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WMS ENC [EN]

1. Introduction

This manual describes the steps required to configure access to the IHPT ENC WMS service, which provides visualization of the Electronic Navigational Charts (ENC) produced by the Portuguese Hydrographic Institute (IH) in S-57 format, using symbology compliant with the S-52 standard of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO).

The IHPT ENC WMS service allows users to access an ENC cartography basemap, using symbology compliant with the S-52 standard of the IHO, covering mainland Portugal and the Madeira and Azores archipelagos, Cape Verde and Angola.

A Web Map Service (WMS) is an international standard developed by the Open GeoSpatial Consortium (OGC) that enables the visualization of georeferenced maps over the Internet. This service provides map images generated in real time by a server, which can be integrated into GIS software, web or mobile applications, without the need to store the data locally. It is ideal for accessing and sharing geographic information dynamically and efficiently.

Access is free of charge for non-commercial purposes and is available to public and private users. This service must not be used for navigation purposes.

The service properties can be consulted through a GetCapabilities request in a web browser, using the following URL:

This manual is intended for public and private users who wish to visualize IH ENC cartography in GIS, WebGIS or hydrographic software compatible with WMS services.

Note: This service is intended solely for the visualization and consultation of ENC cartography and must not be used for navigation purposes.

2. Configuration in QGIS

To use the IHPT ENC WMS service in the QGIS application:

  1. Establish and configure the connection to the WMS service:

a. In the Navigation Panel or Browser, right-click WMS/WMTS and select New Connection...;

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b. Fill in the fields in the "Create a New WMS/Connection" window:

         Click OK to save the settings and add the service.

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     2. Select and add the ENC layer:

    • In the WMS/WMTS category of the Browser panel, within the IHPT ENC WMS connection configured in the previous step, select the ENC layer and double-click it to add it to the map.

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3. Configuration in ArcGIS

3.1. ArcGIS Pro 3.2.0

To use the WMS service in ArcGIS Pro:

  1. Establish and configure the connection to the web service:

a. From the Insert menu, expand the Connections button options, select Server and click New WMS Server.

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b. Configure the connection:

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     2. Select and add the ENC layer:

    • In the Catalog window, expand the IHPT - ENC WMS server and select the ENC layer. Right-click and select Add to Current Map.

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3.2. ArcMap 10.5

To use the WMS service in ArcMap:

  1. Establish and configure the connection to the web service:

a. On the toolbar, click the Add Data button.

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b. Under Look in, select GIS Servers.

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c. Double-click Add WMS Server.

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          d. Configure the connection:

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           e. Add the IHPT - ENC WMS service listed under GIS Servers.

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     2. Select and add the ENC layer:

    • Double-click the service and select the ENC layer. Click Add to confirm.

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4. Surfer

To use the WMS service in Surfer:

  1. Establish and configure the connection to the web service:

a. On the top toolbar, click the Base button and select Base from Server.

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b. In the Download Online Maps window, right-click and add a new category: WMS Servers.

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c. Right-click the category created in the previous step (WMS Servers) and select Add Map Source.

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          d. Configure the connection:

      • Click Validate to verify the connection, then click OK to save the settings.

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     2. Select and add the ENC layer:

a. In the Download Online Maps window, locate the IHPT ENC WMS service within the configured category and select the ENC layer.

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b. Adjust the parameters under Select Area to Download as required (for example, full extent or specific coordinates). You can use the Draw new selection bounds tool.

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c. Click OK to add the layer to the map.

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5. CARIS

5.1. CARIS Easy View 6.1.6


To use the WMS service in CARIS Easy View:

  1. Establish and configure the connection to the web service:

a. From the top menu, click File > Open > Connection....

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b. In the Open Connection window, click Add....

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          c. Configure the connection:

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      • Click Next to continue.

     2. Select and add the ENC layer:

a. From the list of available sources, select IHPT - ENC WMS and click Next.

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b. Filter the ENC layer in Properties:

      • In the Open Connection window, select the IHPT - ENC WMS layer from the list on the left.
      • In the Properties panel on the right, in the Filter field of the General section, click the button with the three dots (...) next to the field.
      • In the Select Feature Types window, select the ENC layer, deselect the remaining layers and click OK to confirm the selection.
      • Click Finish to apply the filter and complete the configuration.

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c. In the Open Connection window, name the connection IHPT ENC WMS (or another name that makes the connection easy to identify) and click OK.

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          d. After completing the configuration, the ENC layer will be available in the Search Layers panel and displayed on the map.

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5.2. CARIS BASE Editor


To use the WMS service in CARIS BASE Editor:

  1. Establish and configure the connection to the web service:

a. From the top menu, click File > Open > Connection....

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b. In the Open Connection window, click Add....

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          c. Configure the connection:

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      • Click Next to continue.

     2. Select and add the ENC layer:

a. From the list of available sources, select IHPT - ENC WMS and click Next.

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b. In the Select Feature Types window, select the ENC layer (Electronic Navigational Charts). Click OK to confirm.

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c. In the layer configuration window, click Finish to load the selected layer.

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          d. After completing the configuration, the ENC layer will be available in the Search Layers panel and displayed on the map.

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6. HTML

The IHPT ENC WMS service can be integrated directly into web applications such as Leaflet or OpenLayers. The example below demonstrates the creation of an HTML page that displays a map for visualizing the service available at the following address: https://enc.hidrografico.pt/?. 

Example code for creating a basic WebGIS application using Leaflet and the IHPT ENC WMS service:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
	<title>Instituto Hidrográfico - IHPT ENC WMS</title>
	<meta charset="utf-8" />
	<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
	<link rel="shortcut icon" type="image/x-icon" href="docs/images/favicon.ico" />
	<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://unpkg.com/leaflet@1.0.2/dist/leaflet.css" />
	<script src="https://unpkg.com/leaflet@1.0.2/dist/leaflet.js"></script>
	<style>
		#map {
			width: 1280px;
			height: 800px;
		}
	</style>	
</head>
<body>
<div id='map'></div>
<script type="text/javascript">
	var map = L.map('map', {
		center: [39,-10],
		zoom: 5,
		crs: L.CRS.EPSG3857
	});
	var wmsLayer = L.tileLayer.wms('https://enc.hidrografico.pt/?', {
		layers: ['ENC'],
		version: '1.3.0',
		format: 'image/png',
		CSVALUE: ',,,,,3',
		CSBOOL: '2183'
	}).addTo(map);
</script>
</body>
</html>

Visualization of the WebGIS application using Leaflet and the IHPT ENC WMS service in a web browser:

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7. Contacts

Users may contact the Technical and Scientific Data Management Centre (CDT) of the Portuguese Hydrographic Institute for further information or clarification regarding access to Web services (WMS, WFS, WMTS, WCS, REST, etc.) made available through the Hidrográfico+ data infrastructure. To do so, users should access the form available at Portuguese Hydrographic Institute Portal – Forms – Scientific and Technical Data Transfer.

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