Frequently asked question

How do I optimize a web map for high demand?

Last Published: April 25, 2020

Answer

If a web map is picked up by social media and viewed by thousands or millions of users at once, users want the map to load as fast as possible. To reduce the time it takes to load the map during viral, high-demand activity, follow these guidelines for optimizing the layers in web maps.

Use file layers - If the data has less than 1000 features and only one administrator needs to edit it, add the data to the map as a file layer or a map notes layer. Keep in mind that it is not an efficient way to manage data that must be updated frequently or needs multiple editors.
[O-Image] Add Layer From File
Disable editing on services - When editing is disabled, the geometry returned from the service is simplified, improving the response time for user queries. The layer owner and organization administrators can open the hosted feature layer with editing enabled without having to enable editing for everyone else.
[O-Image] Online Properties
Remove filters on layers - If it is important to manage a subset of the features as an individual layer, publish each filtered set of data as its own individual layer.

Use Tile Layers - If the data does not require frequent updates, publish hosted tile layers instead of hosted feature layers and enable pop-ups if the user wants to include attribute information. Tiles offer the fastest drawing time for large datasets.
[O-Image] Tiled Service Details

Article ID: 000012109

Software:
  • ArcGIS Online

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