Using Imagery and Elevation Services in QGIS

Topics in this section:

Using Public Imagery and Elevation Services in QGIS

 

OGC compliant image and elevation services links can be found via our REST endpoint or ArcGIS REST Services Directory. You do not need to Login to access the Public services.

Please follow the instructions on how to add the services to QGIS in the QGIS documentation.

Using Restricted Imagery and Elevation Services in QGIS

To consume Restricted OGC compliant imagery services, such as the SISP or CLP services, in QGIS you can only do so via a Spatial Portal built-in named user account set up by the Department of Resources. If you have not been supplied with this please refer to the SISP enquiry form on the left hand side panel. Please note that built in account access will be assessed on a needs basis and depend on license availability.

After having obtained the credentials for the Spatial Portal built-in named user account you can now Login at the REST endpoint and obtain the OGC compliant Restricted image and elevation services links.

In QGIS add and authenticate the Restricted services as follows:

Open QGIS. Click on the Layer menu, select Add Layer, and choose Add WMS/WMTS Layer...


Give a name for the WMS layer and paste in the WMS URL containing the Basic Authentication prefix “auth-“, i.e :

https://auth-spatial-img.information.qld.gov.au/arcgis/services/Basemaps/LatestStateProgram_QGovSISPUsers/ImageServer/WMSServer?

and OK

Back in the Data Source Manager (WMS/WMTS) window choose Connect

A pop-up window will appear for your Spatial Portal built-in account credentials, and OK:

Set the Image Encoding to PNG to get transparency on the layer and add the selected layer to the map via the Data Source Manager (WMS/WMTS):

or Add Layer to Project via the table of content (Browser).

Connecting to an individual project

In the QGIS Layer menu -> Add Layer -> Add WMS/WMTS Layer window, to make a connection to a single individual project in the AerialOrtho TimeSeries services use a query in the REST endpoint URL like:

https://auth-spatial-img.information.qld.gov.au/arcgis/services/TimeSeries/AerialOrtho_SISPUsers/ImageServer/WMSServer?Query=Name%3D'Sunshine_Coast_LGA_2022_10cm_SISP'
or

https://auth-spatial-img.information.qld.gov.au/arcgis/services/TimeSeries/AerialOrtho_SISPUsers/ImageServer/WMSServer?Query=Name='Sunshine_Coast_LGA_2022_10cm_SISP'

Extracting height information at a point from elevation services

From the Elevation services use the WCS capability to get height information from the service. The WMS capability does not give height information in the service.

From the REST endpoint copy and paste one of the Time Series REST endpoint URLs in the Data Source Manager (WCS):

DEM_TimeSeries_AllUsers - https://spatial-img.information.qld.gov.au/arcgis/services/Elevation/DEM_TimeSeries_AllUsers/ImageServer/WCSServer?request=GetCapabilities&service=WCS DEM_TimeSeries_CLPUsers - https://auth-spatial-img.information.qld.gov.au/arcgis/services/Elevation/DEM_TimeSeries_CLPUsers/ImageServer/WCSServer?request=GetCapabilities&service=WCS

Make sure to use the first default renderer layer from the service to obtain the correct height value at a location, via the Identify tool :

Other renderers

For visual purposes only choose another rendered elevation layer from either WCS or WMS in the Data Source Manager:

Depending on the version of you use, please see the QGIS documentation pages for further information.