Background mapping

Background mapping can be applied to a project for visualisation purposes. This can help with model building, ensuring hydraulic units are correctly located. It can also be used to enhance model results, e.g. using aerial (satellite) photography to overlay flood extent results over.

There are multiple options available in Flood Modeller for defining background mapping.

Web Map Services (WMS) return the image of a map. Web Feature Services (WFS) can have attributes alongside geometry. To assist with visualisation of models, Flood Modeller provides a tool to Add a WMS/WFS layer to projects. It is also possible to Add a WMS/WFS layer to your favourites for even easier access. An alternative method is also provided to Manually add a WMS layer via url.

You can connect your map view to one of a fixed number of freely available online mapping services included within Flood Modeller. Add an online basemap to a project and select from the following options:

• Open Street Map

• Bing Maps

• Bing Satellite

• Bing Hybrid

• OS Roads

• OS Light

• OS Outdoor

All mapping will be displayed at a set projection. You can View and edit projection details and Edit the default projection as required.

For online basemapping options, you will need an appropriate key from the Microsoft website or the OS data hub website.

Note: Microsoft has recently discontinued their Bing Maps service (it is replaced by Azure Maps, which is not yet compatible with the Flood Modeller map). This means new keys can no longer be obtained from Microsoft. However, if you already have an existing Bing Maps key, then this will remain valid until June 2025, therefore it can still be used in Flood Modeller to give you access to Bing Maps data.