---
title: "Construct a NASA GIBS tile URL (string only, no proxy)"
method: GET
path: "/api/v1/environment/nasa-gibs/layer/{layer_id}/tile-url"
tags: ["Environment"]
---

# Construct a NASA GIBS tile URL (string only, no proxy)

`GET /api/v1/environment/nasa-gibs/layer/{layer_id}/tile-url`

Build a tile URL for the NASA GIBS CDN by substituting `time`, `z`, `x`, `y` (and optionally `format` / `projection`) into the layer's ResourceURL template. Returns a JSON record with the constructed URL; clients must fetch the tile directly from the NASA GIBS CloudFront CDN. Sugra does NOT proxy binary tiles: tile fetches through Sugra would cost bandwidth on the Azure App Service for zero added value given NASA's global edge network. Data: NASA GIBS / NASA Earthdata (US public domain).

## Path parameters

- `layer_id` string, required — GIBS layer identifier (case-sensitive).

## Query parameters

- `time` string, nullable — ISO 8601 date `YYYY-MM-DD` for the imagery snapshot. Required for time-enabled layers.
- `z` integer, required — TileMatrix (zoom level), 0-12 (NASA GIBS caps 250 m imagery at z=9).
- `x` integer, required — TileCol (column).
- `y` integer, required — TileRow (row).
- `format` string, nullable — Override MIME type: `image/png`, `image/jpeg`, or `application/vnd.mapbox-vector-tile`. Defaults to the layer's declared Format.
- `projection` string — Target projection (defaults to `epsg4326`).

## Response `200`

Constructed tile URL record. Data: NASA GIBS / NASA Earthdata (US public domain).

- EnvelopeNasaGibsTileUrlPayload
  - `data` NasaGibsTileUrlPayload, required — Response payload for `/layer/{layer_id}/tile-url`.
    - `layer_id` string, required — Layer identifier echoed from the request.
    - `time` string, nullable — Client-requested timestamp (YYYY-MM-DD). Absent for layers with no time dimension.
    - `projection` string, required — Projection used to construct the tile URL.
    - `pathway` string, required — Imagery pathway used to construct the tile URL.
    - `tile_matrix_set` string, required — Resolution tier used in the constructed URL.
    - `format` string, required — MIME type of the tile that will be served at the constructed URL.
    - `z` integer, required — TileMatrix (zoom level) echoed from the request.
    - `x` integer, required — TileCol (column) echoed from the request.
    - `y` integer, required — TileRow (row) echoed from the request.
    - `url` string, required — Constructed tile URL on the NASA GIBS CDN. Fetch directly from NASA; Sugra does NOT proxy imagery.
    - `attribution` string, required — Attribution string for user-facing surfaces.
    - `proxy_note` string, required — Reminder that Sugra does not proxy binary tiles.
  - `meta` SugraMeta, required — Metadata attached to every /api/v1/* response envelope.
    - `endpoint` string, required — Requested endpoint path.
    - `data_time` string, required — ISO 8601 UTC timestamp of the source data, not of the request.
    - `response_time` string, required — ISO 8601 UTC timestamp when this response was produced.
    - `provider` string, required — API name and version.
    - `source` string, nullable — Identifier of the primary upstream source used for this response.
    - `attribution` string, nullable — Human-readable attribution mandated by an upstream source (e.g. a securities regulator or self-regulatory organization). Present only on responses whose source requires the owner and source to be clearly identified. Do not remove or alter it when using the response.
    - `fallback_used` boolean, nullable — True when the primary source failed and a fallback produced the data.
    - `fallback_chain` string[], nullable — Ordered list of sources attempted, in the order they were tried.
    - `cached` boolean, nullable — True when this response was served from the internal cache.
    - `stale` boolean, nullable — True when the cached response was returned after the upstream rate-limited or errored. Clients can use this to detect degraded data.

## Other responses

- `401` — Missing or invalid `x-api-key` header. JSON body with a stable `code` distinguishing `missing_api_key` (no header sent) from `invalid_api_key` (header sent, key not accepted); any other 401 source carries the generic `unauthorized` with its detail as `reason`. Plus `hint`. `plan` is always null on 401 - an unauthenticated request has no plan; quota exhaustion is 429, not 401.
- `422` — Validation Error
- `429` — Daily rate limit exceeded. Check `X-RateLimit-Reset` for the next window.
- `503` — Upstream source is temporarily unavailable. Retry after a short delay.

---

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