Layers

Understanding layers

Layers are the building blocks of your interactive energy visualizations. They transform your geospatial and weather data into stunning visual representations on interactive maps. The Rebase Dashboard API uses a unified layer system that consolidates both map layers and weather layers into a single, flexible structure using DeckGL for powerful, performant rendering.

Layer structure

The API uses a unified layer structure with type discrimination:

// Base Layer (common properties)
interface BaseLayer {
  id: string;
  user_id: string;
  name: string;
  deckgl_props?: object;
  ui_config?: UiConfig;
  created_at?: string;
  updated_at?: string;
}

// Weather Layer (extends BaseLayer)
interface WeatherLayer extends BaseLayer {
  type: "wl:RasterLayer" | "wl:ParticleLayer" | "wl:IsolineLayer";
  weather_model_id: string;
  variable: string;
  altitude: number;
  run_hour?: number;
  run_day?: string;
}

// Map Layer (extends BaseLayer)
interface MapLayer extends BaseLayer {
  type: "ScatterPlotLayer" | "GeoJsonLayer";
  dataset_id: string;
}

// Unified Layer Type
type Layer = WeatherLayer | MapLayer;

Layer types

The type field acts as a discriminator that determines which layer model to use:

Weather layers: type starts with "wl:" (e.g., "wl:RasterLayer")
Map layers: type doesn’t start with "wl:" (e.g., "ScatterPlotLayer")

The API automatically validates required fields based on the layer type.

Map Layer Types

ScatterPlotLayer

Perfect for visualizing point data like wind turbines, solar panels, or power plants.

# Create a scatterplot layer for wind turbines
wind_turbines_layer = client.layers.create_layer(
    name="Wind Turbines",
    type="ScatterPlotLayer",
    dataset_id=geospatial_dataset.id,
    deckgl_props={
        "radiusScale": 1000,
        "radiusMinPixels": 3,
        "radiusMaxPixels": 15,
        "getFillColor": [0, 255, 0],
        "getLineColor": [0, 200, 0],
        "lineWidthMinPixels": 1,
        "pickable": True,
        "stroked": True
    }
)

Key properties:

radiusScale: Scale factor for point sizes
radiusMinPixels/radiusMaxPixels: Min/max size constraints
getFillColor: Fill color for each point
getLineColor: Border color for each point
pickable: Enable click interactions
stroked: Enable borders

GeoJsonLayer

For complex geometries like wind farm boundaries, transmission lines, or service areas.

# Create a GeoJSON layer for wind farm boundaries
geojson_layer = client.layers.create_layer(
    name="Wind Farm Boundaries",
    type="GeoJsonLayer",
    dataset_id=boundaries_dataset.id,
    deckgl_props={
        "getFillColor": [0, 100, 255, 100],
        "getLineColor": [0, 100, 255],
        "lineWidthMinPixels": 2,
        "opacity": 0.6,
        "stroked": True,
        "filled": True,
        "extruded": False
    }
)

Key properties:

getFillColor: Fill color for polygons
getLineColor: Border color for geometries
lineWidthMinPixels: Border thickness
extruded: Enable 3D extrusion for height data

Weather Layer Types

wl:RasterLayer

Raster-based weather data visualization for wind speed, temperature, precipitation, etc.

# Create a raster weather layer for wind speed
wind_speed_layer = client.layers.create_layer(
    name="Wind Speed at 10m",
    type="wl:RasterLayer",
    weather_model_id="ECMWF_IFS",
    variable="WindSpeed",
    altitude=10,
    run_hour=12,
    run_day="2025-01-15",
    deckgl_props={
        "opacity": 0.7
    }
)

wl:ParticleLayer

Particle-based weather visualization for wind flow, air currents, etc.

# Create a particle layer for wind flow
wind_flow_layer = client.layers.create_layer(
    name="Wind Flow Particles",
    type="wl:ParticleLayer",
    weather_model_id="ECMWF_IFS",
    variable="WindSpeed",
    altitude=10,
    run_hour=12,
    run_day="2025-01-15",
    deckgl_props={
        "opacity": 0.8,
        "particleCount": 1000
    }
)

wl:IsolineLayer

Contour/isoline weather visualization for pressure, temperature gradients, etc.

# Create an isoline layer for pressure
pressure_layer = client.layers.create_layer(
    name="Atmospheric Pressure",
    type="wl:IsolineLayer",
    weather_model_id="ECMWF_IFS",
    variable="Pressure",
    altitude=0,
    run_hour=12,
    run_day="2025-01-15",
    deckgl_props={
        "opacity": 0.6,
        "contourInterval": 2
    }
)

Other DeckGL Layer Types

You can use any DeckGL layer type by specifying it as a string. The API will pass the deckgl_props directly to the specified layer type.

# Example with a custom DeckGL layer type
custom_layer = client.layers.create_layer(
    name="Custom Layer",
    type="YourDeckGLLayerType",  # Any valid DeckGL layer type
    dataset_id=dataset.id,
    deckgl_props={
        # Properties specific to your layer type
    }
)

Advanced layer features

Dynamic styling

Make your layers respond to data properties:

# Dynamic styling based on turbine status
dynamic_scatterplot = client.layers.create_layer(
    name="Dynamic Wind Turbines",
    type="ScatterPlotLayer",
    dataset_id=turbines_dataset.id,
    deckgl_props={
        "radiusScale": 500,
        "radiusMinPixels": 5,
        "radiusMaxPixels": 25,
        "getFillColor": [
            "case",
            ["==", ["get", "status"], "operational"], [0, 255, 0],
            ["==", ["get", "status"], "maintenance"], [255, 165, 0],
            ["==", ["get", "status"], "offline"], [255, 0, 0],
            [128, 128, 128]  # Default gray
        ],
        "getLineColor": [0, 0, 0],
        "pickable": True,
        "stroked": True
    }
)

UI Configuration

Add interactive controls for layer properties:

# Layer with UI controls
ui_controlled_layer = client.layers.create_layer(
    name="Interactive Layer",
    type="ScatterPlotLayer",
    dataset_id=dataset.id,
    deckgl_props={
        "radiusScale": 1000,
        "getFillColor": [0, 255, 0],
        "opacity": 0.8
    },
    ui_config={
        "controls": {
            "size_control": {
                "property": "radiusScale",
                "type": "slider",
                "default": 1000,
                "range": [100, 2000],
                "label": "Point Size"
            },
            "opacity_control": {
                "property": "opacity",
                "type": "slider",
                "default": 0.8,
                "range": [0, 1],
                "label": "Opacity"
            },
            "color_control": {
                "property": "getFillColor",
                "type": "colorScheme",
                "default": [0, 255, 0],
                "label": "Point Color"
            }
        }
    }
)

Layer management

Creating layers

# Create a new map layer
map_layer = client.layers.create_layer(
    name="My Custom Layer",
    type="ScatterPlotLayer",
    dataset_id=dataset.id,
    deckgl_props={
        # Your layer properties here
    }
)

# Create a new weather layer
weather_layer = client.layers.create_layer(
    name="Wind Speed Layer",
    type="wl:RasterLayer",
    weather_model_id="ECMWF_IFS",
    variable="WindSpeed",
    altitude=10,
    run_hour=12,
    run_day="2025-01-15",
    deckgl_props={
        "opacity": 0.7
    }
)

Updating layers

# Update layer properties (all parameters required)
updated_layer = client.layers.update_layer(
    layer_id,
    name="Updated Layer Name",
    type="ScatterPlotLayer",  # Required
    dataset_id=dataset.id,    # Required for map layers
    deckgl_props={
        "radiusScale": 1500,
        "getFillColor": [255, 0, 0]
    }
)

# Update weather layer
updated_weather_layer = client.layers.update_layer(
    weather_layer_id,
    name="Updated Weather Layer",
    type="wl:RasterLayer",  # Required
    weather_model_id="ECMWF_IFS",  # Required for weather layers
    variable="WindSpeed",  # Required for weather layers
    altitude=10,  # Required for weather layers
    deckgl_props={
        "opacity": 0.8
    }
)

Retrieving layers

# Get all layers (both map and weather)
all_layers = client.layers.list_layers()

# Filter by type if needed
weather_layers = [layer for layer in all_layers if layer.type.startswith('wl:')]
map_layers = [layer for layer in all_layers if not layer.type.startswith('wl:')]

# Get a specific layer
layer = client.layers.get_layer(layer_id)

Deleting layers

# Delete a layer (use with caution!)
client.layers.delete_layer(layer_id)

Component integration

Creating map components with unified layers

# Create a map component with both map and weather layers
map_component = client.components.create_map(
    name="My Map",
    config={"latitude": 55.6761, "longitude": 9.5018, "zoom": 6},
    layer_ids=[map_layer.id, weather_layer.id]  # All layer types in one array
)

Layer type reference

Weather Layer Types

Type	Description	Required Fields
`wl:RasterLayer`	Raster weather data visualization	`weather_model_id`, `variable`, `altitude`
`wl:ParticleLayer`	Particle-based weather visualization	`weather_model_id`, `variable`, `altitude`
`wl:IsolineLayer`	Contour/isoline weather visualization	`weather_model_id`, `variable`, `altitude`

Map Layer Types

Type	Description	Required Fields
`ScatterPlotLayer`	Point-based geospatial data	`dataset_id`
`GeoJsonLayer`	GeoJSON polygon/line data	`dataset_id`

Important Limitations

Layer ordering: Z-index and layer stacking order is not supported
Interactive events: onClick handlers and tooltips are not implemented
Layer types: Any DeckGL layer type can be used, but not all may work as expected
Updates: All parameters (name, type, dataset_id/weather_model_id) are required when updating layers
UI controls: Only basic property controls (slider, colorScheme, toggle, dropdown) are supported

Best practices

Performance optimization

Use appropriate layer types for your data
Limit the number of points in large datasets
Use data filtering to show relevant subsets
Consider using clustering for dense point data

Visual design

Choose colors that work well together
Use opacity to show overlapping data
Provide clear visual hierarchy
Include legends for clarity

User experience

Add interactive controls for layer properties using ui_config
Use consistent styling across related layers
Test layer performance with your actual data
Validate that your chosen DeckGL layer type works as expected

Next steps

Now that you understand layers, learn how to combine them:

Map Components

Combine multiple layers into interactive map components.

Weather Integration

Learn more about weather data integration.

API Reference

Explore all layer endpoints and options.

Getting started

Core concepts

Advanced features

Understanding layers

Layer structure

Layer types

Map Layer Types

ScatterPlotLayer

GeoJsonLayer

Weather Layer Types

wl:RasterLayer

wl:ParticleLayer

wl:IsolineLayer

Other DeckGL Layer Types

Advanced layer features

Dynamic styling

UI Configuration

Layer management

Creating layers

Updating layers

Retrieving layers

Deleting layers

Component integration

Creating map components with unified layers

Layer type reference

Weather Layer Types

Map Layer Types

Important Limitations

Best practices

Performance optimization

Visual design

User experience

Next steps

Map Components

Weather Integration

API Reference

Getting started

Core concepts

Advanced features

​Understanding layers

​Layer structure

​Layer types

​Map Layer Types

​ScatterPlotLayer

​GeoJsonLayer

​Weather Layer Types

​wl:RasterLayer

​wl:ParticleLayer

​wl:IsolineLayer

​Other DeckGL Layer Types

​Advanced layer features

​Dynamic styling

​UI Configuration

​Layer management

​Creating layers

​Updating layers

​Retrieving layers

​Deleting layers

​Component integration

​Creating map components with unified layers

​Layer type reference

​Weather Layer Types

​Map Layer Types

​Important Limitations

​Best practices

​Performance optimization

​Visual design

​User experience

​Next steps

Map Components

Weather Integration

API Reference

Understanding layers

Layer structure

Layer types

Map Layer Types

ScatterPlotLayer

GeoJsonLayer

Weather Layer Types

wl:RasterLayer

wl:ParticleLayer

wl:IsolineLayer

Other DeckGL Layer Types

Advanced layer features

Dynamic styling

UI Configuration

Layer management

Creating layers

Updating layers

Retrieving layers

Deleting layers

Component integration

Creating map components with unified layers

Layer type reference

Weather Layer Types

Map Layer Types

Important Limitations

Best practices

Performance optimization

Visual design

User experience

Next steps