Google Earth WMS fails

Question

I try to insert a WMS but Google Earth says WMS capability failed. This is the WMS: https://ccff02.minfin.fgov.be/geoservices/arcgis/services/WMS/Cadastral_Layers/MapServer/WMSServer

I know it is a 1.3.0 WMS server, could that be the issue?

Answer 1

This may be more of an extended comment than answer but, Google Earth is correct in identifying that the WMS 1.3.0 service is giving an invalid response.

For example, the name of the service cannot be <Name>CadastralLayers</Name> for a WMS 1.3.0 response it must be <Name>WMS</Name>

Also the MinScaleDenominator and MaxScaleDenominator in all the layers are in the wrong order, that is the service has:

<MaxScaleDenominator>9449.404762</MaxScaleDenominator>
<MinScaleDenominator>0.944940</MinScaleDenominator>

but it needs to be:

<MinScaleDenominator>0.944940</MinScaleDenominator>
<MaxScaleDenominator>9449.404762</MaxScaleDenominator>

Answer 2

Trying again following previous advice given in answer Linking Geoserver WMS layer to Google Earth?

With Google Earth Pro (using desktop version as I don't have/want Chrome) I too get the WMS Capability fetch failed message when trying to load your service, and it is indeed due to version, Google Earth sends a WMS version 1.1.1 GetCapabilities request and your service doesn't support it.

The reason as much as anything is that GE wants to use 2D WGS84 in long/lat order (which is what a WMS 1.1.1 GetMap request will give you if you request SRS=EPSG:4326&), however EPSG:4326 is actually a 2D WGS84 in lat/long order, the issue of using the correct axes order for coordinate reference systems was corrected with WMS version 1.3.0, but not so helpful for using GE.

To the rescue CRS:84, that is a WMS version 1.3.0 request that uses CRS=CRS:84& is equivalent to a WMS version 1.1.1 request that uses SRS=EPSG:4326&.

Luckily, as GE retains as a connection string for a layer a list of parameters except the bounding box like below:

http://maps.dgs.udel.edu/geoserver/DGS_Surficial_and_Contact_Geology/wms?service=WMS&TRANSPARENT=TRUE&version=1.1.1&request=GetMap&EXCEPTIONS=INIMAGE&FORMAT=image/png&SRS=EPSG:4326&STYLES=&LAYERS=US-DE_DGS_100k_Surficial_Geology

all you need to do is get GE to accept a layer connection string like

http://ccff02.minfin.fgov.be/geoservices/arcgis/services/WMS/Cadastral_Layers/MapServer/WmsServer?VERSION=1.3.0&REQUEST=GetMap&SERVICE=WMS&FORMAT=image/png&width=1024&height=1024&STYLES=&TRANSPARENT=TRUE&CRS=CRS:84&LAYERS=Regional building

One way of doing this is to use KML like:

    <GroundOverlay>
        <name>Province</name>
        <Snippet/>
        <visibility>0</visibility>
        <open>0</open>
        <Icon>
            <href>
                http://ccff02.minfin.fgov.be/geoservices/arcgis/services/WMS/Cadastral_Layers/MapServer/WmsServer?VERSION=1.3.0&amp;REQUEST=GetMap&amp;SERVICE=WMS&amp;FORMAT=image/png&amp;width=1024&amp;height=1024&amp;STYLES=&amp;TRANSPARENT=TRUE&amp;CRS=CRS:84&amp;LAYERS=Province </href>
            <viewRefreshMode>onStop</viewRefreshMode>
            <viewRefreshTime>5</viewRefreshTime>
        </Icon>
        <LatLonBox>
            <north>48.41564493451794</north>
            <south>45.57192031406902</south>
            <east>5.287537680116226</east>
            <west>0.703481821844738</west>
        </LatLonBox>
    </GroundOverlay>

To give: