User Guide
User Guide
Contents
Recommendations
for Best Performance
About Alaska Mapper’s Geographic Data and Satellite
Imagery
Resizing the Application Window
Managing Map Layers from the Menu Frame
Viewing the USGS Topographic Map
Viewing Elevation Models as Hillshade Imagery
Searching a Township’s State and Federal Records
Viewing a Township’s Pending Plat Actions
Navigating
by Latitude and Longitude
Navigating
by Using the Navigation Functions
Using
Text Searches to Locate Areas of Interest
Expanding
and Collapsing Layer Lists
Viewing
Layer Metadata and Extract Layer Data.
Using a Search Tool to Specify the Query Boundary
Land
Records Information Accessible from the Search Results
Changing
the Search Type in the Search Results
Estimate Distance/Area (Ruler) Tool
Map Scale, Width and Distance Units
Creating and Printing a PDF Version of a Map
Alaska Mapper version 2.3 includes the following enhancements:
· The Print Map option creates a PDF version of a map that can be saved or printed. See “Creating and Printing a PDF Version of a Map” on page 43.
· The new View Pending Actions link allows you to view all pending actions for the township at the center of the map. See “Viewing a Township’s Pending Plat Actions” on page 18.
· File extracts are now available for download for up to four days after they are created. See “Extracting Selected Features” on page 40.
· Alaska Mapper’s rendition pattern has been updated for smoother drawing performance.
· The Select Area of Interest tool has been renamed “Go to Area of Interest”.
· Application-generated messages will now blink several times to draw your attention. These messages appear in the status frame and various subwindows.
· We have resolved an issue that was preventing the Satellite button from working properly when a map was first loaded.
· You must now read and accept the Data Disclaimer and Agreement before proceeding with a data extract. See “Extracting Selected Features” on page 40.
· Alaska Mapper’s core code has been updated to Java 1.5 for improved performance.
The upgrade to Alaska Mapper version 2.2 focused primarily on making it easier for users to navigate to a specific geographic area or map feature. Many of the new features were based on requests that came from users of Alaska Mapper.
Here’s an overview of the new features in version 2.2:
Improved Navigation Functions
· Many flexible navigation functions have been added to the Go to Area of Interest tool; available options are as follows:
o ADF&G Game Management Units
o ANCSA Corporation Boundaries
o Borough/Municipality
o Coastal District
o DNR Case (File Type and Number)
o DNR Recording District
o DOT Centerline Milepost
o Election District (2002)
o Legislatively Designated Area (LDA) (e.g., parks)
o
o
o National Geodetic Survey (NGS) Monument
o Rural Education Attendance Areas
o USGS 1:250,000 Topo Map Extent (general view)
o USGS 1:63,360 Topo Map Extent
o USGS Geographic Place Name
· Additional search parameters have been added to the Go to Area of Interest tool’s navigation functions to help you narrow down your searches.
· Chosen areas of interest are now clearly highlighted with a yellow border, and points are indicated with a yellow pushpin.
· You can now use text searches to locate areas of interest; for more information, see “Using Text Searches to Locate Areas of Interest” on page 22.
Reporting
· Alaska Mapper has been integrated with the Department of Natural Resources Business Reporting System (DBRS), a Web-based application for generating reports from the DNR’s business databases (Note: This system is currently available only through the DNR’s internal Web site.)
Alaska Mapper is a Web-based geographic information system (GIS)
that allows you to locate
With Alaska Mapper, you can zoom to an area of interest, turn map layers off and on, make live queries to the Land Administration System, download selected data for use in other geospatial systems and even construct your own maps using available map layers.
Much of the information displayed in Alaska Mapper is also used to produce status plats, which are the state’s official graphical land records. Although status plats have been accessible through the Land Records Web site (http://plats.landrecords.info) since 1999, these documents are not interactive. Using state-of-the-art GIS technology, Alaska Mapper makes this information readily and easily available to the public.
Alaska Mapper’s primary purpose is to provide information on state land ownership and use. The system is versatile enough to help you conduct in-depth analyses of land issues with the proper training and experience. If you require assistance, please refer to the Land Records Support Web page.
Alaska Mapper is compatible with the following Web browsers:
· Internet Explorer versions 5.5.x, 6.x and 7.x
· Netscape version 7.x
For best performance, we recommend that your system have the following:
· Screen resolution of at least 1024 x 768 pixels
· Ability to display at least 24-bit color video
· Adobe Acrobat Reader browser plugin
Alaska
Mapper’s spatial datasets use the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83). USGS base
maps, NOAA nautical charts, elevation models, satellite imagery and aerial
imagery are obtained from the Alaska Statewide Digital Mapping Program, a joint
program between the
To access Alaska Mapper, direct your Web browser to http://mapper.landrecords.info.
You may then select one of the following options:
· Enter Public Site – The public account is available to everyone. It gives you access to the full range of Alaska Mapper functions, except for the ability to save maps.
·
Log in as
State Employee – Registered user accounts are available only
to employees of the State of
When finished with the application, you should log out by clicking the Log Out link found on the Tools tab. Logging out closes the current session and helps eliminate the chance of someone tampering with your saved maps. Alaska Mapper will automatically log you out after two hours of inactivity and return you to the login screen.
Help tips are a quick and useful source of information about many functions in Alaska Mapper. To display a help tip, hover your mouse pointer over the name of a tool or layer on the menu frame. If help tips are turned on, a short description of the tool or layer will display. You can turn help tips on or off by selecting or deselecting the Help Tips checkbox on the Tools tab.
Another way to obtain on-screen help is to click the Help icon 
that appears next to many application
functions. This will provide you with more detail than what is provided by the
help tips.
Figure 1 illustrates the on-screen help options available in Alaska Mapper.
If this user guide and the on-screen help do not answer your questions, you can contact the DNR by clicking the Alaska Mapper Support/FAQ link at the bottom of the Alaska Mapper home page (http://mapper.landrecords.info). This will take you to a page that contains a link to the help-request form.
Training opportunities are available for Alaska Mapper. Please send your training requests via the Land Records Customer Feedback Form.
Figure 1 – Getting Help
Six public maps are available to all Alaska Mapper users. These maps have the same content (layers) as the state status plats, the official graphical land records that describe the location of state land, the classification of the land and assignments of state interest in the land. Following are descriptions of these maps:
|
Map |
Description |
|
Ownership Map |
Displays current state land ownership and the availability
of those lands for use under specific rules and regulations of the State of |
|
Surface Classification Map |
Displays how state land may be used as a result of an area plan or site-specific classification. |
|
Land Estate Map |
A surface-use map that displays DNR authorizations or disposal of state uplands and tidelands to third party interests, such as individuals, businesses, municipalities, boroughs or other state agencies. |
|
Mineral Estate Map |
A subsurface-use map that displays current oil and gas, mining and other subsurface resource uses on state uplands and tidelands. This map describes state lands as open or closed to mineral entry. |
|
Water Estate Map |
Displays the statewide locations for water rights, water authorizations, reservations and water management areas for surface and subsurface water sources. |
|
Base Map |
Contains the basic layers that are common to the other public maps, including hydrography, township and section grids, state outlines, roads, pipelines, etc. This is a good map to start with when designing your own maps. |
When you first launch Alaska Mapper (or when no map is currently selected), all available maps are displayed in the main window. To open a map, simply click its name (see Figure 2). Another way to open a map is by clicking the map selector list box at the top of the window and selecting a map.
Note: You can also open a map from the Map and Layer Management window. See “Managing Map Layers” on page 26 for more information.
Figure 2 – Opening a Map
The map selector is the list box located above the map frame. This list contains all public maps, as well as any maps that you have saved (registered users only). To select a map, click this box and then click a map name. The map selector is always visible in the main window, allowing you to open a map at any time.
If a map is already loaded and zoomed to a particular area of interest, Alaska Mapper will allow you to open a different map at the same location and zoom level. This is useful for comparing various features of an area that are contained on separate maps.
To do this, make sure the Keep Extents checkbox is selected before you select the new map. This checkbox is located in the header frame next to the map selector (see Figure 3). The newly opened map will display the same geographic location and scale of the current map. If Keep Extents is not selected, the newly opened map will display the entire state.
Figure 3 - Keep Extents Option
When you launch Alaska Mapper, the application displays in a separate window that contains no browser menus (such as File and Edit) or buttons (such as Back and Refresh). These features do not appear because all of the functions that you need to navigate maps are provided within the application. For best performance, do not use the browser’s Back function or any other navigation options provided by the browser. Doing so may cause problems with Alaska Mapper. Use only the navigation options that you see in the application interface.
The main window of the application is divided into the following six frames:
|
Frame |
Description |
|
|
The menu frame, located on the left side of the window, contains two tabs: · Tools tab – Contains links to navigation tools and other application functions. Most are initiated by clicking on the tool name link or radio button. Most tools are available only when a map is displayed. · Layers tab – Lists all layers of the current map and allows you to control which are visible and active. To display either of these tabs, click its name at the top
of the menu frame. |
|
Status Frame |
The information in the status frame, located at the bottom of the window, varies depending on which function is being performed. Normally, this frame displays information about the map, such as its scale, width and units. If your map center falls within a township, that township designation will display here as well. This designation is a link that will take you to the DNR Land Records Web site when clicked. Clicking the View Pending Actions link that appears below the township designation will display all pending actions for that township. |
|
Map Frame |
The map frame contains the selected map. Every time you use one of the navigation tools (zoom, recenter, go to area of interest, etc.), this map will redraw to update the view. |
|
Overview Map Frame |
The overview map frame, located in the lower-left corner
of the window, contains a small map image that indicates the area displayed
in the map frame in relation to the entire state of |
|
Header Frame |
The header frame, located at the top of the window, contains the map selector, which allows you to choose any map available to you. This selector always displays the name of the current map. This frame also contains the Refresh Map button, which redraws the map image with the latest available data, and the Satellite button, which enables or disables satellite imagery. |
|
Title Frame |
The title frame, located in the upper-left corner of the window, contains a Help link to this user guide. |
Figure 4 – Main Window
To maximize the application window, click the maximize
window icon 
in the upper-right corner of the window. This
will expand the window to fill the entire screen. You can also resize the
window by stretching it. To do so,
position your cursor over one of the window’s edges or corners, and when the
pointer turns into a double arrow, click and drag it to resize the window.
Anytime you resize the window, the map will redraw to fill the frame.
A map layer is a dataset that contains information about related map features. For example, one layer may contain all major lakes in the state, while another contains municipal boundaries. Each map has a number of layers available. The Layers tab of the menu frame lists all layers available in the current map. For each layer, you have the following options:
|
Option |
Description |
|
V (Visible) |
Select the V checkbox to make the layer visible on the map. Deselect this checkbox to hide the layer. |
|
A (Active) |
Select the A checkbox to include the layer in queries. Deselect this checkbox to exclude the layer from queries. |
|
Layer Name |
To view a description of the layer’s contents, hover the pointer over the layer name. Click the name to view the layer’s metadata. For more information, see “Viewing Layer Metadata and Extract Layer Data” on page 28. |
When you create a map, you can choose the layers that you want to be available on the map. For details see “Creating and Editing Maps” on page 24.
Figure 5 – The Layers Tab of the Menu Frame
The map legend is a guide to the meanings of symbols used on the map. To view a map’s legend, click the Show Map Legend link on the Tools tab. The symbols that appear in the legend depend on which layers the map contains. Each layer uses its own set of symbols to represent its features.
Figure 6 – Map Legend
Map coordinates can be displayed either in decimal degrees or in degrees, minutes and seconds (DMS). To select one of these options, select the appropriate button in the lower-right corner of the main window. Alaska Mapper uses the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83) coordinate system.
The Satellite button in the upper-right corner of the window allows you to turn the satellite imagery on and off. You can also turn on satellite imagery by selecting Satellite from the Base Map Option list at the bottom of the window.
Satellite
and aerial imagery are obtained from the Alaska Statewide Digital
Mapping Initiative (SDMI) (http://www.alaskamapped.org)
through the
The USGS Topo base map option uses digital raster graphics (DRG), which are scanned images of United States Geological Survey (USGS) standard-series topographic maps. These images were originally georeferenced to the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) projection. Since then, they have been converted into a seamless layer and served under various projections (for example, Alaska Albers NAD 83). This map ranges in scale from 1:250,000 to 1:24,000.
To view the USGS Topographic Map as the current map’s background, click the Base Map Option selector located under the map scale and select USGS Topo.
Figure 7 – Selecting the USGS Topographical Map
The NOAA base map option is composed of scanned images of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Raster Navigational Chart for Alaskan waters. This chart is a graphic portrayal of the marine environment showing the nature and form of the coast and the general configuration of the sea bottom. Note: This chart is not intended for navigational use.
To use the NOAA Nautical Chart as the current map’s background, click the Base Map Option selector and select NOAA Chart.
The Hillshade base map option uses shading to indicate features such as mountains, valleys, plateaus and canyons. Areas that are flat or have few features are smooth on the map, whereas areas with steep slopes and mountains appear rougher. This map is derived from the digital elevation models (DEMs) in the USGS’s National Elevation Database. This map is suitable for use at scales greater than 1:63,000.
To use hillshade imagery as the current map’s background, click the Base Map Option selector and select Hillshade.
Registered users (state employees) can save created maps for later use. All the layer information, zoom settings, map units and extents are saved with the map. For more information on saving maps, see Map Management.
Additional maps are available through specialized versions of Alaska Mapper. These include the following:
|
Link to Application Home |
Map Name |
Description |
|
|
Mining Claims Map |
Shows state and federal mining claims together on one map, with additional mining-related data |
|
Coastal Map |
Shows land status and related data for sensitive
ecological areas along the |
If the map center falls within a township, the township designation will appear in the status frame (see Figure 8). Clicking this designation will open the DNR Land Records Web site, where you can search for state and federal records related to the township. The township designation will automatically appear in the search fields on the site.
Clicking the View Pending Actions link below the township designation will open the DNR’s Plat Information Management System and display all pending plat actions for that township.
Figure 8 – Viewing Additional Information About a Township
Alaska Mapper offers a variety of ways to navigate a map and locate the features that you are seeking.
Map navigation tools are located under “Map Functions” on the Tools tab. Following are descriptions of those tools:
|
Tool |
Description |
|
Refresh Map |
Click this link to clear any features that you have highlighted using the Go to Area of Interest tool or selected by performing a query. |
|
When Zoom In is selected, you can click the map once to zoom in by an approximate factor of two. The map will also recenter on the point on which you click. When you first start a session, Zoom In is the default setting. You can also zoom in by drawing a rectangle. To do so, click the map, and while holding down the mouse button, drag the pointer. A red rectangle will appear. When the rectangle is the desired size, release the mouse button. The map will zoom into the area enclosed in the rectangle. The smaller the rectangle you draw, the more the map will zoom in. |
|
|
When Zoom Out is selected, you can click the map once to zoom out by an approximate factor of two. You can also zoom out by drawing a rectangle. The map will zoom out so that the current map area will fit into the rectangle drawn. The smaller the rectangle you draw, the more the map will zoom out. |
|
|
With Recenter selected, a single click on the map image will reposition the center of the map to that location, while the map scale and width remain the same. This is also known as panning. |
|
|
Similar to the Back button in a Web browser, the Previous View function will return you to the previous view of the map after you have changed the map scale or location. This function can be used after recentering, zooming, selecting an area of interest or navigating to a location found during a query. You can return to multiple previous views, one by one, by repeatedly clicking this link. Alaska Mapper remembers all previous views for the current session, even if you open a different map. |
|
|
This
function will cause the map to zoom in or out so that the entire state of |
The Go to Area of Interest tool allows you to navigate directly to a point or feature on the map. There are many different navigation options from which you can choose. To access this tool, click the Go to Area of Interest link at the top of the Tools tab. This will open the Map Navigation window, which allows you to specify the location to which you want to navigate. Alaska Mapper will remember the parameters that you enter in this window for as long as you are logged in.
Note: When you use this tool, you are not actually selecting the feature; you are only navigating to its geographic extent.
Tip: For best results, change the map scale to 50,000 before you follow the steps below. Alaska Mapper does not automatically zoom in to an area of interest when you enter latitude and longitude values.
Tip: To clear the map of a highlighted navigation feature, click the Refresh Map button in the upper-right corner of the main window.
1. In the Map Navigation window, enter the appropriate values in the Latitude and Longitude fields. Here are some tips and hints:
· You can enter values either in decimal degrees or in degrees, minutes and seconds (DMS), depending on how the coordinates are currently displayed on the map. This option is located in the lower-right corner of the Alaska Mapper window. (You’ll need to close the Map Navigation window to modify this setting.)
· Alaska Mapper interprets all latitude and longitude values as being in the NAD83 format. See “About Alaska Mapper’s Geographic Data and Satellite Imagery” on page 7 for more information.
· When entering values in decimal degrees, one-tenth of one degree of latitude is approximately 36,400 feet (6.9 miles). When using DMS, one degree equals 364,000 feet (69 miles), one minute equals 6,068 feet (1.15 miles), and one second equals 101 feet.
· The distance between degrees of longitude varies as one nears the North Pole due to the convergence of the meridians. The following table provides approximations of this distance for different locations in the state:
|
Location |
One Degree Latitude |
One Minute Latitude |
One Second Latitude |
0.10 Degree |
|
|
36.29 miles |
3,194 feet |
53 feet |
19,160
feet |
|
|
33.30 miles |
2,930 feet |
49 feet |
17,580
feet |
|
|
29.41 miles |
2,588 feet |
43 feet |
15,530
feet |
|
Barrow |
22.18 miles |
1,952 feet |
33 feet |
11,710
feet |
2. Click Go Lat/Long. The Map Navigation window closes, and the map is redrawn with its center at the coordinates you specified. A pushpin icon will indicate the point’s position on the map. You must use a negative value for West longitude and South latitude values.
One-tenth of one degree of latitude equals approximately 36,400 feet (6.9 miles).
Figure 9 – Selecting an Area of Interest Using Latitude and Longitude
Note: If map coordinates are displayed in decimal degrees, you will see only one field each for latitude and longitude in the Map Navigation window. However, if coordinates are displayed in degrees, minutes and seconds (DMS), you will see three fields each for latitude and longitude. These units can be set in the lower-right corner of the main window.
1. In the Map Navigation window, select an option from the Navigate to list. The parameters for the selected option display to the right. Some navigation options require more parameters than others. For example, in Figure 10, the DOT Centerline Milepost option requires two parameters, Route Name and Milepost.
2. Specify parameters for the selected option by selecting the values from the fields on the right side of the window. A red asterisk indicates a required parameter.
3. Click the Go button. The Map Navigation window closes, and the map is redrawn with its center at feature you have specified in the navigation option parameters. The map will zoom in or out so that the entire feature can be displayed in the window. The feature will be highlighted with a yellow border or, in the case of a point, a yellow pushpin.
Figure 10 – Selecting an Area of Interest Using the Navigation Options
Some
navigation functions that you see in the Map Navigation window allow you to
search for features by entering text. For example, when using the USGS
Geographic Place Name navigation function, you can type “Seward” in the Place Name field and click Go, and Alaska Mapper will take you
directly to the city of
The
percent sign acts as a wildcard character in text searches. For example, if you
wanted to locate all geographic place names that begin with the text “
Here are a few other useful tips for doing text searches:
·
You do not need to place quotes around names
made up of multiple words (for example,
· When you search for a name that applies to multiple places, your search will return all of the matching locations. Simply select the one for which you were searching.
· Text searches are case-insensitive; that is, using capital letters will not affect the search results.
As
you navigate the map, the overview map in the lower-left corner of the window
will indicate where you are in respect to the entire state of
Alaska Mapper allows you to edit the existing public maps and create your own custom-designed maps as well.
You can create a new map either by starting from scratch with no selected layers or by modifying the layers of an existing map. The base map is a good point from which to start when creating your own map. To use this map as a foundation for your own, make sure it is open before starting the steps outlined below.
To build a map from the ground up, make sure no map is currently selected (select None from the map selector) before you begin creating your map.
1. On the Tools tab of the menu frame, click the Manage Maps & Layers link. Note: If no map is currently loaded, this link will be titled Manage Maps.
Figure 11 – Creating a Map, Step 1
The Map and Layer Management window (Figure 12) displays.
2. If you plan to save the map, type a name in the Current/New Map Name field. This step is not necessary if you do not plan to save the map. (Only state employees have this capability.)
3. From the Available Layers list on the left, select the layers that you want to include in the map. A map must contain at least one layer before it can be created. For more information on managing map layers, see “Managing Map Layers” on page 26.
Note: To remove a layer from the Selected Layers list, right-click it and select Delete Layer(s).
4. If necessary, reorder the selected layers so that some layers are not hidden by others. Each time the map displays, the layers are drawn one at a time starting with the last layer in the Selected Layers list. Alaska Mapper moves upward through this list, drawing each layer on top of the previous one. The idea behind reordering the layers is to organize them so that one layer does not obscure another. To do this, right-click one or more selected layers and select Move Up or Move Down. You can also cut and paste layers from one position to another. For more information, see “Ordering Layers” on page 27.
5. Click Create Map. The Map and Layer Management window will close, and the map will refresh automatically. If for some reason the create function has failed, the window will remain open, and a message will appear in the message area at the bottom of the screen.
Note: When you click Create Map, the map that is created is only temporary; it will no longer be available after you open a different map or end your current Alaska Mapper session. You must save the map in order to recall it later. See “Managing Saved Maps” on page 32 for more information.
Figure 12 - Creating a Map, Steps 2 – 5
You can edit a map’s layers from the Map and Layer Management screen, pictured in Figure 12. Following are descriptions of some of the items you see on the Map and Layer Management screen.
|
Option |
Description |
|
This text box displays the name of the current map. If no map is currently loaded, the text “New Map” will appear in this box. Before you save a map, you can replace the text in the Map Name box with a name of your choosing. |
|
|
Click this button to save the current map. See “Managing Saved Maps” on page 32 for more information. This feature is available only to registered users (state employees). |
|
|
Click this button to save the map under a different name. This feature is available only to registered users (state employees). |
|
|
To open a different map, select it from the list box and click Open. |
|
|
Click this button to delete the current map. This feature is available only to registered users (state employees). |
|
|
All of Alaska Mapper’s available layers are shown in the Available Layers list on the left side of the window. This list allows you to add and remove layers for the current map. You can also view a layer’s metadata by clicking the layer name. Each layer is documented in standard Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) metadata that describe the content of the data, its age and scale limitations if they apply. See “Viewing Layer Metadata and Extract Layer Data” on page 28 for more information. |
|
|
Layers that are selected to be in the current map are listed in the Selected Layers list on the right. You can remove layers by right-clicking and selecting Delete Layer(s). |
|
|
Click this button to create the map using your specified layer settings. |
1. From the Available Layers list, locate the layer you wish to add. You can do this by expanding the folders on this list (see “Expanding and Collapsing Layer Lists” on page 28) or by doing a text search (see “Finding Layers” on page 28).
2. Click the layer’s checkbox. The layer name will be added to the bottom of the Selected Layers list.
1. From the Available Layers list, find the layer you wish to remove. You can do this by expanding the folders on this list (see “Expanding and Collapsing Layer Lists” on page 28) or by doing a text search (see “Finding Layers” on page 28).
2. Deselect the layer’s checkbox. The layer will be removed from the Selected Layers list.
Tip: You can also remove a layer by right-clicking it on the Selected Layers list and selecting Delete Layer(s). To delete multiple layers on this list, select all of them and then right-click and select Delete Layer(s).
The order of the layers in the Selected Layer list is important. The layer at the top of the list has the highest drawing priority, meaning that it is drawn last. The layer at the bottom of the list has the lowest priority and is drawn first. You must order the layers so that part of one layer is not obscured by another layer that is drawn on top of it.
1. Right-click a layer in the Selected Layers list.
2. Select Move Up or Move Down.
Figure 13 – Reordering Map Layers
You can also change the layer ordering by cutting one or more layers and pasting them into a new position on the list.
1. Select one or more layers by clicking the layer icon to the left of the layer names.
Note: To select multiple layers, hold down the Ctrl key while selecting them one at a time. To select multiple contiguous layers, hold down the Shift key, click the first layer, and then click the last layer in the series that you want to select. All layers between those two will also be selected.
2. Right-click the selected layers and select Cut.
3. Right-click the layer that is in the position to which you want to move the cut layers, and select Insert Before or Insert After. The cut layers will be inserted in the new position.
Layers on the Available Layers list are organized into folders. To view a folder’s contents, you must expand it by clicking the + icon to the left of its name. To close, or collapse, an open folder, click the – icon to the left of its name.
To expand all folders so that all layers are visible, click the Expand All link at the top of the list. To collapse all folders click Collapse All.
You can search for a layer name in the Available Layers and Selected Layers lists by using your browser’s search function.
1. Click the Find Layer link at the top of the list. All folders on the Available Layers list will expand, and the Find dialog box will open.
2. In the Find dialog box, type a word or phrase.
3. Click Find Next, or just hit the Enter key. If your entered text is found, it will be highlighted on the list.
Note: You can also open the Find dialog box by holding down the Ctrl key and pressing the F key, but you must be sure to click the Expand All link before you search.
Information about the data contained within the layers is called layer metadata or dataset metadata. You can view this information by clicking a layer name on the Layers tab in the menu frame, in the Map and Layer Management window or in the Layer Settings window.
A new window will appear containing the layer metadata (see Figure 14). You may need to use the scrollbar on the right to view all the metadata.
You can extract all the data in the layer by clicking the link identified in Figure 14 and then entering your e-mail address. An e-mail will be delivered to your inbox when the extraction is complete. Depending on the size of the layer dataset, this process may take a number of hours to complete. Please do not retry the extract until you receive an e-mail response.
Figure 14 - Layer Metadata
Various layer attributes can be modified in the Layer Settings window (see Figure 15), which you can access by clicking the Set Layer Properties link on the Tools tab.
You can view and edit an abbreviated list of layer properties on the Layers tab in the menu frame. See “Managing Map Layers from the Menu Frame” on page 14 for more information.
Following are descriptions of the options you have in the Layer Settings window:
|
Option |
Description |
|
After modifying any of the layer attributes, click the Apply Settings button at the top of the window. This will save the settings to the map, close the Layer Settings window and refresh the map. |
|
|
Click this button to close the Layer Settings window and refresh the map without applying any changes you have made to the layer settings. |
|
|
Select this checkbox to make the layer visible on the map. Deselect this checkbox to hide the layer. All of the map’s layers are visible by default. This property can also be modified from the Layers tab in the menu frame. |
|
|
This attribute specifies whether labels will appear for the layer’s features. Label visibility is affected by the zoom attributes the same way the features are. |
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Select this checkbox to include the layer in queries. Deselect this checkbox to exclude the layer from queries. All of the map’s layers are active by default. This property can also be modified from the Layers tab in the menu frame. |
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This setting specifies the minimum and maximum zoom levels at which the layer will be visible on the map. If the map scale falls outside of this range, the layer will not be visible. Most layers already have default values assigned. You can turn off the zoom layer setting by deselecting its checkbox. This will result in the layer drawing at all map scales. For example, you could display all federal and state mining claims at the regional level by turning off this feature and zooming out to a small scale (large map width). Keep in mind that drawing performance could be degraded when some layers are drawn at small scales. |
Note: You can select or deselect all the attributes in a column by clicking the Check All/Uncheck All button at the top of each column.
Figure 15 - Layer Settings
Note: This chapter does not apply to public users, as only registered users (state employees) can save maps.
Saved maps are managed in the Map and Layer Management window. When you save a map, Alaska Mapper does not save the actual land-records data. It only saves information such as the map name and the layers included on the map. Every time you open the map, it will be drawn using the latest land-records data available.
Registered users can save new maps they have created and new versions of existing maps.
1. Make sure a map is not currently open.
2. Click the Manage Maps & Layers link and create a new map, as explained in “Creating and Editing Maps” on page 24. Make sure you click Create Map before continuing to the next step.
3. Open the Map and Layer Management window by clicking the Manage Maps & Layers link on the Tools tab.
4. Click the Save button. The map will be saved with the name it was assigned when you created it.
1. Open the map that you want to copy.
2. Open the Map and Layer Management window by clicking the Manage Maps & Layers link on the Tools tab.
3. If necessary, edit the map’s layers as you see fit.
4. In the Current/New Map Name field, type a new name for the map.
5. Click the Save As button. A copy of the map will be saved under the new name.
Note: When saving a new version of a public map, make sure you at least remove the “(public)” trailer from the name to prevent confusion.
Saved maps appear in the map selector at the top of the main window. To open a map, simply select it from that list. You can also open a map from the Map and Layer Management window by selecting it from the Existing Maps list and clicking Open.
To delete a saved map, select it from the Existing Maps list and click Delete.
Figure 16 – Managing Saved Maps
Alaska Mapper’s query function allows you to select map features and obtain detailed information about them. To do this, you specify a query boundary on the map, and Alaska Mapper will highlight the features that fall within that boundary. You can then view details about each selected feature.
Note: When you query map data, only the active layers are included in the query results. The “active” attribute can be found on the Layers tab and in the Layer Settings window.
1. Select a search type.
2. Select the search tool (point, rectangle or radius).
3. Using the search tool, specify the query boundary.
4. View the results by clicking the View Results link. Note: You do not have to wait for the map to redraw before clicking this link.
These steps are illustrated in Figure 17 and are explained in detail in the following sections.
Figure 17 – Querying Map Data
Alaska Mapper offers three search types that govern how features are selected when you set the query boundary. You can select the search type from the list box next to the Query Active Layers label in the menu frame.
Following are descriptions of the search types:
|
Search Type |
Description |
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Entire |
When you are using the Rectangle or Radius tool, a feature must be fully contained within the query boundary to be included in the search results. When you are using the Point tool, the point must be fully contained in the feature for the feature to be selected. This is the default search type and is the most accurate of the three. |
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Partial |
If a feature interacts (touches or falls within) the query boundary at all, it is selected. |
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MBR |
A minimum bounding rectangle (MBR) is the smallest rectangle required to fully enclose a feature. With this search type, Alaska Mapper examines each feature’s MBR to determine if it intersects the search boundary. This search type is a quick approximation that simplifies the features (reduces a feature to a simple rectangle) to allow much faster comparisons. This will often result in a large number of search results. This search type is the least accurate but can be useful when a more precise boundary is not known. |
A query is based on a geographic boundary, which is the area on the map to which the query applies. Alaska Mapper offers three options for specifying a query boundary: point, rectangle and radius.
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Search Tool |
Instructions |
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To specify a boundary with the Point search tool, simply click once on the map. The status frame displays the latitude and longitude, and after the map redraws, the selected location is annotated with a red dot. Because of its specificity, the Point tool is most useful when you are seeking a single feature, and you know exactly where that feature resides. |
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The Rectangle search tool allows you to define a query boundary by drawing a rectangle. To use the Rectangle search tool:1. Click a point and hold down the mouse button. 2. Drag the pointer until the rectangle is the desired size. 3. Release the mouse button to complete the rectangle. |
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The Radius search tool allows you to draw a circular query boundary by specifying its radius. You have two options for doing this: Option 1:1. Click on the map to indicate the center of the search area. The status frame will display the location in latitude and longitude of the point. 2. Click again to indicate the radius of the search area. A query of active layers is performed and the map is redrawn with two points and a circle annotation in red. Option 2:1. Click on the map to indicate the center of the radius. The status frame will display the location of the point in latitude and longitude. 2. Enter the radius length in the field provided in the status frame. 3. Press the Enter or the Tab key to execute the query. |
Features that are selected during a query will be highlighted yellow in the map image. After a query is performed, the total number of selected features is displayed in the Status Area below the map.
After you specify a query boundary, clicking the Cancel Tool icon in the lower-right corner of the window clears the boundary, removes the annotations and redraws the map. You do not need to click Cancel Tool before selecting a new query boundary.
To view the results of a query, click the View Results link in the status frame. A new browser window will open to display the features selected in the query.
Features returned from the query are grouped by layer. The results page shows only the results for the layer shown in the layer selector at the top of the page. To see the features for a different layer, select that layer from the drop-down list.
Figure 18 – Search Results
From the search results, you have access to a variety of information regarding the selected features and their geographic area. This information is located in various other systems, which you can access by clicking the appropriate hyperlink in the search results. Following are descriptions of the records that you can access from the search results:
Note: The following options will not be available for all features.
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Option |
Description |
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DNR Case Abstract |
When a feature has a case-file record in the DNR’s Land Administration System (LAS), a link to that record will be provided in the search results, and the case file type and file number will be displayed as feature attributes. Clicking View DNR Case Abstract will open LAS and display the case abstract that applies to the feature. LAS is the system of record for all DNR land records. Help manuals and training guides for LAS are available on the DNR’s Web site at http://www.dnr.state.ak.us/int/ssd/las/. |
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Status Plat/Federal Record |
The Get Status Plat/Federal Record link at the top of the search results window will take you to the DNR’s Status Plats system (http://plats.landrecords.info) and automatically search for documents related to the township in which your query boundary is centered. The Status Plats system includes plats, surveys and other scanned documents. |
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Status Plat Remarks |
You can view status plat remarks for the township in which your map is currently centered by clicking the Get [township designation] plat remarks link provided at the top of the search results. Status plat remarks provide you with information about a township or a specific case file that may not be clearly represented on the map, including the following: · Coordinate information for the southeast corner of the township · Hydrography source used during the creation of the township · State and/or federal surveys in the township (not all federal surveys may be referenced) · Reference to the recording district and/or borough within which the township may fall · Special notations to help clarify the depiction of certain case files represented on the map Status plat remarks are updated on a regular basis during the update of the township data. We recommend that you check the remarks for updates that may have been added since the last map update. |
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URL |
If a URL is found in the results, two links will be displayed. The one labeled View will open an information dialog box containing the text of the URL. The link labeled Go To will open a new browser window containing the contents of that URL, which could be a document, image, video or other type of file. |
In the Summary view of the search results, only the first six attributes are displayed. To view all of the attributes for a given feature, click on the Display Details link. This will display the Feature Details window (Figure 19). To return to the Summary view, click the Display Summary link in the detail page.
Figure 19 – Feature Details
The Search Results page provides controls for specifying how you want the results to display. These are as follows:
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Feature |
Description |
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You can adjust the number of features that are displayed on the page by selecting a number from this selector. The default is five features per page. |
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You can go directly to any page of the results by selecting the page number from this selector. |
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This button will advance the page of results by one. If there are no more pages, a message in the status frame will indicate so. |
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This button will go back one page of results. If you are at the first page, a message in the “Message Area” will indicate so and the results page remains unchanged. |
When you find a feature you wish to search by, click the Search By Selected Feature link associated with that feature. All previous search results are removed from memory and a new search is performed based on the feature you selected. The Search Results page will close, and the map will redraw with the selected feature highlighted in red. Note: If you do not see the selected feature once the map redraws, try zooming in.
The Zoom to Feature tool 
allows you to zoom to the extents of a feature
listed in the search results. When you click this icon, the map will reposition
to display the feature more clearly, and the feature will be highlighted red.
When you use the Zoom to Feature tool, the main window will move to the foreground, but the search results will remain open in the background. You may return to the results by selecting that window from your windows list. You may also bring it forward by clicking on the View Results link in the Status frame of the main window.
The Search Type list box in the Search Results window allows you to change the search type for the next search you perform on the map. Changing the search type will have no effect on the search results you are currently viewing. For more information see “Search Types” on page 35.
After performing a query, you can extract the selected features into an ESRI Shapefile that can be used with GIS software. If the datasets you have selected contain multiple feature types (e.g., points, lines or polygons), a shapefile will be created for each type. A projection file will also be created, along with a metadata file for each dataset and feature type, if available. The data will remain on the server for 24 hours before it is automatically deleted.
Note: You can also extract a layer’s entire dataset. For details refer to “Viewing Layer Metadata and Extract Layer Data” on page 28.
1. Select the features to extract by performing a query, as explained in “Querying Map Data” on page 34.
2. Click the Extract Data icon in the lower-right corner of the map window. The Extract Data dialog box displays.
3. Open and read the “Data Disclaimer and Agreement” document by clicking the hyperlink in the Extract Data window. You must read this document before you can proceed with the extract.
4. Enter your e-mail address and click Continue Extract. Your request will be added to the extract queue for evening processing. Once the extract is complete, you will receive an e-mail with a link to a zip file that contains the requested dataset. This will most likely occur on the day following the extract request.
Figure 20 – Extracting a selection of feature data
The ruler tool measures the distance between two or more points.
1. Select the Estimate Distance/Area link from the Tools tab of the menu frame.
2. Click on the map for the starting location. The status frame will change to indicate the clicked point’s coordinates.
3. Click the map to indicate the second location point. The map will redraw, indicating the two points (red dots) and the line between them (red line). The status frame now contains the coordinates for the second point and the distance between the two points in the current map units.
4. Continue to add points as needed. The Status Area will display the current segment’s length plus the total of all the segments created.
1. Create at least three line segments by taking the steps listed above.
2. Click the Calculate Area button in the Status Area. The segments will be closed, and the estimated area contained within them will be displayed in acres where the Calculate Area button was.
3. To calculate a new area, repeat steps 1 and 2.
The map scale and width are displayed in the status frame below the map (see Figure 21). The scale is a solid bar that indicates how a specified distance on the map equates to the actual distance on the ground. The map width tells you the actual horizontal distance across the geographic area represented on the map image.
The default distance unit for the scale and width is survey feet. There are four other units (feet, miles, meters and kilometers), which can be selected via the pull-down list to the right of the map scale.
You can adjust the map width by entering a new value in the Map Width field and then pressing either the Enter or the Tab key. The map will redraw after the new value is entered.
Figure 21 – Map Scale and Width and Base Map Options
The Base Map Option selector allows you to select from among six backgrounds for the map. This selector is located under the map scale in the status frame (see Figure 21). To change the base map’s background, click this list box and select a new option. Available options are as follows:
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Base Map Option |
Description |
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Satellite |
Displays the best satellite imagery available at the current zoom level |
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Hillshade |
Hillshade from digital elevation models (DEMs) |
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USGS Topo |
United States Geological Survey Quarter Million Quadrangle (QMQ) Topographical map (1:250,000) |
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NOAA Chart |
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) chart |
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BLM MTP – TWP |
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) |
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BLM MTP – SUP |
BLM Master Title Plats Supplemental Maps |
If the current map scale is outside the range of the selected base map option, the scale will be adjusted to the maximum zoom threshold for the selected option. To remove the base map image, select None from the Base Map Option selector.
Note: Because of the size of the base map images, map-drawing performance will be degraded when a base map option is used.
When you click the About/Disclaimer link on the Tools tab, the status frame will display information about Alaska Mapper, including the application version. This information is useful when reporting problems to LRIS.
The Print Map option on the Tools tab creates a PDF version of the currently displayed map. The list box to the right of this option allows you to select from among the following print sizes:
· Letter (8.5” x 11”)
· Legal (8.5” x 14”)
· Tabloid (11” x 17”)
· Architectural C (18” x 24”)
All sizes print in a landscape orientation.
After you have selected a size and clicked Print Map, a preview window will display the PDF. From that window, you can then save the PDF to disk or print a hard copy. The PDF version includes the map’s name, scale, legend and overview map.
Clicking the Map Composition Tips link on the Tools tab will open the “Map Composition Tips” document, which will guide you through the steps for printing an area of interest after performing a query.
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Tool |
Description |
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Go to Area of Interest |
Opens the Map Navigation window. For details see “Going to an Area of Interest” on page 20. |
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Zoom In |
When Zoom In is selected, you can click the map once to zoom in by an approximate factor of two. The map will also recenter on the point on which you click. You can also zoom in by drawing a rectangle. To do so, click the map, and while holding down the mouse button, drag the pointer. A red rectangle will appear. When the rectangle is the desired size, release the mouse button. The map will zoom into the area enclosed in the rectangle. The smaller the rectangle you draw, the more the map will zoom in. |
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Zoom Out |
When Zoom Out is selected, you can click the map once to zoom out by an approximate factor of two. You can also zoom out by drawing a rectangle. The map will zoom out so that the current map area will fit into the rectangle drawn. The smaller the rectangle you draw, the more the map will zoom out. |
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Recenter (pan) |
With Recenter selected, a single click on the map image will reposition the center of the map to that location, while the map scale and width remain the same. This is also known as panning. |
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Previous View |
Similar to the Back button in a Web browser, the Previous View function will return you to the previous view of the map after you have changed the map scale or location. This function can be used after recentering, zooming, selecting an area of interest or navigating to a location found during a query. You can return to multiple previous views, one by one, by repeatedly clicking this link. Alaska Mapper remembers all previous views for the current session, even if you open a different map. |
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Full Extent |
Causes the map to zoom in or out so that
the entire state of |
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Show Map Legend |
Displays the map legend. |
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Estimate Distance/Area |
Allows you to measure distance and area on the map. See “Estimate Distance/Area (Ruler) Tool” on page 42 for details. |
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Query Active Layers |
When performing a query, select a search type from this list box. |
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By Point, By Rectangle, By Radius |
Use these search tools to perform queries. For more information, see “Querying Map Data” on page 34. |
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Set Layer Properties |
Opens the Layer Settings window, where you can modify layer settings. For details see “Layer Settings” on page 30. |
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Opens the Map and Layer Management window, where you can create and modify maps. See “Creating and Editing Maps” on page 24. |
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Log Out |
Logs you out of the application. |
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Allows you to control whether help tips display or not whenever you hover the pointer over a tool or layer name. |
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About/Disclaimer |
Displays information about Alaska Mapper, including the application version. This information is useful when reporting problems to LRIS. |
