GeoServices - basemaps styling

NextGIS Geoservices
1

I’m interested in deploying an on-premises basemap server within our institute, and NextGIS GeoServices is one of the options we’re considering:
https://nextgis.com/nextgis-geoservices/

As I understand it, GeoServices can use OSM PBF files to host a basemap. Could you explain how basemap styling is configured? i.e., how we control the cartographic appearance (colors, line widths, labels, etc.)? Is the styling workflow QGIS-based, similar to how NextGIS Web uses QGIS symbology, or is it handled differently?

2

There are two ways to create a basemap using GeoServices:

  • Based on OSM data. In this case, you can use the Mapbox Style Specification to configure the map’s appearance. You can publish as many basemaps as you need, each with its own style.
  • Based on a connected NextGIS Web instance. You can select any web map published in your NGW and convert it into a basemap cache. In this case, the basemap’s appearance is defined by the QGIS styles used in the NGW web map.
3

Thank you, Eduard. Is it obligatory to have a NextGIS Web instance deployed on the same server as GeoServices?

1 Like
4

GeoServices can work independently, it doesn’t need an NGW instance deployed alongside it. For example, you can use GeoServices on its own to serve OSM-based basemaps. But having NGW nearby is useful to publish basemaps based on QGIS styles