This section provides the relevant technical instructions to navigate the web interface. The table below guides through the different general functionalities of the GloFAS Map Viewer.

The GloFAS products are presented in layers, which are sorted in different categories in the top left menu bar, each opening a panel with additional options:

A detailed explanation of the layer categories is provided in the Section 3.2.2  “Layer categories explained”.

Zooms out to the global view.

For zooming in and out you can use the bar on the bottom left hand side or a mouse wheel.

The operational status of GFM system components, and the options to sign out, edit profile settings, and view messages from the GloFAS operational team are directly accessible in the top-right corner.

Customizing your view by clicking the the cogwheelsymbol ():

  • Base map: change your background map
  • Active Layers Position: choose the position (left, right or hidden) of the Active layers list  (default is to the left)
  • Active Layers Opacity: choose Dropdown (shows an eye-icon  to adjust opacity) or Always visible
  • Active Layers Reordering: to adjust order of layers displayed, choose Arrows (arrow icons appear) or by Dragging (hand icon appears)
  • Layer Groups: Switch between icons or text for the Layer Groups in the menu bar. Text can be beneficial if you are less familiar with the Map Viewer. Icons are the default. 
  • Point Information: Choose whether you (1) only want to see the latest point information (e.g. the pop-out window for the Reporting points), (2) a list of all points that have been clicked, or (3) several windows next to each other. 
  • Map Markers: Choose to (1) show Map Markers or not (2) and if they should (3) be remembered when reloading the page. 
  • Reset window sizes and positions: Go back to the default zoom and focus area, chosen active layers stay active. 

find information about GloFAS (Tutorial, Data, Products and Terms and conditions sections) (ABOUT GLOFAS),

  • Access the portal to download GFM data, and use specific GFM functionalities such as the definition of area(s) of interest (FLOOD MONITORING),
  • search a specific location in the map viewer (SEARCH).


To activate a layer, hover over the top menu bar, find your layer in one of the categories and switch the toggle on. Now your activated layer will appear in the menu on the left hand side. As an example, in the figure to the left, the Reporting Points layer was selected from the category Hydrological. You can move the whole layer menu by dragging and dropping it from the top of the menu and hide or show from Active Layers Position by selecting Hidden.

  • You can select different forecast dates in the calendar on top of the layer menu (). By clicking the clock icon (), you can select the latest GloFAS forecast. GloFAS forecasts are available from 01-01-2011 to real time. IMPORTANT NOTE: The available layers and their definitions depend on the operational release version (e.g. not all layers are available from 01-01-2011). Detailed information on the operational versions is provided on the wiki page GloFAS versioning system.
  • Allows removal of all map markers at once.
  • Is equivalent to remove, but this removes all layers.
  • Switches the layer display between List view (default), Group view (layers grouped by category), and Timeline view (opens an additional widget for animated layers).
  • In the list, the order of layers displayed can be adjusted with the arrows ().
  • Layers can be kept in the list but can be switched off by clicking the on/off button (orange is enabled (), grey is disabled ()). There is a main switch on top of the legend switching on/off all layers simultaneously.
  • Layers can be removed from the layer menu by clicking on the () or disabled directly from the menu bar on the top.
  • The Info button () opens a layer's legend and further information in a new window.


The Map Viewer provides numerous options to customise your view and make it more useful for your needs. You will find tools to change the visualizations or create your own presets on the right side of the menu bar.

  GFM Widget, described in Section 3.2.2  Layer categories explained
   Search location
  Add external WMS, described in Section 3.2.2  Layer categories explained
  Define and save presets
  Various configuration options 
    Help icon (interactive tutorial)

The Map Viewer uses a multi-tab approach. If multiple layers are available at a specific location, a pop-up window with several tabs is displayed and the user can switch between them:

Information from 3 layers (Reporting Points, Rapid Impact Assessment and Major Rivers) is available in different tabs.

1 Comment

  1. Svea Bertolatus

    I had to add "GloFAS" to the title because I could not publish a page with a same name that already exsisted...