Browse and search Hub content geographically
Summary of update
We know that a core goal of many ArcGIS Hub sites is to provide your community with easily discoverable, accessible, and reusable geographic content. That is why today we are releasing the first version of a map layout for searching and browsing site catalogs. Functional updates include:
- A new "Map" layout option on your Hub site's search route (e.g., `{siteURL}/search`),
- Seamless transition between the current "Location" filter and “Map” layout option,
- The ability to filter geographic search results as the map moves,
- Connection between the map and the gallery of corresponding results, so that when you hover over or select an item on the map, that result prominently shows in the gallery below.
Getting Started
Consider a common workflow of a community member. They want to know what activities and projects are occurring in their neighborhood. Is there road construction happening near their workplace? Are there nearby volunteer tree planting events they could participate in? Has there a been a change to their local polling place? Geography is important to community members, so they can find what is most relevant to them.
To determine what activities and projects are occurring in their neighborhood, they may start by searching a web search engine for open geospatial data that will answer their question. Once they land on your Hub site, they type a topic into an on-screen search bar and see relevant search results, but they aren't sure where those results are located. So, they type in their address into the "Location" filter, check the box next to "Filter as map moves" and see that the gallery of geospatial results.
This is a good start, but they really want to see a map of geospatial results. With the new geographic search capability, they can now enable the "Map" layout and see a map appear with search result extents. They scroll through the gallery of results below the map, select a search result and watch the map zoom to and highlight that content.
How can you test this feature out? To start, make sure that your Hub site’s content items have geographic extents. Then, navigate to your Hub site's search page `{siteURL}/search` and select the "Map" layout. Often your catalog's content will share a similar and overlapping geographic extent. Hub layers geometries on the map so that smaller geometries are on top and easier to select. If a user selects a map location where there are multiple geometries, they can step through the results using the arrows within the pop-up.
The new "Map" layout option allows users to see geographic content in-line with a gallery of search results.
Selecting a result on the map displays a pop-up card with details about the result. Select the title to further explore the content or use the arrows or list at the top to step through other results at that location.
Common Questions
- What content will appear on the map?
Currently, any item that has an extent set. - What if my geospatial and non-geospatial content doesn't have an extent? Will it render on the map?
Not on the map, but it will display in the grid below the map. You can still search and filter all results when viewing the map layout. Keep in mind that any item with geometry should have an extent automatically set to the geometry’s bounding box. - Can I disable the map layout?
Not yet. But we're working on adding configurations to search displays to hide certain layouts or set the map as the default. We are interested to hear what other search display configurations would be most impactful to your workflows.
What's next?
This is just the start for geographic search. In Hub Premium, we've already added map-based discussions, and soon users will be able to search a map of Hub projects. We're considering enhancements for a number of content workflows that will help content managers, site managers, and anonymous end users. Here are just a few:
- Search for addresses and placenames from any search bar,
- Explore an immersive full screen map layout on desktop and mobile,
- Explore more granular geographies including custom-drawn locations or individual features,
- Content managers define configurable search catalogs including creating custom defined collections and configuring the search display (e.g., set the default layout, sort, and displayed order of filters).
We'd love to hear about your geographic search needs and workflows. Try out the new map layout and give us your thoughts on the feature and what you'd like to see next in the comments below.
Happy Hubbing!