I would like to confirm the licensing and usage requirements for using ArcGIS basemaps in the Grafana Geomap panel.
Our use case is to display ArcGIS basemaps in dashboards that may be accessed not only by internal users but also by external users.
We understand that proper attribution will be displayed on the map, and that Geomap shows the attribution by default.
Based on my research, my current understanding is as follows:
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According to Esri’s terms, applications that use ArcGIS basemaps, services, or data must display the required attribution (for example, “Powered by Esri”), regardless of whether the users are internal or external. The attribution cannot be removed.
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Commercial or revenue-generating applications are permitted, provided that access is based on a valid subscription, such as ArcGIS Location Platform, and uses the appropriate access token.
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Therefore, it is necessary to confirm that the ArcGIS subscription in use is intended for external/public-facing applications (for example, ArcGIS Location Platform or an ArcGIS Online organizational account).
However, I have not been able to determine with confidence whether it is acceptable to expose a Grafana Geomap dashboard using ArcGIS basemaps to external users under these conditions.
Has anyone deployed a similar setup or reviewed the licensing implications of this use case? If so, I would appreciate any insights or guidance.
Thank you.
Yes, an ArcGIS basemap can be used in a Grafana Geomap dashboard that is accessible to external users, provided the specific Esri service/account and its terms permit that use.
Esri requires the applicable Esri and data attribution when using its basemap services.
For a public-facing application where users do not sign in to ArcGIS, Esri supports API-key authentication for public applications. The API key must have the appropriate privilege for the basemap service, such as premium:user:basemaps for the Basemap Styles service.
For the Grafana setup, the important points are →
Use an Esri service/subscription that permits the intended external use.
Configure the appropriate API key/access token for the ArcGIS basemap service.
Keep the required Esri and data attribution visible.
Stay within the applicable Esri terms and usage limits.
For commercial or revenue-generating use, verify that the specific Esri subscription/service permits that use.
Therefore, external access to the Grafana dashboard is not by itself enough to determine whether the use is permitted. The specific ArcGIS service/subscription and its terms of use need to be checked.
Thank you very much for the detailed explanation — this is really helpful.
That clears up my main question: whether or not the dashboard is accessible to external users isn’t the deciding factor by itself, and what matters is the specific ArcGIS service/subscription and its terms.
I’ll check the service and terms that apply to our setup on our side. Thanks again for taking the time to help!
