Map

The map layout may vary from app to app but the map tool functionality will be consistent.

Button Navigation

Tool Description
zoom Clicking plus (+) and (-) zoom the map in and out. By default, the map uses the Bing Maps scale.
home The home button returns the map to the default extent (statewide).
Extent Buttons These buttons allow the user to navigate to previous and next extents while using the map.
locate The locate icon ceneters on your location. Location Services must be enabled

Keyboard Navigation

Navigating the map by using the keyboard is very effective. Zooming, panning, and other actions can be performed with a keystroke or combined keystroke and mouse action.

Panning the map can be achived using the arrows keys on the keyboard. The UP arrow pans North, the DOWN arrow pans South, the RIGHT arrow pans East, and the LEFT arrow pans West.

Zooming in and out can be achieved by using the Shift key and either the "+" or the "-" key on a numeric keypad.

Another great way to zoom in is to hold down on the Shift key and then click and drag a rectangle on the map to define the zoom area. See the table below for some examples.

Keystroke Map Action
Up arrow Pans north
Down arrow Pans south
Right arrow Pans east
Left arrow Pans west
N Aligns map to the north
Shift and drag Zoom in by drawing a rectangle
Shift and click Zoom in to the pointer location
Ctrl + click Center view on pointer location

Mouse Navigation

Navigating the map can also be done with the mouse.

Scroll the mouse wheel forward or up to zoom in or backward to zoom out.

Hold the Shift key down, then hold the left mouse button down and drag to draw a rectangle. The map will zoom in to the area of the rectangle. See the table below for some combinations.

Keystroke Action
Left Click Pop-up / Pan
Wheel Zoom in & out
Right Click & Hold Rotate
Shift + Left + Drag Draw a rectangle to zoom

Working with Layers

Base Layers

Users have the ability to switch base layers depending on their needs or interests. Some people prefer a street map based view while others like to see landcover, topography, and aerial images as they zoom in closer and closer. These different base layers can be activated using the Base Map Gallery widget that is located with the other tools in the map viewer header. Users have the ability to use the Kentucky Base Map, the Kentucky Topography Map, Aerials from different years, or Esri's topographic or street base. Simply click on the desired base map to make it active.

Figure: The web apps provide a variety of base map layers ranging from Kentucky-based layers, Esri-based Layers, Open Street Map and USGS.

Thematic Layers

Thematic, or operational, layers are usually the primary focus of the site. Things such as the weather radar, state parks, wastewater treatment plants, and geodetic control points are examples of thematic layers. These layers can be activated by checking the box to the left of the layer name. Clicking on the little pulldown menu to the right of the layer name allows the users to set the transparency, open the attribute table, move it up or down in the list, or zoom to its full extent.

The search tool leverages different geocoding services to enable searching for a geolocation. Location types include address, coordinates, named places, etc. We recommend using the KY NG911 Locator for best results.

Getting Map Coordinates

Obtaining a Map Coordinate: The Coordinate Widget is positioned in the lower left corner of the map viewer just above the graphic scale bar. Note that moving the mouse causes the values to change based on the current position of the mouse on the map.

To obtain a map coordinate, click on the icon icon at the left of the coordinate values.

Doing this changes the mode of the coordinate tool to allow for getting map coordinates that can be copied. Note that the tool now says Click the map to get coordinates.

Then, simply click on the map and the coordinate value will be placed in the tool. If you need to copy the value, select the copy icon and hit Ctrl + C, then paste the value where you desire.

You can also change the coordinate system for the map tool but clicking the arrow button on the right.

Inset Map

In the lower right corner, there is a smaller arrow that toggles open an inset map. This provides relative location when zoomed at very high scales.

Nexrad Widget

Note: Currently, this widget is only available in the KyWeather App

The Nexrad Widget displays the Iowa Environment Mesonet generated NEXRAD Mosaics for the last hour in five minute intervals.

Dropdown Description

This dropdown menu provides a selection of intervals in seconds in which
to cylce through the 11 layers.

This dropdown menus changes the opacity of the layers.