As a data user, finding and using curated data collections in maps and applications can be challenging. Even when your community’s data catalog contains valuable data, there can be a frustrating disconnect in putting that data to use.
To overcome this hurdle, ArcGIS Online Map Viewer and Scene Viewer now enable users to add content directly from your favorite ArcGIS Hub catalogs, making it easier than ever to incorporate curated datasets into your workflows.
Streamlining data access: Breaking the 80-20 rule
It is commonly acknowledged that data analysts spend up to 80% of their time wrangling data from various sources, leaving only 20% for actual analysis. This is where ArcGIS Hub comes in – it’s like a superpower for sharing trusted content.
ArcGIS Hub is a powerful platform that helps organizations share trusted and curated content, collaborate, and engage with their stakeholders. By providing focused collections for a wide range of audiences and purposes, Hub catalogs increase productivity.
How ArcGIS Hub catalogs work
- Site managers configure Hub catalogs using groups.
- Then, they curate content from their organization, partners, and trusted sources.
- The curated content is then shared with the community through their hub site.
Previously, leveraging these data collections directly within GIS clients was more difficult. Now, users have a smooth transition between Hub catalogs and Map Viewer, enabling quick access to put that content to use.
New ArcGIS Online integrations: Adding layers from Hub catalogs
ArcGIS Online now empowers Map Viewer and Scene Viewer users to add layers directly from ArcGIS Hub catalogs. This integration makes it possible to browse and use curated datasets with ease, enhancing both accessibility and usability for data providers and users alike.
Benefits for data providers
Data providers can increase the reach and impact of their data by sharing content through interoperable, standards-based Hub catalogs. When users explore your data in a Hub catalog, they can create a map using Map Viewer and Scene Viewer. Users can now view and add content from Hub catalogs when browsing layers in the item browser. Additionally, users can favorite hub sites from the site or in ArcGIS Online, making it easy to return to your curated content.
How to use Hub catalogs in ArcGIS Online
Users can browse layers from recently visited and favorited hub sites directly in Map Viewer and Scene Viewer:
- Start in a Hub Site: Begin by browsing, searching, and exploring content in a hub site. For instance, a researcher investigating beach access in the Pacific Northwest explores the Washington State Geospatial Program Office’s Washington Geospatial Open Data Portal which empowers agencies, businesses, and citizens with readily accessible high-quality geographic information.
- Discover and Use Data: By searching for keywords like “beach,” users find relevant datasets, such as Recreational Shellfish Beaches. After previewing the data, simply select I want to use this and then Create a map to open the data directly in Map Viewer.
- Seamless Integration: Previously, adding additional curated layers from a hub site required returning to the catalog and manually searching for each item. Now, Map Viewer and Scene Viewer integrate Hub catalogs, allowing users to browse and add layers from recently visited sites directly within the map-making environment. The browser cache keeps track of recently visited sites, and can be cleared if needed.
With Hub catalog integration, community curated content is at your fingertips to continue mapping:
Keep favorites at your fingertips
Users who frequently visit hub sites can favorite them from the site, or in ArcGIS Online. By favoriting a hub site, users automatically include its catalog, making it easier to use content from favorite catalogs.
To favorite a hub site, signed in users can click the star icon on the Hub page action menu. Alternatively, find the site item in the home app, click the more actions menu (three dots), and select Add to favorites. Manage your favorite content in the ArcGIS Online home app.
What’s next?
If you are unsure whether your jurisdiction or organization has a hub site, you can search ArcGIS to find and favorite a site, or get started by creating your own.
Additional resources
- Find out what’s new and learn best practices on the ArcGIS Blog
- Visit the ArcGIS Hub Esri Community
- Attend Hub webinars
- View presentations, demos, and how-to videos on our ArcGIS Hub playlists
- Sign up for the ArcGIS Hub e-newsletter
- Follow us on “X” @ArcGISHub
Sites featured in this story were submitted to the ArcGIS Hub gallery. Visit the gallery to explore more examples from the community.
This article was originally published on October 22, 2025. It is updated to reflect that you can now access Hub Catalogs when adding layers in Scene Viewer, making it faster to find, add, and visualize the right data for your 3D workflows.
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