ArcGIS Living Atlas
Verified working Sep 16, 2026
A curated ArcGIS catalog of maps, layers, and global geospatial data.
ArcGIS Living Atlas is Esri’s catalog of ready-to-use geographic content, including basemaps, imagery, demographic layers, environmental data, and map-based apps. It is designed for people building maps or spatial analysis workflows in the ArcGIS ecosystem, with many items maintained by Esri and authoritative data providers.
Why it stands out
- Strong integration with ArcGIS tools, so many layers can be opened or added to maps without conversion.
- Includes a mix of Esri-maintained content and datasets from recognized public-sector and scientific sources.
- Covers both visualization-ready map layers and analysis-oriented geospatial services.
- Item metadata often exposes update history, licensing notes, scale, and service details needed for GIS workflows.
Good to know
- Most useful for people already working in ArcGIS; using content outside that ecosystem may require extra handling.
- Access, licensing, and usage limits vary by item, and some content may require an ArcGIS account, subscription, or credits.
- Coverage and update frequency are uneven across geographies and themes, depending on the underlying provider.
Under the radar: Before relying on a layer, open its item details and check the REST service URL, terms of use, and last-updated date; Living Atlas search results can look similar while coming from very different providers and maintenance schedules.
Photos
GIS analysts and mapmakers who need trustworthy layers they can add directly to ArcGIS projects. Find basemaps, imagery, boundaries, demographics, or hazard data for a new map. Compare available datasets before choosing inputs for spatial analysis. Embed maintained web layers into dashboards, story maps, or public-facing GIS apps.
Searchable catalog of maps, feature layers, imagery layers, scenes, apps, and dashboards; thematic browsing across topics such as environment, population, infrastructure, and imagery; item pages with metadata, ownership, sharing status, and usage options; integration with ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Pro, dashboards, and web maps.
Technical Notes
- Many Living Atlas items are backed by ArcGIS REST services, with item pages linking to service endpoints where supported.
- Feature services commonly support structured queries through the ArcGIS REST API; availability depends on the individual layer and its sharing settings.
- Some services may require ArcGIS authentication or have usage restrictions set by the data owner.
Alternative listings
A USGS portal for finding satellite, aerial, and map imagery.
Open Data & Research PortalsEarthExplorer is the U.S. Geological Survey’s search interface for satellite scenes, aerial photographs, and cartographic products. Users can define an area of interest, choose dates and datasets, refine metadata, and review matching results for ordering or access.
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Open Data & Research PortalsData.gov is the U.S. federal government’s public catalog for open datasets, tools, and related resources. It helps researchers, journalists, developers, policymakers, and the public find government data for analysis, apps, visualizations, and civic transparency work.
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Similar sites elsewhere
- Google Earth Engine Data Catalog — developers.google.com/earth-engine/datasets
- NASA Earthdata — earthdata.nasa.gov
- Natural Earth — naturalearthdata.com
- OpenStreetMap — openstreetmap.org
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