Minnesota Structures Collaborative

Online System

Help! Booklet

About this booklet

• This booklet is a “hard-copy” of the Help! feature found inside the Minnesota Structures Collaborative Online System. It can be used either as an electronic PDF outside the system, or as a printed quick reference document.

• Layout and features of the booklet are identical to the Online System Help! In order, the sections are:

– Five pages - General index,– Two pages - Alphabetical index,– 21 pages - Topical information, and– Three pages – Project back ground information

• The online version of the Help! feature is extensively hyperlinked and cross-referenced. Although much of that capability is lost with a paper document, basic indexing can be used to move around the document in one of five ways:

– By icon related to feature– By text related to topic– By page number related to both feature and topic– By alphabetical index– By “paging through” the document to generally follow a clockwise flow around the geospatial application

• All special inquires and comments are handled at Mn.Struct@state.mn.us using the following subject lines:

– Report a technical problem with the system Subj: MSC_Online_System_Problem – Request personal assistance with the system Subj: MSC_Online_System_Help_Request – Provide comments about the system Subj: MSC_Online_System_Comments

• General Display Orientation Page 1

• Toolbar - Basic Controls Page 2 – Previous Extent– Next Extent– Zoom to Full Extent– Pan Hand– Zoom In– Zoom Out– Measure– Measure Area

• Catalog Tab - Basic Features Page 3 – Overview– Folder and Layer Controls - Basic

• Folder Icon• Check Box (off)• Check Box (on)

• Catalog Tab - Base Layers I Page 4– FSA Layer

• Catalog Tab - Base Layers II Page 5 – Base Map Folder

• State Boundaries• County Boundaries• Cities• OpenStreet map

– National Grid Folder• 1 KM Layer• 10 KM Layer

Help! (Click Icons or Text Hyperlinks, Use Alphabetical Index, or View Tutorials)

Help 1 of 5

• Catalog Tab - Basic Layer Controls Page 6 – Move Layer Up on the Stack– Move Layer Down on the Stack– Fade Layer – Unfade Layer– Show Legend for (Layer)

• Search Tab Features Page 7– Zoom to Lat/Long– Zoom to USNG– Zoom to UTM 15N

• Services Tab Features Page 8 – Loading

• Results Tab Features Page 9 – Measure Length– Measure Area

• Pointer Coordinate Bar/Scale Window Page 10

– X, Y– Lat./Lon.– USNG– Scale Window– Scale Popup Window

• Onscreen Controls Page 11 – Re-center Screen Up/Down/Left/Right– Scale Bar

Help! (Click Icons or Text Hyperlinks, Use Alphabetical Index, or View Tutorials)

Help 2 of 5

Help!

• Catalog Tab - Special Layers Page 12– Available PDF Maps Folder

• 1 KM Layer• 10 KM Layer

– MN Folder• Fire Stations• Hospitals• Police Stations• Schools

• Catalog Tab - Special Layer Controls Page 13 – Show Popups for (Structure Layer)– Popups Active For (Structure Layer)– Create a Point in the (Structure Layer)

• Search Buildings Page 14 – Search Buildings

• Find PDF Maps I Page 15 – Find PDF Maps– Find PDF Maps Controls

• Navigate• Point• Line• Polygon

• Find PDF Maps II Page 16

– PDF Maps Available for the Selection Area

Help! (Click Icons or Text Hyperlinks, Use Alphabetical Index, or View Tutorials)

Help 3 of 5

Help!

• Create Feature Page 17 – Create Feature– Create Feature Control

• Navigate• Point• Line• Polygon

• Popups - Overview Page 18

• Popups- Control Features Page 19 – Edit Feature Control– Show Details Control– Scroll Bar Control– Close Popup Control

• Popups - Location Editing Features Page 20– Location Editing Feature– Text Editing– Geospatial Editing

• Popups - Geospatial Editing Features/Controls I Page 21 – Re-center Screen Up/Down/Left/Right– Plus/Minus View– Running Coordinate Indicator– Orange Dot– Layer Control Button

• Popups - Geospatial Editing Features/Controls II Page 22– Navigate– Modify Feature

Help! (Click Icons or Text Hyperlinks, Use Alphabetical Index, or View Tutorials)

Help 4 of 5

Help!

• About I Page 23– Emergency Preparedness Committee– Federal Geographic Data Committee– GeoMOOSE– GeoPDF’s

• About II Page 24– MnGeo– SharedGeo – U.S. National Grid

• About This Project Page 25

• Alphabetical Index By Page Index 1

• Expanded Help– Print a Booklet Based on This Help! – Report a Problem with this System– Request Personal Assistance with this System – View Flash Player Tutorials

• Contact Us With Comments!!

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Help! (Click Icons or Text Hyperlinks, Use Alphabetical Index, or View Tutorials)

A-Z

Help 5 of 5

Help!

• About I– Emergency Preparedness Committee– Federal Geographic Data Committee– GeoMOOSE– GeoPDF’s

• About II – MnGeo– SharedGeo – U.S. National Grid

• About This Project

• Catalog Tab - Basic Features– Overview– Folder and Layer Controls - Basic

• Check Box (off)• Check Box (on) • Folder Icon

• Catalog Tab - Base Layers I – FSA Layer

• Catalog Tab - Base Layers II – Base Map Folder

• Cities• County Boundaries • OpenStreet map • State Boundaries

– National Grid Folder• 1 KM Layer• 10 KM Layer

• Catalog Tab - Basic Layer Controls – Fade Layer – Move Layer Down on the Stack– Move Layer Up on the Stack– Show Legend for (Layer)– Unfade Layer

• Catalog Tab - Special Layers – Available PDF Maps Folder

• 1 KM Layer• 10 KM Layer

– MN Folder• Fire Stations• Hospitals• Police Stations• Schools

• Catalog Tab - Special Layer Controls – Create a Point in the (Structure Layer)– Popups Active For (Structure Layer)– Show Popups for (Structure Layer)

• Contact Us With Comments!!

• Create Feature – Create Feature– Create Feature Control

• Line• Navigate• Point• Polygon

• Expanded Help– Print a Booklet Based on This Help! – Request Personal Assistance with this System – Report a Problem with this System– View Flash Player Tutorials

• Find PDF Maps I – Find PDF Maps– Find PDF Maps Controls

• Line• Navigate• Point• Polygon

Alphabetical Index By Page

Index 1 of 2

Help!

• Find PDF Maps II – PDF Maps Available for the Selection Area

• General Display Orientation

• Onscreen Controls– Re-center Screen Up/Down/Left/Right– Scale Bar

• Pointer Coordinate Bar/Scale Window – Lat./Lon.– Scale Popup Window– Scale Window– USNG– X, Y

• Popups - Control Features – Close Popup Control – Edit Feature Control– Scroll Bar Control– Show Details Control

• Popups - Geospatial Editing Features/Controls I – Layer Control Button– Orange Dot– Plus/Minus View– Re-center Screen Up/Down/Left/Right– Running Coordinate Indicator

• Popups - Geospatial Editing Features/Controls II – Navigate– Modify Feature

• Popups - Location Editing Features – Geospatial Editing– Location Editing Feature– Text Editing

• Popups - Overview•

• Results Tab Features – Measure Area – Measure Length

• Services Tab Features – Loading

• Search Buildings – Search Buildings

• Search Tab Features– Zoom to Lat/Long– Zoom to USNG– Zoom to UTM 15N

• Toolbar - Basic Controls– Measure– Next Extent– Pan Hand– Previous Extent – Zoom In– Zoom Out– Zoom to Full Extent

Index 2 of 2

Alphabetical Index By Page Help!

General Display Orientation

Toolbar Main Viewing Window Tabs

Pointer Coordinate Bar/Scale Window Onscreen Features

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Page 1 of 25

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Help!

Toolbar – Basic Controls: Presented as a series of icons in a graphics bar above the upper left hand side of the main viewing window, these toolbar controls are used to manage the system’s basic features and views selected under the Catalog tab.

Previous Extent (one left click of mouse button) – Works like a browser back button by returning display to previous scale and centering.

Next Extent (one left click of mouse button) – Works like a browser forward button by returning display after using the “Previous Extent” feature.

Zoom to Full Extent (one left click of mouse button) – Displays the most distant view available for subject area. Onscreen scale bar indictor drops to bottom of scale and pointer coordinate bar scale window shows maximum available scale number.

Pan Hand (toggles on/off with one left click of mouse button) – Depress and hold left mouse button to move and re-center display. Mouse scroll wheel only works with this feature selected. Scroll mouse wheel down to zoom in, scroll mouse wheel back to zoom out.

Zoom In (toggles on/off with one left click of mouse button) – Two ways to use. (1) Depress and hold left mouse button to draw a rectangle that is the area of interest. (2) Place mouse pointer on point of interest and left click mouse bottom until desired view is achieved.

Zoom Out (toggles on/off with one left click of mouse button) - Place mouse pointer over point of interest and left click mouse bottom until desired view is achieved.

Measure (toggles on/off with one left click of mouse button) – Place mouse pointer over point of origin for measurement, left click once. Then place mouse pointer over next point along line of advancement and left click again. Distance is displayed under the Results tab. Multiple off angle segments (twisting road) can be linked together by using multiple clicks.

Measure Area (toggles on/off with one left click of mouse button) - Place mouse pointer over point of origin for measurement, left click once. Repeat on additional points to define perimeter of area to be measured. On last point, quickly double click TWICE to set area. Area is displayed under the Results tab.

Toolbar – Basic Controls

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Help!

Overview: The first Tab found in the window along the right side of the screen is Catalog, which controls what combination of layers (geospatial information) or “view” is displayed in the main window. The default layer is the Minnesota Farm Service Agency (FSA) aerial imagery acquired in 2008. In addition to the FSA imagery, four other layers are automatically turned on at start up:

• State Boundaries,

• County Boundaries,

• Cities and

• OpenStreet Map.

By turning on or off these and other available layers of geospatial information, additional layers of data can be laid over the top of the FSA imagery just like annotated sheets of acetate can be laid over the top of a paper map. The basic folders and layers features of this tab are described below.

Folder and Layer Controls

Folder Control – Left click once on any folder icon to expand that folder to reveal the available layers stored in association with that folder. One subsequent left click will contract the folder.

Check Box (off) – Layer associated with the box has not been turned on. Left click once to place check mark in box and activate the respective layer in the main window.

Check Box (on) – Layer associated with the box has been turned on. Left click once to remove check mark in box and deactivate the respective layer in the main window.

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Catalog Tab - Basic Features Help!

Base Layers

FSA Layer: Default layer of aerial imagery created from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) 2008 photo flights. This is the most current, uniform imagery available for the entire state. An example of this imagery is provided below:

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Catalog Tab - Base Layers IHelp!

Base Map Folder – Contains the basic available geography layers.

State Boundaries Layer (bold gray line) - Default layer that shows outline of the lower 48 state boundaries

County Boundaries Layer (thin gray line) - Default layer that shows outline of Minnesota county boundaries. County names appear in black as Zoom In feature is used.

Cities Layer (orange-tan shape) - Default layer that shows a shape for each of Minnesota’s cities. Respective city name appears on shape in yellow highlighted black.

OpenStreet Map Layer (roadway data) - Default layer that shows the roadway network for Minnesota. Segments are colored coded as follows:

Interstate Highways – Orange-red with white lettering

Other Major U.S., State and County Roads – Yellow with black border and black lettering

Local Roads and Streets – White with black border and black lettering

National Grid Folder – Contains the U.S. National Grid boundary lines available for display.

1 Kilometer Layer (thin black lines) – 1 kilometer USNG boundary lines for the entire state

10 Kilometer Layer (bold black lines) - 1 kilometer USNG boundary lines for the entire state

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Catalog Tab - Base Layers IIHelp!

Basic Layer Controls: For each layer in the Catalog tab, these controls are provided to manage the basic appearance and functions of that layer.

Move Layer Up on the Stack (one left click of mouse button) – With each click of the mouse button, selected layer moves up in the stack of layers that have been activated. Works like the “Bring Forward” function found

in many graphics programs. Should be considered if a selected layer doesn’t appear as anticipated.

Move Layer Down on the Stack (one left click of mouse button) – With each click of the mouse button, selected layer moves down in the stack of layers that have been activated. Works like the “Send Backward” function found in many graphics programs.

Fade Layer (one left click of mouse button) – With each click of the mouse button, selected layer becomes progressively less visible until it disappears altogether.

Unfade Layer (one left click of mouse button) – With each click of the mouse button, selected layer becomes progressively more visible until original design settings are restored. Works to reverse use of the

“Fade Layer” feature.

Show Legend for (Layer) (toggles on/off with one left click of mouse button) – First click of mouse button causes icon for the selected layer (e.g. fire stations, hospitals, police stations, or schools) to be displayed

directly beneath the respective legend line. Can take up to 3 seconds to appear.

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Catalog Tab - Basic Layer ControlsHelp!

Search Tab Features

Search Tab Features: These three basic search features are used to re-center the main viewing window on a specific geographic coordinate.

Zoom to Lat/Long – By entering the latitude (Lat) and Longitude (Lon) coordinates for a point inside Minnesota, and left clicking “Go!” the view in the main window will re-center on the entry. Format for entry is in tens. For example, N45o30’00” latitude would be entered as 45.50; whereas W90o45’00” longitude would be entered as -90.75. Please note that by convention, longitude in the Western Hemisphere must be entered as a negative number. Lat/Lon is normally used for large area navigation by ships and aircraft. Consequently, it is the primary way to relate location to airborne platforms during emergencies.

Zoom to USNG – By entering the U.S. National Grid (USNG) coordinates for a point inside Minnesota, and left clicking “Go!” the view in the main window will re-center on the entry. Format for entry is full coordinate without spaces for the specificity required. For example, to find the tip of the spire on the Minnesota State capital building, enter 15TVK919291779624 (.33 feet). To find the 10 kilometer grid square in which the Minnesota Capital building is located, enter 15TVK9070. Inside the United Sates, USNG is functionally equivalent to the NATO standard, world-wide Military Grid Reference System (MGRS) used by the Department of Defense. Because of its simplicity, the FGDC, FEMA and National Search and Rescue Committee have recommended its adoption as the way to relate the location of ground based response assets and requirements during emergencies.

Zoom to UTM 15N – By entering the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) coordinates for a point inside Minnesota and left clicking “Go!” the view in the main window will re-center on the entry. Minnesota is in zone 15 and in the Northern hemisphere, thus the designation 15N. Entry is straight numeric. For example, Easting 482000, Northing 4970000, is roughly the center of the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. UTM coordinates are traditional used by the surveying community to simplify complex calculations.

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Help!

Services Tab Features: Various specialized data base query and modification functions can be performed using the features that automatically load under the Services tab. These items are normally associated with special features built into the platform. However, “Loading” occurs as a matter of basic functionality.

Loading (Services feature normally opens automatically – can be opened manually with one left click of mouse button) – Default display that appears if the Services tab is opened manually with no service previously selected from the available options.

Services Tab Features

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Help!

Results Tab Features: Used to display the results of two basic data base queries. Opens automatically as appropriate for the query being performed.

Measure Length – Opens automatically when the Measure feature of the Toolbar is left clicked once. Results are displayed after mouse pointer is placed over a point of origin for measurement in the main window, left clicked once, and then followed by the pointer being placed over a subsequent point and left clicked again. Multiple off angle segments (twisting road) can be linked together by using multiple clicks. “Total Length" shows cumulative distance of all segments selected. “Segment Length” shows length of the most recent selection. For lines with multiple segments, individual segment lengths are shown in a listing below the “Clear” button. Available “Units” for display via the drop down menu are: Feet, Yards, Meters, Miles and Kilometers.

Measure Area – Opens automatically when the Measure Area feature of the Toolbar is left clicked once. Results are displayed after mouse pointer is placed over a point of origin for measurement in the main window, left clicked once, followed by the pointer being placed over at least two subsequent points and left clicked again over each. “Total Area" shows cumulative size of the selected area in the main window. “Segment Area” readout shows the size of the most recent addition to the total area. The respective sizes of sequential selections are shown in a listing below the “Clear” button. Available “Units” for display via the drop down menu are: Acres, Feet2, Yards2, Meters2, Miles2 and Kilometers2.

Results Tab Features

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Help!

X,Y: In UTM coordinates, shows running location of the mouse point tip in the main window. Coordinates change as mouse pointer is moved.

Lat, Lon: In latitude and longitude coordinates, shows running location of the mouse point tip in the main window. Coordinates change as mouse pointer is moved.

USNG: In U.S. National Grid coordinates, shows running location of the mouse point tip in the main window. Coordinates change as mouse pointer is moved.

Scale Window: Shows current scale of the main window. As the “Zoom In”, “Zoom Out”, Onscreen Scale Bar, or any other feature that changes distance from a given point is used, the numbers in the Scale Window will correspondingly change. A “close view” of an point will show a small number, while a “distant view” will show a large number.

Scale Popup Window: By left clicking on the down chevron located on the right side of the Scale Window, a popup window of preset scale selections will appear. Scale of the main window display can be changed by using one of these selections, or by typing a different scale in the scale window. In feet, the preset scales are: 1:12,000; 1:2400, 1:1200 and 1:120.

Pointer Coordinate Bar/Scale Window Features

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Help!

Re-center Screen Up/Down/Left/Right: Found in the upper left hand corner of the main window and spatial edit map viewer. Left clicking once on a half arrow along the edge of the control will re-center the main window approximately ½ the screen width or height of the direction selected. Similar to the “Pan Hand” and “Navigate” features except the main window re-centers based on a predetermined distance for the selected scale.

Scale Bar: Found in the upper left hand corner of the main window. Two modes of operation:

– Center Tab Follow: As scale of the main window is changed using other features such as Zoom In/Out, Scale Window Popup selection or scroll of the mouse wheel, the blue tab of the gray center bar will move up or down indicating the relative change in scale.

– Center Tab or End Tabs Active: Two “always on” features of the Scale Bar can be used to actively change the scale of the view in the main window:

1.) Left click on the blue tab of the gray center bar and hold down the mouse button while sliding the blue tab up or down the bar. The view in the main window will change in scale to follow the movement. Closer to the “Plus” will yield a closer view in the main window. Closer to the “Minus” will yield a more distant view in the main window.

2.) Left click once on either the “Plus” or “Minus” to change view in the main window. Closer to the “Plus” will yield a closer view in the main window. Closer to the “Minus” will yield a more distant view in the main window. The blue center tab of the gray scale bar will Center Tab Follow these selections.

Onscreen Features

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Help!

Special Layers: In addition to the basic layers provided with this system, the following special layers have been provided:

Available PDF Maps Folder – Contains the available layers of PDF hardcopy maps

1 Kilometer Layer – Graphically shows availability of high resolution 1 kilometer USNG responder maps for the state’s high density urban areas – availability limited to those jurisdictions that have submitted this product to MnGeo. Scale is 1:6,000. Future enhancement.

10 Kilometer Layer (Blue Line) – Graphically shows availability of low resolution 10 kilometer USNG general orientation maps for the entire state as produced by MnGeo. Scale is 1:24,000. Maps are in GeoPDF “smart” map format with selectable layers capable of supporting an “aerial view” moving map display on a GPS enable laptop or hand held. Blue annotation in the middle of each square is the USNG coordinate for the lower left corner of that grid.

MN Structures Folder – Contains the Minnesota structure layers available for display and edit.

Fire Stations Layer – When selected, associated icon is placed over all fire stations in the system data base

Hospitals Layer - When selected, associated icon is placed over all hospitals in the system data base

Police Stations Layer - When selected, associated icon is placed over all police stations in the system data base

Schools Layer - When selected, associated icon is placed over all K-12 schools in the system data base

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Catalog Tab - Special LayersHelp!

Special Controls: As appropriate, in addition to basic controls, special controls have been provided to manage the unique features of the special layers. Additional information about these controls are provided with the detailed discussion of each special feature.

Show Popups for (Structure Layer) (toggles on/off with one left click of mouse button) – Left click once to place check mark in box and activate the respective layer popups in the main window. Associated layer must also be toggled on for this feature to work. Left click again to turn off the respective popup feature in the main window.

Popups Active For (Structure Layer) (toggles off/on with one left click of mouse button) – Popups for the associated structure layer have been turned on. Associated layer must also be toggled on for this feature to

work. Left click once to remove check mark in box and deactivate the respective popups in the main window.

Create a Point in the (Structure Layer) (one left click of mouse button) - One click of mouse button opens the “Create Feature” function of the Services Tab. Used to create a record for a new structure in the respective layer. See discussion under the Services Tab for details.

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Catalog Tab - Special ControlsHelp!

Search Buildings: One of four special features built into this application. Used to search for a specific structure in the data base. Group searches are also allowed, providing a means to search for all structures within a particular geographic area.

Search Building Control (toggles on/off with one left click of mouse button) – Activates Search Buildings service that will appear under the Services Tab. Located to the right of the basic

toolbar controls.

Search Buildings Services - Displayed automatically under the Services tab when the binocular icon on the Toolbar is left clicked once. Currently, searches require EXACT entry of spelling, including case, to achieve a match. Entry of text in only one field is acceptable (e.g. “Zip”). Searching by zip code or other generic items will display all structures in the data base for that entry. Items will be grouped by type: schools, hospitals, etc. Activated by left clicking “Go!” after entry of text. Results appear under the Results tab and immediate “zoom to’ the structure is possible by selecting the associated “Pan to Building” control. See below. Additional searches require additional clicks of the binocular icon on the toolbar.

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Search Buildings Help!

Find PDF Maps: One of four special features built into this application. Used to search for a library of GeoPDF USNG maps covering the entire state of Minnesota.

Find PDF Maps Control (toggles on/off with one left click of mouse button) – Located to the right of the basic toolbar controls. Activation opens Find USNG PDF Maps feature under Services tab. Four different additional features become active as a result:

- Navigate: Toggle on radio button, then re-center display in main window by depressing and holding left mouse button and dragging desired viewing area to the center of the screen.

- Draw Point: Toggle on radio button, then left click once on a point of interest. The hyperlink to the available PDF map for that location will appear in the Results tab.

- Draw Line: Place mouse pointer over point of origin to start a line and left click once. Then place mouse pointer over next point along a line of advancement and double left click. Hyperlinks to the available PDF map(s) along that line will appear in the Results tab.

- Draw Polygon (shape): Place mouse pointer over point of origin for area you wish to draw, left click once. Repeat on additional points to define perimeter of total area. On last point, quickly double click TWICE to set area. Hyperlinks to the available PDF map(s) within the defined area will appear under the Results tab. See below.

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Find PDF Maps IHelp!

PDF Maps Available for the Selected Area - Hyperlinks for available hard copy USNG PDF maps are displayed automatically when the “Find USNG PDF Maps” feature of the Services tab has been activated using the “Draw Point”, “Draw Line” or “Draw Polygon” features. Normally one hyperlink will be provided for a “Draw Point” selection, while multiple hyperlinks will appear for a “Draw Line” or “Draw Polygon” selection (provided they “touch” more than one available grid map). Left clicking once on any provided hyperlink will open the associated GeoPDF map file in a separate window. The file can then be viewed, printed and/or downloaded using standard PDF functions. If multiple hyperlinks are shown under the Results tab, additional maps can be viewed, printed and/or downloaded by repeating the process. The screen shot below is representative of a “Find USNG PDF” search for a large area with multiple available maps. The layers feature of the selected GeoPDF has also been opened to show the capability of this type of map.

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Find PDF Maps IIHelp!

Create Feature: One of four special features built into this application. Used to create a record for a new structure in the respective layer.

Create Feature Control: Located at the very end of the respective layer controls found under the Catalog tab. One click of mouse button opens the “Create Feature” function of the Services Tab. Four different features are available:

- Navigate: Toggle on radio button, then re-center display by depressing and holding left mouse button and dragging desired viewing area to the center of the screen.

- Draw Point: Toggle on radio button, then left click once in the main window to designate a point of interest. Then left click “Next”. A new window will open that will allow the point to be named and saved in the data base.

- Draw Line: Toggle on radio button, then place the mouse pointer over a point of origin to start a line and left click once. Repeat single left clicks until the entire line of interest has been drawn – then double left click the last point to finish the line segment. To finish, left click “Next” and new window will open that will allow the line to be named and saved in the data base.

- Draw Polygon (shape): Toggle on radio button, then place mouse pointer over a point of origin for the area you wish to draw and left click once. Repeat single left clicks until the entire area of interest has been drawn – then double left click the last point to finish the polygon. To finish, left click “Next” and a new window will open that will allow the line to be named and saved in the data base.

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Create Feature Help!

Overview: By left clicking once on the Popup icon (found in the catalog view), for any active structure layer (box checked), detailed information about the structures in that layer become available via an onscreen popup feature. For any given structure, this onscreen popup feature will open in the main window by left clicking once on the layer icon found over the structure. Within this popup, additional controls are available that can be used to see expanded information about the structure or edit information about the structure. One of four special features built into this application

The screen shot below is of the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport with the following items selected (and visible): Minnesota Farm Service Agency (FSA) aerial imagery, Available PDF Maps 10KM layer, Fire Station layer, and Fire Station Popups. The fire station icon for the airport’s southern fire station has been left click once to show the popup for that structure.

Popups - Overview

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Help!

Edit Feature Control: Left clicking on the associated hyperlink a new window will open where detailed information can be entered concerning the structure. These entries correspondingly update

the appropriate structures data base and can be viewed or downloaded by others with system access. They are also used to update the location of structures found on the GeoPDF maps available from this system. An expanded discussion is provided

under “Popup – Edit Feature”.

Show Details Control: Left clicking on the associated hyperlink will open a new window where detailed

information about the structure can be viewed. Information shown represents the extent of the data in the system for that structure. An “Edit” at the bottom of the window has been provided to open the “Edit Feature” as described above. An expanded discussion is provided under “Popup – Show Details Feature”.

Scroll Bar Control: By left clicking and holding down the mouse button while the pointer is positioned over the light blue scroll bar, the popup scroll bars can be moved up and down, to view all information about a structure inside the popup. Information shown in the popup is the same as is available from the “Show Details” feature when opened in a separate window.

Close Popup Control: Left clicking once on the white “X” in the red box will close the popup and allow another popup to be opened and viewed. Alternately, left clicking once on another structure’s icon will automatically close the popup that is currently open. In other words, only one popup can be open at a time.

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Popups – Control Features

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Help!

Location Editing Features: When activated using the popup “Edit Feature” hyperlink, a new window will open where detailed information can be entered concerning the structure associated with the popup. This Editing

Feature window has two main parts as shown to the left:

Text Editing. A column of site specific information in textual format. All blocks can be edited, with entry of data self evident. Where feasible, “pick-list” drop down menus of available selections have been provided. Expanded definitions and nature of entry are available for each item through a hyperlink embed in the row name. Items of data being collected will be able to fulfill the emergency preparedness and response needs of a wide variety of end users including local responders and law enforcement, Minnesota National Guard, Minnesota DNR (Firewise), DTRA, HSEM, FEMA, and DHS. After all available information has been entered into the appropriate fields, data is saved by left clicking once on the “Update” button in the lower left hand corner of the screen.

Geospatial Editing. This part of the Editing Feature is used to verify system coordinates for the structure associated with the popup. An orange dot represents the location of the coordinates in the system. The dot should appear at the center of mass for the building. The following sequence shows the Geospatial Editing feature in use.

Popups – Location Editing Features

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Help!

Popups – Geospatial Editing Features/Controls

Geospatial Editing Features/Controls are as follows:

Re-center Screen Up/Down/Left/Right: Works as described for the corresponding feature in the main window (see Onscreen Features). Re-centers viewing area based on the number of left clicks to a half arrow.

Plus/Minus View: Zooms in/out as described for the “Plus’ and “Minus” feature of the Scale Bar found on the main window (see Onscreen Features). Distance changes with each left click of the mouse button. Second screen shot below shows “Plus In” on the screen shot to the left.

Running Coordinate Indicator: Like the Pointer Coordinate Bar below the main window, shows running location of the mouse pointer tip. Top set of numbers are UTM, bottom set is latitude/longitude.

Orange Dot: System location of the specific structure opened for editing.

Layer Control Button: Opens or closes a menu of available layers that can be used in the spatial editing viewer. One left click on the “+” opens the menu, one left click on the “-” closes the menu. Options for the base layer – the layer over which the location of the structure is shown – are:

1.) State FSA Aerials (default layer), and

2.) OpenStreet Map

Only one base layer can be shown at a time. On/off is selected using radio buttons. The view of structures in the overlay can be turned off/on by using a check box in the menu.

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Help!

Popups – Geospatial Editing Features/Controls II

Geospatial Editing Features/Controls “drag and drop” being used to update the location of a structure:

Navigate: Default selection is radio button on. Works like all other selections of “Navigate” in the application. View in window can be re-centered by depressing and holding left mouse button and dragging desired viewing area to the center of the screen.

Modify Feature: Selecting the “Modify Feature” radio button arms a “drag and drop” location editing feature of the application. Rather than changing system coordinates by textual entry, the location of any structure can be modified by dragging and dropping the associated dot at a new location. Steps are as follows:

1.) Double left click the Orange Dot denoting the structures location. The dot’s color will change from orange to blue. (Upper graphic)

2.) With mouse pointer over the blue dot, press down and hold the left mouse button while dragging the blue dot to the new location. (Lower graphic)

3.) When blue dot is centered on the structure that represents the true location for the associated record, double left click the dot to reset system information.

4.) Save new location by left clicking the “Update” key in the lower left-hand side of the screen.

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The Emergency Preparedness Committee (EPC) of the Minnesota Statewide Geospatial Advisory Council is the state’s principal organization for promoting, coordinating, and standardizing GIS use across all levels of the state's Emergency Management and first response communities. It is a volunteer organization of 200 members representing the public safety, emergency management, and GIS communities who have an interest in using GIS for emergency preparedness and response. Membership includes individuals from federal, state, and local government, as well as educational, public and private enterprise that advance the committee’s work through efforts focusing on education, outreach, data, “Go Team” and Next Generation 911. It is believed to be the largest state based organization of its type. Learn more: http://www.mngeo.state.mn.us/committee/emprep/index.html

The Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) is an interagency committee that promotes the coordinated development, use, sharing, and dissemination of geospatial data on a national basis. This nationwide data publishing effort is known as the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI). The NSDI is a physical, organizational, and virtual network designed to enable the development and sharing of this nation's digital geographic information resources. FGDC activities are administered through the FGDC Secretariat, hosted by the U.S. Geological Survey.Learn more: http://www.fgdc.gov/

GeoMOOSE is an open source Web Client Javascript Framework for displaying distributed cartographic data that was developed in Minnesota in the early 2000’s. It was subsequently enhanced through a previous FGDC grant in 2005. GeoMOOSE has a number of strengths including modularity, configurability, and delivers a number of core functionalities in its packages. GeoMOOSE is also very light weight for servers making it easy to handle a large number of users, with a large number of layers, and a large number of services without stressing a server.

Learn more: http://www.geomoose.org/moose/

GeoPDF is a published extension (OGC 08-139r1) to the Adobe PDF file format, from TerraGo Technologies. It is used to present GIS and mapping data in a standard Adobe Systems PDF. This extension adds a coordinate transformation matrix and other metadata to allow transformation of PDF coordinates to a projected Cartesian coordinate system. GeoPDFs often include other advanced PDF features such as layers and object data which can add significant GIS functionality to the file, particularly when used with the TerraGo Technologies plugin to Adobe Reader. Learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GeoPDF

About I

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About II

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The Minnesota Geospatial Information Office, known as MnGeo, was established in May 2009 as the first state agency with legislatively defined responsibility for coordinating GIS within Minnesota. It was created based upon a recommendation made by the Drive to Excellence Sub-Cabinet to pursue an enterprise strategy to implementing GIS within the state. Drive to Excellence is a high-level state-government reform program that recommends government reforms that improve government services. MnGeo succeeds the Land Management Information Center (LMIC). Created in 1977 as the first state agency anywhere exclusively devoted to providing GIS services within state government, LMIC's role evolved from a project-oriented program to Minnesota's "ad hoc" GIS coordinating organization. With the passage of legislation to create MnGeo, LMIC ceased to exist. However, all of LMIC's functions essential to MnGeo's coordination responsibilities, along with LMIC's resources, were transferred to the new office.

Learn more: http://www.mngeo.state.mn.us/

SharedGeo is a startup non-profit with a mission to facilitate sharing and use of geospatial information among governmental, non-profit, educational, and corporate entities for public safety, health, preparedness, and other public benefits. It does this by providing technical expertise, research, facilities, education, grants, and products, including open-source software and web services. Similar in concept to the non-profit business model used by several large educational institutions to bring the potential financial value of academic research and discoveries back to the respective institution, SharedGeo has been set up to allow the value of inventive products and processes created by geospatial personnel working in the public sector to be captured, amplified with donations, and then cycled back to public sector geospatial community for the greater good.  In effect, one dollar in income or donation becomes amplified many times over as the flow of money back to the public sector creates further inventive efforts and subsequent income stream that accelerates the cycle.  Within this business model, SharedGeo also seeks to invent, expand and distribute open source geospatial software and support in a way that facilitates access for communities and professions where cost is a deterrent. Learn more: https://www.sharedgeo.org/Plone

The U.S. National Grid (USNG) is an effort to interlock GIS, GPS and the basic hand map in a way that creates a uniform, easy-to-use methodology for quickly geo-locating points with a high degree of accuracy. It has been endorsed by FEMA, the Federal Geographic Data Committee, and several other major organizations with an interest in geospatial awareness during disasters.

Learn more: http://www.gis.state.mn.us/committee/emprep/download/USNG/index.html

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About This Project:

This geospatial prototype was funded by the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) as part of an overall Cooperative Agreements Program (CAP) grant to MnGeo and the Emergency Preparedness Committee (EPC) for years 2008-2009. However, this application was not the primary focus of the grant. Instead, this application is only part of an effort designed to bring together the geospatial and emergency preparedness/response communities for the better good by facilitating advancement of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI).

The NSDI Cooperative Agreements Program is an annual program to assist the geospatial data community through funding and other resources in implementing the components of the NSDI. It is open to State, local and Tribal governments, academia, commercial, and non-profit organizations and provides small seed grants to initiate sustainable on-going NSDI implementations. Learn more: http://www.fgdc.gov/grants

Program code was written by the programmers at SharedGeo, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit, using GeoMOOSE open source software.

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