Data in a project

The project Data tab — catalogue datasets, uploads and form layers — and how to turn any of them into a map or add it to one.

Updated 20 September 2026

A project's Data tab lists everything the project's maps and dashboards can draw from. Nothing here changes a map until you deliberately add it to one.

#What appears here

  • Catalogue datasets you added with Browse Catalogue or Add to Project.
  • Uploads you added with Upload Dataset. These are private to you.
  • Form layers — every form linked to the project appears automatically, already populated with its submissions. See Form data as a map layer.

The heading shows how many data sources the project holds.

#Turn data into a map

Each row has actions:

  • Create map — makes a new map in this project with that data on it and opens Map Studio.
  • Add to map… — adds the data to one of the project's existing maps. (If you have that map open in Map Studio, reload it to see the new layer.)

#Remove data

Removing a dataset from a project only takes it out of the project; the dataset itself stays in the catalogue. Form layers disappear when you unlink the form.

#Keeping things current

Form layers are live: they read the form's submissions when you open the tab or a map, so new submissions appear without any re-upload. Uploaded and catalogue datasets are a fixed copy of the data until you replace them.

Something missing or unclear? Tell us — we update the guide as the platform grows.