Making your Own Maps

How it Works:
Your maps will be created through an Internet Map Server (IMS). This technology is a means of publishing GIS projects on a website for use by anyone with high-speed Internet access. Because the GIS project is already built and running, there is no need to have formal GIS training or expensive GIS software. You will be able to turn data layers on and off, perform basic queries to answer questions, and save/print the maps you create.

A Brief Orientation

• Browser buttons are not used. Do not use the "Refresh", "Forward", or "Back" buttons. Use only those on the interactive map screen.
  
  
• On the left side of the map project you find the toolbar from which you will pick and choose the function tools. A detailed description of the toolbar functions is available on the toolbar cheatsheet.
  
  
  
  
• To zoom in on an area, click on and drag your mouse over the map. To zoom out, choose and click your mouse on the map.
  
  
• The center of the screen is the project's field of view, and will change as you perform different functions. The locus map at the upper left (if turned on) shows a red rectangle outlining where in the state your field of view is.
  
  
  
  
• On the right side of the screen is the list of GIS data layers available in the map project.
  
  
  
  
• Any of the layers can be turned on or off by clicking on the next to its name under the column and clicking the button at the bottom of the layer list.
  
  
• Next to the visible button column is the button column. If this is clicked, then the toolbar functions can be used on that one layer. That is, you are able to query, identify, find, or measure on that layer. Only one layer is able to be active at a time.
  
  
• The map you created can easily be printed on your standard printer. Just click and the printing instructions will appear in the bottom window of your browser. Type in the title for your map and hit the . A layout will appear with the field of view, legend, and locus map. You can send it to your regular printer with your browser's "print" button...
  
  
• ...or if you like, you can save your map layout as a ".jpg" or ".bmp" image. In the layout view, just click on your right mouse button and select "save picture as", then save it to your directory.