Share imagery as an ArcGIS Online tiled map service

Cached imagery can be cached and shared as a tiled map service on ArcGIS Online if you have an organization account. There are two ways to cache and share your tiled map service. One method is to add the raster datasets or mosaic datasets to ArcMap and share the map document as a hosted tiled map service. Publishing through ArcMap will copy the source image data and generate cache tiles using the hosted service on ArcGIS Online. This method is recommended for small to medium sized data. Another way is to generate the tile cache using ArcGIS for Desktop and publish the tile cache to ArcGIS Online through the tile package. This method off loads the job of generating cache tiles to ArcGIS for Desktop. Once the desired tile cache is generated, then only the tiles get loaded to ArcGIS Online.

A tile cache is a special raster dataset that contains images (tiles) at a predefined size and levels. It can be one or three-band and its 8-bit. It is the same cache that is created for map service or image services for fast access.

The sources used to generate the tile cache can be

You may prefer using the raster layer or mosaic layer to ensure the data looks good by applying the appropriate rendering rules to generate the tile cache. This is particularly useful if you have data with multiple bands—the layer allows you to define the appropriate RGB band combination. It is also useful if you have data that is not 8-bit—the layer allows you to define an appropriate stretch to see the data correctly.

A tile cache can be created using the Tile Cache toolset tools. The common workflow to generate the tile cache is

  1. Create a mosaic dataset from a collection of images.
  2. Define a tiling scheme, if it's different from the ArcGIS Online tiling scheme.
  3. Generate the tile cache.

The tile cache can then be packaged as a tile package and then shared as an item in ArcGIS Online, which can be published as a tiled map service.

Generating the tile cache

There are two ways to generate the tile cache: from within the Catalog window or using geoprocessing tools. The advantage to using geoprocessing tools is you can automate this workflow.

Generate a tile cache within the Catalog window

Steps:
  1. In the Catalog window, right-click the mosaic dataset or the raster dataset, or layer file and click Generate tile Cache.

    The Generate Tile Cache dialog box opens.

  2. Click the Tile Cache node on the left side of the dialog box and verify the name.
  3. Click the Tile format node on the left side of the dialog box and choose or customize a tilling scheme.
  4. Optionally, check Tile package name to generate to package the tile cache once it's generated.
    1. Optionally, click the Item Description node on the left side of the dialog box a enter or verify the information.
  5. Click the Analyze button at the top of the dialog box.

    This examines your dataset to see if the tile cache can be generated. Results are displayed in the Prepare window. You have to fix the errors before you can generate the tile cache.

  6. Click Generate to create the tile cache.

Generate a tile cache using via geoprocessing

Steps:
  1. If the desired tiling scheme is not the ArcGIS Online tiling scheme, use the Generate Tile Cache Tiling Scheme tool to generate the tiling scheme file.
  2. Use the Manage Tile Cache tool create and manage the tile cache.

Sharing the tile cache with ArcGIS Online

The tile cache can be packaged as tile packages on Desktop using the Export Tile Cache tool. It can then be shared as tiled as tile packages on ArcGIS Online using the Share Package tool.

Steps:
  1. In the Catalog window, right-click the tile package and click Share As > Tile Package.
  2. Enter the required parameters and click OK to run the tool.

The ArcGIS Online tile package can then be published as a tiled map service.

Steps:
  1. Log into your ArcGIS Online account.
  2. Click on the tile package item that you just shared.
  3. Click the Publish button to share as a tiled map service.
12/18/2014