Create and manage basemap compositions

In NextGen Geo, combine multiple map services into a single stacked configuration to flexibly create and manage basemaps. To give users a customized and clear map experience, administrators can overlay complementary data like contour lines, satellite imagery, and road labels in a specific rendering order.

Create a new basemap composition

To make a new basemap:

Open the NextGen Geo administration console.
Navigate to the Basemap configuration area.
To open the configuration wizard window, click the Create new composition button.
In the Title field, enter a descriptive name (e.g., Contours basemap) for end users in the basemap selector.

Assign tags for organization

To group items into meaningful categories:

Open the active basemap configuration wizard window.
In the Tags field, type a relevant category name.
To assign it, press Enter.
If needed, assign multiple tags.

Supported classification tag examples

Tag category	Purpose / Use case
Contours	Group basemaps that have elevation line overlays.
Roads	Group basemaps that have transportation networks and street vectors.
Satellite	Organize high-resolution imagery and orthophoto backgrounds.
Terrain	Categorize hillshade, digital elevation models, or physical geography views.
Test	Isolate experimental or non-production basemap compositions.

Select available services

To choose which services you use:

In the basemap configuration wizard, find the Available services table.
To ensure compatibility before making your selection, in the Service Type column, find the service type.

Supported map service types

These service types are supported in NextGen Geo:

Service type	Description / Visual role
Tile layer	Raster-based pre-rendered image tiles, ideal for base backgrounds
Vector tile layer	Vector-based styling data, excellent for crisp labels and sharp contour lines
Map image layer	Dynamically rendered server-side map images
Bing layer	Proprietary base imagery or road styling provided by Microsoft Bing
HERE layer	Commercial navigation mapping and traffic background styling from HERE
OpenStreetMap layer	Standard open-source crowdsourced base map data

Move services into the composition

To include map services:

In the wizard, go to the Available services table.
Next to each map service you wish to include, click the checkbox.
- For example, choose a Light Gray tile layer and a Contours vector tile layer.
To transfer services into the Selected services table, click the Add to selected arrow button.

Define the service order

To stack services in the right order:

In the wizard, go to the Selected services table.
Click and hold the drag handle next to the service row you want to move.
Drag the service row vertically to change its position.
Release the mouse button to drop the service.
To prevent lower layers from blocking upper overlays, verify the stack order:

Layer position	Service type / Role	Visual purpose
Top Layer	Labels, roads, or text layers	Ensures reference names and streets remain legible above all graphics.
Middle Layer	Overlays or lines (e.g., `Contours`)	Adds thematic details over background colors without obscuring annotations.
Bottom Layer	Background grids (e.g., `Light Gray`, `Imagery`)	Provides the core backdrop and canvas for the entire map composition.

Generate the basemap thumbnail

In the configuration wizard, scroll to the Thumbnail generation step.
Click inside the interactive map preview panel.
- Drag the cursor to pan across the map.
- Use your mouse wheel to zoom in or out.
Position a representative, recognizable geographical area directly within the highlighted selection frame box.
To generate a visual thumbnail for the basemap selection menu, click Capture frame.

Save the basemap configuration

To ensure your basemap is saved:

In the wizard, complete all metadata entries, layer orders, and thumbnail captures.
In the bottom action bar, click Save.
Verify:
- The window closes.
- The new composition appears in your active basemaps registry list.

Access the composed basemaps

Log in to the NextGen Geo application workspace as an end user.
In the main map view toolbar, click the Basemap selector panel icon.
In the pop-up panel, find your basemap grouped by assigned tags.
To update your workspace view with the fully stacked layer composition, click on the generated thumbnail image for Contours basemap.
- Tagged groups display all custom compositions assigned to that specific label.
- Basemaps with no tags gather all standalone or unclassified default map services.