How to Add USGS Topos and Data Served by Terraserver

Some of the field offices and parks may not have the fastest connection to the servers here in Nashville. This makes it particularly hard to work with aerial imagery and USGS topo maps. USGS and Microsoft host a site called Terraserver that provides the topos and aerial imagery for free as a web map service (WMS). The URL for this service is:

http://www.terraserver-usa.com/ogccapabilities.ashx?

To use this service in ArcMap, follow the steps below:

1. Click the add data button:



2. Choose GIS Servers in the Add Data Dialog:














3. Double click Add WMS Server:


4. Enter the following Terraserver Web Map Service URL:
http://www.terraserver-usa.com/ogccapabilities.ashx?

Note that these instructions have been revised with the new terraserver map service URL.
Ignore the old URL in the screenshot below, and enter the one above.



Click Get Layers to see if the connection worked. If so, click OK.
ArcMap should take you to the Add Data Box with GIS Servers listed.

5. Double Click on the Microsoft TerraServer Map Server you just added.

6. Click on the Microsoft TerraServer Map Server map layer, and then click Add:


7. Zoom to your area of interest and start using the data: