Military symbology styles

What are military symbology styles?

Military symbology styles are a type of advanced symbologyAdvanced symbology is the set of conventions, rules, or encoding systems that define how to represent on a map geographic features or other items of interest (such as airplane routes) that are more complex than a simple point, line, or polygon.Learn more built to conform to military symbol specifications such as US MIL-STD-2525 and NATO APP-6. These specifications define a common set of military symbolsA symbol defines the properties used to display a geometry or text.Learn more that represent units, installations, activities, control measures, or tactical tasks relevant to military operations. Each aspect of a military symbol is based on a different characteristic of the object it represents. Each symbol has a unique symbol ID code (SIDC) that can optionally be used to ensure that symbols are shared across systems in an easy and concise way.

While military symbology specifications are complex, the symbols themselves are instantly identifiable so that military commanders, planners and analysts can quickly understand the situation and act accordingly.

How military symbology styles work

Military symbology specifications are implemented as dictionary styles in ArcGIS. Military dictionary styles are SQLite databases that contain symbol components and instructions for piecing together components into a composite symbolA composite symbol is a symbol that is a combination of two or more symbols. Each symbol can represent the same or a different aspect of a graphic or feature.Learn more according to military symbology specifications. These styles are used to apply military symbols to feature dataFeature data is a general term for one or more features, which are records that represent real-world geographic entities, stored as a feature collection, feature layer, or hosted feature layer.Learn more in ArcGIS apps and custom apps built with the ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScriptArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript, previously known as ArcGIS API for JavaScript, is a developer product for building mapping and spatial analysis applications for the web.Learn more and the ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native AppsArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native Apps, previously known as ArcGIS Runtime SDKs, are developer products for building mapping and spatial analysis applications for native devices.Learn more.

To visualize featuresA feature is a single record, also known as a row, that represents a real-world entity. It typically contains a geometry (point, multipoint, polyline, or polygon) and attributes but it can also contain just attributes.Learn more in a mapA map is a collection of layers that are displayed in 2D. It is typically composed of a basemap layer and data layers.Learn more or sceneA scene is a collection of layers that are displayed in 3D. It is typically composed of a basemap layer, data layers, and 3D data.Learn more as military symbols, specify the dictionary style for the appropriate military symbology standard in a dictionary rendererA dictionary renderer is a renderer that uses a style file generated in ArcGIS Pro from a rule engine and is used to display types of advanced symbology on a map, such as military symbology.Learn more, and set the renderer on your feature layerA feature layer (client-side) is a data layer that can access and display features from a feature service that has the same type of geometry and attribute fields.Learn more. The dictionary renderer provides an optimized solution to the complex symbology requirements of military specifications by allowing you to connect your data to the specification’s dictionary style.

1. Access a feature layer with point, polyline, or polygon feature layer in your mapping application.

2. Access the dictionary style and apply the style.

   More info

   Dictionary styles are available as both web styles and desktop styles. To use a web style, provide the URL that points to the dictionary style. To use a desktop style, point to a style fileA style file is a .stylx file created in ArcGIS Pro that contains symbol primitives, such as the symbol frame, lines that make up inner icons.Learn more (.stylx).

   Both web styles and desktop style are supported in the ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native Apps and ArcGIS Pro. The ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript only supports web styles.

3. Map the fields expected by the dictionary style to the fields in your data. If the input field names match the dictionary style's expected fields for symbols and text, field mapping is not required.

   More info

   Military symbology styles allow you to choose whether to assemble and render symbols based on a single attribute with a unique Symbol ID Code (SIC or SIDC) or based on a series of predefined attributes. If your data includes a field for SIDC values, then the SIDC field is the only symbol field that needs to be mapped.

   Field mapping overrides are defined with two sets of key-value pairs: one for symbol fields and one for text fields. Each key identifies an expected field (defined in the dictionary's symbol and text properties) and the value identifies the corresponding mapped field (from the dataset). Field names are not case sensitive.

4. Apply and set the configuration property values for the symbol style.

   More info

   Configuration properties are stored in a read-only list of symbol style configuration objects. You can access the desired configuration in the list and change its value. This step is only necessary if you want to change any of the default configuration settings.

Latest dictionary styles

The latest version of these military symbology styles are released with ArcGIS ProArcGIS Pro is a professional desktop GIS application that can explore, visualize, analyze, and manage 2D and 3D data.Learn more and ArcGIS EnterpriseArcGIS Enterprise is a GIS mapping, analytics, data hosting, and content management product that can be hosted on-premise or in a cloud infrastructure. It includes software, applications, tools, APIs, and services for users and developers.Learn more. They are also available in the ArcGIS Living Atlas and shared to the Dictionary Symbology Styles group in ArcGIS OnlineArcGIS Online is a GIS mapping, analytics, data hosting, and content management software as a service (SaaS) product. It includes applications, tools, APIs, and location services for users and developers. It is subscription-based and requires an ArcGIS Online account.Learn more.

Dictionary styles are provided for the following United States and NATO military symbology standards:

• APP-6(B)
• APP-6(D)
• APP-6(E)
• MIL-STD-2525B with change 2
• MIL-STD-2525C
• MIL-STD-2525D
• MIL-STD-2525D with change 1
• MIL-STD-2525E

Change log

The latest dictionary styles contain the updates documented in the change log below. Select a military symbol standard to view the updates made to the standard's dictionary styles.

Older dictionary styles

Dictionary styles that support older versions of ArcGIS Pro, the ArcGIS Runtime SDKs, and the ArcGIS API for JavaScript are available in ArcGIS Online for the following military symbol standards:

• APP-6(B)
• APP-6(D)
• MIL-STD-2525B with change 2
• MIL-STD-2525C
• MIL-STD-2525D

Select a military symbol standard below and use the table to access the appropriate dictionary style.

Samples