Web Mapping Service

WMS Request

The Sentinel Hub WMS service conforms to the WMS standard. It not only provides access to raw satellite data but also to processed products such as true color imagery and NDVI. Access to the service is done via a custom server instance URL which will be provided to you upon registration.

See our OGC API Webinar, which will guide you through different OGC services, including WMS, help you understand the structure, show you how to run the requests in different environments and how it can be integrated with QGIS, ArcGIS and web applications.

It is possible to obtain multiple separate instances (which act as separate WMS services) each with their own configuration and list of layers which will likely be useful to advanced users.

The base URL for the WMS service:

https://services.sentinel-hub.com/ogc/wms/<INSTANCE_ID>

For example, a GetCapabilities request can be done by changing the <INSTANCE_ID> to your provided instance ID and opening the following URL:

https://services.sentinel-hub.com/ogc/wms/<INSTANCE_ID>?REQUEST=GetCapabilities

Some of the most common provided products:

TRUE_COLOR - a brightened RGB image
FALSE_COLOR - uses near-infrared instead of the blue band
NDVI - Normalized Difference Vegetation Index
EVI - Enhanced Vegetation Index

List of all available products.

The service supports standard WMS requests: GetMap, GetCapabilities, GetFeatureInfo, and also some custom requests. Supported WMS versions are 1.1.1 and 1.3.0.

If you want to force a specific output format (e.g. float 32 or uint 16) set sampleType in your evalscript as explained here. Use dataMask band in your evalscript as explained here to make pixels transparent.

For a list of supported coordinate reference systems check the GetCapabilities result.

WMS URL Parameters

Standard common WMS URL parameters (parameter names are case insensitive, values are case sensitive):

WMS parameter	Info
SERVICE	Required, must be "WMS".
VERSION	WMS version standard. Optional, default: "1.3.0". Supported values: "1.1.1" and "1.3.0".
REQUEST	What is requested, valid values: `GetMap`, `GetFeatureInfo`, `GetCapabilities` or a custom request's name. Required.
TIME	(when REQUEST = `GetTile`) The time range for which to return the results. The result is based on all scenes between the specified times conforming to the cloud coverage criteria and stacked based on priority setting - e.g. most recent on top. It is written as two time values in ISO8601 format separated by a slash, for example: `TIME=2016-01-01T09:02:44Z/2016-02-01T11:00:00Z`. Reduced accuracy times, where parts of the time string are omitted, are also supported. For example, `TIME=2016-07-15/2016-07-15` will be interpreted as "TIME=2016-07-15T00:00:00Z/2016-07-15T23:59:59Z" and `TIME=2016-07/2016-08` will be interpreted as "TIME=2016-07-01T00:00:00Z/2016-08-31T23:59:59Z" Optional, default: none (the last valid image is returned). Note: Requesting a single value for TIME parameter is deprecated. Sentinel Hub interpreted it as a time interval [given time - 6 months, given time]. For vast majority of cases this resulted in unnecessary long processing time thus we strongly encourage you to always use the smallest possible time range instead.

In addition to the standard WMS URL parameters, the WMS service also supports many custom URL parameters. See Custom service URL parameters for details.

Standard GetMap request URL parameters:

WMS parameter	Info
BBOX	Specifies the bounding box of the requested image. Coordinates must be in the specified coordinate reference system. The four coordinates representing the top-left and bottom-right of the bounding box must be separated by commas. Required. Example: BBOX=-13152499,4038942,-13115771,4020692
CRS	(when VERSION 1.3.0 or higher) the coordinate reference system in which the BBOX is specified and in which to return the image. Optional, default: "EPSG:3857". For a list of available CRSs see the `GetCapabilities` result.
SRS	(when VERSION 1.1.1 or lower) the coordinate reference system in which the BBOX is specified and in which to return the image. Optional, default: "EPSG:3857". For a list of available CRSs see the `GetCapabilities` result.
FORMAT	The returned image format. Optional, default: "image/png", other options: "image/jpeg", "image/tiff". Detailed information about supported values.
WIDTH	Returned image width in pixels. Required, unless RESX is used. If WIDTH is used, HEIGHT is also required.
HEIGHT	Returned image height in pixels. Required, unless RESY is used. If HEIGHT is used, WIDTH is also required.
RESX	Returned horizontal image resolution in UTM units (if m is added, e.g. 10m, in metrical units). (optional instead of WIDTH). If used, RESY is also required.
RESY	Returned vertical image resolution in UTM units (if m is added, e.g. 10m, in metrical units). (optional instead of HEIGHT). If used, RESX is also required.
LAYERS	The preconfigured layer (image) to be returned. You must specify exactly one layer and optionally add additional overlays. Required. Example: LAYERS=TRUE_COLOR,OUTLINE
EXCEPTIONS	The exception format. Optional, default: "XML". Supported values: "XML", "INIMAGE", "BLANK" (all three for version >= 1.3.0), "application/vnd.ogc.se_xml", "application/vnd.ogc.se_inimage", "application/vnd.ogc.se_blank" (all three for version < 1.3.0).

Standard GetFeatureInfo request URL parameters:

WMS parameter	Info
BBOX	Specifies the bounding box of the area which contains the queried point. Coordinates are in the specified CRS/SRS. Four coordinates representing the top-left and bottom-right of the bounding box must be separated by comma. Required. Example: BBOX=-13152499,4038942,-13115771,4020692
CRS	(when VERSION 1.3.0 or higher) the coordinate reference system in which the BBOX is specified. Optional, default: "EPSG:3857". For a list of available CRSs see the `GetCapabilities` result.
SRS	(when VERSION 1.1.1 or lower) the coordinate reference system in which the BBOX is specified. Optional, default: "EPSG:3857". For a list of available CRSs see the `GetCapabilities` result.
WIDTH	The image-space width containing the queried point, in pixels. Required.
HEIGHT	The image-space height containing the queried point, in pixels. Required.
INFO_FORMAT	The output format of the feature info content. Check GetCapabilities for a list of supported formats.
RESY	The layers for which the feature info is requested.
I and J	(when VERSION 1.3.0 or higher) The X and Y coordinates in the output image space in pixels of the feature queried.
X and Y	(when VERSION 1.1.1 or lower) The X and Y coordinates in the output image space in pixels of the feature queried.