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Known issues: WFS

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Open Data Team
  • Updated

This table shows the current, known issues affecting WFS. Issues are being worked on or, where applicable, have been escalated to the relevant service provider. Where a workaround has been identified, further details are available below.

Known issue

Known affected
GIS applications

Workaround
When adding layers from WFS services, the longitude and latitude of coordinates are reversed. Data does not load in the expected area and is "flipped". Versions 1.1 and 2.0 of WFS

- QGIS
- ArcMap
(all versions)

 Modify WFS connection settings to swap y,x coordinates

WFS services will be republished to resolve this issue - please check the spreadsheet available here for progress
Exporting features to a file takes a long time All applications Download an available file format, or use the token authentication feature service
When making a request to a WFS service using Search Envelope, no features are returned - FME 2018 & later
- ArcGIS Data Interoperability 10.6.1 & later		 Esri bug - currently escalated to Esri

Use the token authentication feature service

Modify WFS connection settings to swap y,x coordinates

Versions 1.1 and 2.0 of WFS are currently outputting x,y coordinates as latitude, longitude (y,x).

Features returned in some geographic coordinate systems (for example, WGS 84) have an axis order of latitude, longitude (y,x) by default. This is in compliance with the WFS 1.0.0, 1.1.0, and 2.0.0 specifications.

However, some WFS clients expect the coordinates to be returned with an axis order of longitude, latitude (x,y). 

Info: This behaviour was introduced by the SLIP upgrade to Esri ArcGIS Service 10.6.1. In ArcGIS Server 10.4.1 and older, projected coordinates were always returned with an x,y axis order.

Tip: WFS services will be republished to resolve this issue, however in the interim you can modify your WFS connection settings to swap this to the expected longitude, latitude. You'll need to swap settings back once the service you're using is republished - check the spreadsheet available via status.data.wa.gov.au for which services are scheduled and completed.

QGIS 3.8.1

  1. Go to your WFS Server Connections. Choose the WFS server from the drop-down list, and select Edit.
  2. Under WFS Options, check Invert axis orientation.

QGIS_-_Modify_WFS_Connection.PNG

ArcMap 10.6.1

  1. Go to your Interoperability Connections, and select Parameters.
  2. Expand GML SRS/Geometry Parameters. Choose 2, 1 from the GML SRS Axis Order drop-down list.

ArcMap_-_Interoperability_Parameters_axis_order.png

Download an available file format, or use the token authentication feature service

You can download any of the available file formats or find the token authentication feature service URL via the data.wa.gov.au catalogue. You can also browse the token REST Services Directory.

DataWA_-_resources__token_feature_service___downloads_.PNG

Reference: See our guide How to: Add an ArcGIS Server Feature Service (Esri Token Authentication) in QGIS for help with token authentication in QGIS.

WFS troubleshooting

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