---
title: "How to integrate external data in HTML format with Collect Earth Desktop?"
url: "https://openforis.support/questions/3603/how-to-integrate-external-data-in-html-format-with-collect-earth-desktop"
tags: ["collectearth"]
status: "accepted"
score: 0
answer_count: 2
asked: "2023-04-12T22:31:34"
last_activity: "2025-07-28T17:55:08"
source: "Open Foris Support - Q&A Forum"
license: "Copyright Open Foris, 2026. Some rights reserved under creative commons license."
---

# How to integrate external data in HTML format with Collect Earth Desktop?

Asked by dfguerrerom on 2023-04-12

Hi,

We are currently working on reinterpretation of certain points using Collect Earth Desktop and we have external data that we would like to access. This data is available in HTML format and can be accessed as "https://example/plots/plot_id.html". As you can see, the information is fairly simple. However, we are unsure of how to integrate this data with CE or if it is even possible. Could you provide us with some guidance on this?

We look forward to your response.

Thank you very much.


## Accepted answer (score 1, by Open Foris on 2023-04-13)

Link: https://openforis.support/questions/3603/how-to-integrate-external-data-in-html-format-with-collect-earth-desktop/3604

We already have a feature on Collect Earth to handle that functionality. 

Basically you can connect to URLs using a goal-replacing strategy.

In a URL you can use three special "goals" that Collect Earth will use to replace bits of the URL.

**Example 1** : you have a website where you are linking plots to some visualization using the plot ID (as you describe). You can then use the **PLOT_ID** goal like this https://example/plots/**PLOT_ID**.html

**Example 2** : you have a website or map that you want to show based on the central-location of the CE plot. Then you can use the **LATITUDE** and **LONGITUDE** goals. Then you would use a URL like this (using Open Street Map as an example where you pass the zoom level, latitude and longitude) : : https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=10/**LATITUDE**/**LONGITUDE**

On a first step you can try the connection with your webpage, then you can modify the survey so that you create a Collect Earth Project (CEP) that already has this connection set up so that you can distribute it to the interpreters that you work with.

 

1. Test the connection:
-----------------------

You can open the **Properties** dialog then go to **Integrated Services** and write the URL with the goals described previously on the **URL for Extra Map** field. After you set up the URL click on Save & Apply and then navigate to a plot in Google Earth (make sure to click on a plot you had not clicked previously). Now a new window with this URL should open.

![alt text][1]


 

2. Modify the survey:
---------------------

Open Collect Survey Designer. Go to your survey in the Survey Designer section, then in the first tab of the survey editor **Info** go to **Extra map URL** in the bottom of that page and put the URL that you have been testing. Save the project, then export to CEP and now anyone that uou send it to will see this new integration.

![alt text][2]


  [1]: https://openforis.support/upfiles/2023-04-13_10-06-44.png
  [2]: https://openforis.support/upfiles/2023-04-13_10-10-38.png


## Answer (score 0, by Open Foris on 2025-07-28)

Link: https://openforis.support/questions/3603/how-to-integrate-external-data-in-html-format-with-collect-earth-desktop/4298

Attention, now you can also use the **GEOJSON** placeholder, which will be automatically susbstituded by the geojson polygon of the plot. So you can also use an extra URL that passes the polygon to something like a GEE App.

This is an example of how to use it 
https://collectearth.projects.earthengine.app/view/plotversion2025#geoJson=**GEOJSON**;plotId=**PLOT_ID**;

This GEE App with [this code][1] expects the GEOJSON and plotId parameters to generate the GEE charts and map visualizations


  [1]: https://code.earthengine.google.com/886e41206618416107327ba97466b0f9