Maps user guide

Help contents

Map sections
Legend
Standard toolbar

Generating map symbol
Select tool
Zoom in
Zoom out
Zoom to area
Fit map
Pan
Bearing and distance
Measure distance
Measure area
Print map

Searching

Predefined queries

Map Window

Text pop-ups and reports
Map scale

Advanced instructions

Map sections

The Environment Waikato maps website has five sections where you can control, search and view information. These pages will guide you through your use of the site.

Section 1 – Maps
This section is organised into Themes and Maps. Only one Map may be displayed at a time (denoted by the black dot). A map defines what features you see in the Map View (4), Legend (2) and which commands are available in the Toolbar (3). To switch Maps click on the name of the Map you are interested in.

Section 2 – Legend
The legend shows which features (layers of information) are displayed in the map and what they look like (colour and style).

Section 3 –Toolbar
The toolbar section contains tools that control map navigation, query and measure tools. The toolbar contains commands for manipulating the map view, generating data reports, and performing queries.

Section 4 – Map view
The map view displays the map you have selected

Section 5 - Map scale
The map scale shows the scale of the map in the map view. To change the map scale, type the desired scale and press enter.

Legend

The legend shows which features are available for display in the map view and the current style of the features.

Moving the mouse over a checkbox will display the minimum and maximum scale range for the particular feature. This indicates the scale range that the feature will be displayed at in the map view. The example above shows that the “Property” feature will display in the map view at a maximum scale of 1:350000 and a minimum scale of 1:5001

A checkbox with a tick indicates that the feature is be displayed in the map view. Click on a checkbox to turn the feature display off in the map view.

A checkbox without a tick indicates that the feature will not be displayed in the map view. Click on a checkbox to turn the feature display on in the map view.

A checkbox that is ‘greyed’ indicates that the feature is not currently displayed or available for display due to the feature scale range.

Standard toolbar

Generating map symbol

As you use the tools to navigate through the maps you will see the blue ‘generating map symbol’ pulsing in the toolbar. When this symbol is visible the site is processing your command and is not able to accept a new command. When it disappears, your new map is displayed and the site is ready for the next command.

Select tool

This is the default tool in maps and is used to point at features to get further information or to select an item.

For further details on pop-up information and reports see the map window section.
If you have used other tools and wish to return to the select tool click your right mouse button.

Zoom in

This command allows you to zoom into a specified point on the map.

Left mouse click on the zoom in Icon.
Left mouse click in the map window to define the new map centre.

Repeat step 2 to zoom in further.

Tip: You can also hold down the CTRL key and left mouse click in map view window to zoom in.

Tip: Tools remain active and ready to use again until you select another tool or click the right mouse button to return to the select feature pointer.

Zoom out

This command allows you to zoom out on a specified point on the map.

Left mouse click on the zoom out Icon.
Left mouse click in the map to define the new map centre.

Repeat step 2 to zoom out further.

Tip: You can also hold down the CTRL and SHIFT keys and Left mouse click in the map view to zoom out.

Zoom to area

This command allows you to zoom into a specified area on the map.

Left mouse click on the zoom out icon.
Left mouse click in the map to define the first corner of the area, move the mouse and the zoom area box is drawn. Left mouse click again to finish selecting area.

Repeat step 2 to zoom in further.

Tip: You can also hold down the CTRL key and left mouse click and drag in the map view window to choose a rectangle area to zoom into.

Fit map

This command refreshes the map and returns it to the default overview scale.

Left mouse click on the fit map icon.

(The map will be re-centred and zoomed out to the default overview scale.)

Pan

This command lets you move the map focus in a new direction.

Left mouse click on the Pan Icons located around the map as shown below .

TIP: You can also hold down ALT and left mouse click and drag in direction you wish in the map view.

Bearing and distance

Use this command to calculate the bearing and distance of a line.

Left mouse click on the bearing and distance icon.
Specify a line in the map view by left-clicking on the first point of the line, then moving the mouse cursor to the end point of the line and left-clicking again.
The bearing is calculated from the Y-axis rotating clockwise.

TIP: Bearing read out is in terms of degrees, minutes and seconds.

Measure distance

Use this command to measure distance.

Left mouse click on the measure distance icon.
Click on the map to place the first point. You should then see dynamic graphics that update as you move the mouse cursor.
Click on the map again to place the second point of the line, and so on.
Double click to end the line and the total distance will be displayed in a message box as shown below.

TIP: This command is only supported when viewing maps using certain browsers. If you have clicked on ‘ Too Slow? ’ to use the less feature rich, quicker maps this tool is also unavailable.

Measure area

Use this command to measure the area of a polygon.

Left mouse click on the measure area icon.
Click on the map to place the first point of the polygon. You should then see dynamic graphics that update as you move the mouse cursor.
Click on the map again to place the second point of the polygon, and so on.
Double click to end and the polygon will automatically be closed and the area displayed as shown below.

Print map

Use this command to print or save a map image.

Left mouse click on the print icon.

Select Paper Size, A4 or A3 (depending on your printer)
Select Colour, Full or Black and White (depending on your printer)
Choose a Map Format. Use JPEG when you want to Save the Map as an Image rather than print. PNG is for a low quality SVG for High quality print.
Adjust Margins if Required.
Add a Title and Produced By: caption if required.
Select a specific Scale if required.
In the Legend Entries section, select the layers you want to be displayed in the legend on your print.
Click Preview to see your map.

To print your map choose File – Print and follow the instructions displayed by your printer.
To save your map as an image (JPEG map format only); left mouse click on the map in the print preview and choose Save Picture As.

Alternatively you may wish to use the Alt – Print Screen shortcut on you keyboard to copy the entire map window. This can then be pasted into your document or email.

TIP: The notes on printing maps and saving images are provided as a guide for Microsoft Windows Explorer browser users. The actual steps will depend on the browser you are using and the make and model of your own printer.

Searching

Pre-defined Queries.

This command gives you access to a customised set of queries for locating features. Each map has its own set of queries relating to the content of the map (see advanced instructions section). To use the queries:

Go to the map topic you are interested in.
Left mouse click on the Pre-defined Queries Icon.
Select the query you want, in the example below there are Address, Road and Valuation Queries. Click the name of the one you want.
Specify values for each of the parameters and click Find. The system will then locate all features that fit the description you have given and a query report will be displayed.

To view a single result select the icon next to the feature you wish to display.
The map will zoom into the selected feature.
To view all results select the icon at the top of the list
The Min width can be changed manually to control the zoom map extent. By default it is set to 500m.

Map window

Text pop-ups and reports

Many features on the maps pages have text pop-ups and reports that contain further information about features shown.

As you move your mouse pointer over the map features text pop-ups provide useful information about that particular feature e.g. Road Name, Property Address, Consent Number and Type.

Key features in maps also have detailed reports. Availability of a report is often indicated by the pop-up text ‘left mouse click for more details’. Click on a feature in the map view to display the report.

In the example above the report displays detailed information for a property. This report also includes a special button to allow you to find out rates payable for that property.

Map scale

The map scale box show the map scale as you navigate through the maps. The scale is displayed as a number, the smaller the number the ‘closer’ you are zoomed in and the less area you will see. As you zoom out and you can see more and more of the region the number gets bigger.

At any time you can also type in a scale that you wish to view the map at. Type in the scale; say for example 1:10000 and hit enter. The map will zoom to that scale (keeping the same centre point).