Stream layers are useful for visualizing real-time data feeds that have high volumes of data or that have data that changes at unknown intervals. For example, a fleet of vehicles might be transmitting their location, and the current location of the vehicles needs to be continuously monitored. Each update that is transmitted is called an observation, which is streamed to the client application and displayed without needing to refresh the client.
A stream layer is created from an ArcGIS GeoEvent Server stream service that you can add to ArcGIS Online, use in ArcGIS Velocity as an output stream layer, or add to ArcGIS Velocity as a data feed. When a stream layer connects and subscribes to a stream service, it uses HTML5 WebSockets to receive observations broadcast from the server. Most modern browsers support WebSockets.
Tip:
Stream layer items were previously referred to as streaming feature layers and were labelled as feature layers in ArcGIS Online.
You can use stream layers in ArcGIS apps such as Map Viewer, ArcGIS Earth, ArcGIS Pro, and apps built with ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native Apps or ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript.
Stream layers in ArcGIS Online
To help you find stream layers on the Content page, use the stream layers filter.
When you add a stream layer to Map Viewer, you can use streaming controls. You can also configure the following for a stream layer in a map:
- Apply filters to limit what features appear.
- Change the style applied to the layer.
- Configure pop-ups.
- Set transparency and a visible range.
- Create group layers.