using the AGOL tools.

WFS pathways

WFS Pathways are available for the entire Spatial Hub, as well as each individual dataset. This section deals with reading them into AGOL.

Reading WFS Pathways for the Spatial Hub

It is essential that you are logged into your account at this stage, otherwise you will not be able to access your authkey and connect to the web services. On https://data.spatialhub.scot/ log in and navigate to your user profile to retrieve your Geoserver Authkey:

In your AGOL map, select and click ‘Add layer from URL’ in the dropdown menu beside the ‘Add’ button.

Enter “https://geo.spatialhub.scot/geoserver/wfs?authkey=your authkey here” into the ‘URL’ field and select ‘Next’.

Select the layer you want. There is a feature limit of 3000 features, so don’t try to load in the whole dataset if it is large.

Click ‘Add to map’, your dataset will appear in your AGOL project; visible both on the map and listed in the ‘Layers’ pane. From here you can interrogate the shapefile using the AGOL tools.

WMTS Pathways

WMTS Pathways are available for the entire Spatial Hub, as well as each individual dataset. This section deals with reading them into AGOL.

Reading WMTS Pathways for the Spatial Hub

As with the WFS services, it is essential that you are logged into your account at this stage, otherwise you will not be able to access your authkey and connect to the web services.

On https://data.spatialhub.scot/ log in and navigate to your user profile to retrieve your Geoserver Authkey.

For WMTS to work correctly in AGOL follow the initial steps for a WFS connection, and when you are prompted to input a URL in the ‘Add Layer’ dialogue box, enter “https://geo.spatialhub.scot/geoserver/gwc/service/wmts?authkey=your authkey here”.

In addition, select the “Add Custom Parameter” option and then tick the box to “Append only to requests that draw or query layers”:

Click ‘Next’, then select the layer you want from the drop-down menu, making sure that the ‘Matrix tile’ is set as ‘EPSG:27700’:

Click ‘Add to map’, your dataset will appear in your AGOL project; visible both on the map and listed in the ‘Layers’ pane.

From here you can interrogate the shapefile using the AGOL tools.

Terms and Conditions

General

  1. When the following words are used in these Terms & Conditions, this is what they will mean:
    1. “Spatial Hub” is an online platform for hosting and publishing Scottish spatial data.
    2. "We", "Us" or "Our": the Improvement Service, a company limited by guarantee and registered in Scotland (Company No. SC287978) and operating from The Improvement Service, West Lothian Council Civic Centre, Howden South Road, Livingston, EH54 6FF.
    3. "You" or "Your": the person wishing to access and/or use the Spatial Hub.
  2. These Terms & Conditions (along with our Privacy Notice and Cookie Policy, together our Terms of Use) apply to your use of the Spatial Hub and/or where applicable, our website at data.spatialhub.scot .
  3. We recommend that you read these Terms & Conditions carefully and print a copy for your future reference. These Terms & Conditions tell you who we are, how we will provide the Spatial Hub services to you, how we may change or terminate the Spatial Hub, how you may stop using the Spatial Hub, what to do if there is a problem and other important information. If You do not understand any point, please Contact us to discuss before You register.
  4. You are solely responsible for all of your actions related to the use of the Spatial Hub service.

Who we are

We are the Improvement Service, operator of the Spatial Hub service. You can read more about the Improvement Service and what we do at improvementservice.org.uk .

The services we provide

We provide access to datasets provided by local authorities and other partner organisations to form Scotland-wide national datasets before publishing these in various formats to maximise their use.

Registration

Before you can access Spatial Hub data to use in a suitable application you must first have registered and logged in to a free Spatial Hub account. Then you can either download a copy of the data in a variety of formats or connect to a web service.

Your Responsibilities

  1. By agreeing to these Terms & Conditions you are committing to keep your account details secure, and you should not divulge your password to any third parties. If you contact us for support, you should never include your password in any request and you will never be asked for this information by our support team.
  2. If you are using a shared device (e.g. in a library, internet cafe, or in an office), please ensure you log out of the system after use. Your account will be disabled after 15 months of inactivity.
  3. Your account is for your personal use and is not transferable.
  4. Improper use of the Spatial Hub website will lead to your account being disabled or revoked.
  5. Failure to comply with these responsibilities may lead to your account being disabled or revoked.

Changes to These Terms & Conditions

  1. We may change the Spatial Hub service and/or the Terms & Conditions at any time (in whole or part, whether temporarily or permanently) for any of the following reasons:
  • to reflect changes in relevant laws and regulatory requirements
  • to implement minor technical adjustments, updates and improvements, for example, making available additional features and addressing security threats
  • to release and make available additional features, updates and improvements to the Spatial Hub service (either temporarily or permanently)

Our Obligations to You

  1. While we try to ensure that the Spatial Hub service functions correctly, this may not always be achievable, and it is provided on an "as is" basis. We cannot guarantee that the Spatial Hub service will be available all the time or at any specific time. The service may be temporarily suspended if the IT systems or infrastructure used to provide the service are under repair or maintenance or are otherwise unavailable due to an event outside our control.
  2. We do not guarantee that the Spatial Hub service will be compatible with all or any particular hardware or software that you may use.
  3. We take steps to ensure that the Spatial Hub service and any supporting materials are free from computer viruses and other harmful computer programs. However, we cannot guarantee this. You are advised to use appropriate firewall and anti-virus software to protect your computer and data.
  4. You must not misuse our website and/or Spatial Hub by knowingly introducing viruses, Trojans, worms, logic bombs or other material that is malicious or technologically harmful. You must not attempt to gain unauthorised access to our website and/or Spatial Hub, the server on which our website is stored or any server, computer or database connected to our website. You must not attack our website and/or Spatial Hub via a denial of service attack or a distributed denial of service attack.
  5. All intellectual property rights e.g. copyright, trademarks etc. in the Spatial Hub service and/or our website vest in us or our licensors. You have a licence to use such intellectual property rights within the Spatial Hub service for the strict purpose of using Spatial Hub data or to view our website and for no other purpose.

Liability

  1. We provide the Spatial Hub service both for commercial and non-commercial use depending on a user’s account permissions. We exclude all warranties (whether express or implied) in so far as allowed by law. If you wish to share Spatial Hub data with commercial partners and/or consultants you will require suitable licensing, for example via a Public Sector Contractor Licence, which would need to be provided to the Improvement Service.
  2. We exclude liability for indirect and/or consequential loss in relation to or arising from use of Spatial Hub including for any loss of use, loss of profit, loss of business, loss of revenue, business interruption or loss of business opportunity.
  3. We also exclude all liability arising from or in relation to use of Spatial Hub in so far as permitted by law. In no circumstances shall our liability under or in relation to the Terms of Use exceed ONE HUNDRED POUNDS (£100) STERLING.
  4. Notwithstanding the foregoing, we are not attempting to exclude or limit our liability for death or personal injury arising from our negligence, fraud or breach of statutory duty.
  5. For the avoidance of doubt, we have no liability for any third-party service that You may access from Spatial Hub including those provided by any Service Provider and You should check the Service Providers’ terms and conditions.

Termination of the Service

  1. You are free to stop using the Spatial Hub service at any time. If you want to stop using the Spatial Hub service, you can delete your account via your user profile. Data associated with unused/inactive accounts will be deleted by Spatial Hub staff after a certain period. More details on this can be found in our privacy policy.
  2. We may need to suspend your access to areas of the website and/or your use of the Spatial Hub service to:
  • deal with technical problems or make technical changes
  • update or reflect changes in relevant laws and regulatory requirements
  • investigate and resolve unlawful or fraudulent activity or activity suggesting that the security of your account has been compromised
  1. We may need to terminate your access to areas of the website and/or your Spatial Hub if in our view:
  • there has been a serious failure by you to comply with these Terms & Conditions
  • We suspect unlawful or fraudulent activity by you or on your account
  1. We may at our discretion discontinue the website or the Spatial Hub service at any time without liability. We will endeavour to give you as much notice as we can, however this may not always be possible.
  2. If we do discontinue the Spatial Hub service, we may close your account and delete our records of your registration details and your Personal Data without any liability to you. We may need to retain records and your Personal Data beyond closure of your account, in which case we shall do so in accordance with the Privacy Notice.
This is version 1.0
Last Updated on 19/05/2026