Basemap Switcher
The Basemap Switcher lets you change the background map imagery displayed on the globe. Choose from satellite imagery, road maps, topographic maps, and more to suit your data and presentation needs.
Opening the Basemap Switcher
A small square button sits in the bottom-left corner of the viewport. It shows a thumbnail of the currently active basemap.
Click the button to open a two-column thumbnail grid. The grid expands upward, displaying all available basemaps. The active basemap is highlighted with a ring around its thumbnail.
Click any basemap thumbnail to switch to it. The grid closes automatically. You can also click anywhere outside the grid to close it without changing basemap.
Available basemaps
| Basemap | Description |
|---|---|
| Bing Aerial | Satellite imagery — the default basemap |
| Bing Road | Road map with place labels |
| OpenStreetMap | Community-maintained map with roads and points of interest |
| ESRI World Imagery | High-resolution satellite imagery from Esri |
| ESRI World Topo | Topographic map with elevation contours and terrain shading |
| Carto Voyager | Clean, light-coloured map — good for general use |
| Carto Dark Matter | Dark-themed map — works well with bright data layers |
| Carto Positron | Minimal, light-grey map — reduces visual clutter |
| Google Maps Satellite | Google satellite imagery (only available if configured by your administrator) |
| None | Dark globe with no background imagery |
Google Maps Satellite only appears in the switcher if your organisation's administrator has enabled it. Contact your administrator if you need access.
Persistence
Your basemap choice is saved automatically. When you return to the project, the globe loads with the basemap you last selected.
Tips
Select None (dark globe) when you want layers and 3D models to stand out without any background imagery competing for attention.
Dark basemaps like Carto Dark Matter provide strong contrast for heatmaps and brightly coloured data layers, making patterns easier to read.
Satellite basemaps — Bing Aerial and ESRI World Imagery — are best when you need to compare your data against real-world ground features, land use, or physical terrain.