Each organization that uses ArcGIS has compiled data that can be used to add to and improve the basemaps in the Community Maps Program.
You can contribute your organization's geographic content and become part of the Community Maps Esri publishes and hosts online. This program is available to all ArcGIS users and other data providers interested in making their basemap content broadly available for use by the ArcGIS community. If you are interested, just follow these simple steps to get started:
- Explore the program
- Determine if you are a potential contributor
- Prepare your data
- Apply and upload your data
Explore the program
New to the Community Maps Program?
- Check out our Community Maps Program Overview page to learn about the program.
- Watch a short overview video that explains the purpose and goals of the program.
- Watch a webinar that illustrates how program members are using their contribution content to become more efficient.
- Take a tour of the Community Maps and find out what's going on with the Imagery, Streets, Ocean and Topographic maps.
- Take a tour of campuses in the World Topographic Map.
Already familiar with Community Maps, but want to know more about our recent enhancements to the program?
- Watch our brief Introduction to Community Maps 2.0 video.
- Read a blog post that discusses these exciting changes.
Determine if you are a potential contributor
The Community Maps Program is open to authoritative contributors of basemap layers. By authoritative, we mean that the contributing organization either creates or maintains the data layers they intend to contribute and should be responsiblie for their veracity. To determine if you meet the requirements to be a Community Maps contributor, ask yourself these questions:
- Do you maintain any of the basemap data layers accepted by the Community Maps Program?
- Do you have ownership of the data and the rights to use it in an online map service?
- Are you willing to permit Esri to host your content in a public cached map service through ArcGIS Online?
If you answer yes to these questions then you are a perfect candidate for the Community Maps Program. Welcome to the club!
Prepare your data
For most organizations the easiest way to contribute content to the Community Maps Program is to migrate their basemap source layers into the Local Government Information Model. There are plenty of resources and free training available to assist with the migration, and many contributors find that the benefits of the Local Government model extend far beyond Community Maps.
Apply and upload your data
If you will be contributing content to the World Topographic Map, simply apply through our online contribution management system. This system will take you all the way through the contribution process, from the initial application to uploading and reviewing your content, and to the ultimate release for publication in ArcGIS Online. All you will need to login and get started is an ArcGIS Online account for the contributing organization (as opposed to a personal, individual account).
If you will be contributing content to a basemap other than the World Topographic Map (Imagery, Streets or Ocean) please complete the participation form, and a Community Maps representative will contact you.
All contributors will also want to complete the Community Maps Participation Agreement and submit it to the Community Maps Program. Your content can't be published without it. If you have questions regarding the Participation Agreement, check out this FAQ or contact us.