GeoFUSE Online Maps Help

GeoFUSE Online Maps is built on the familiar and ubiquitous Google Maps™ platform. As such, users familiar with Google Maps™ will find the interface to be simple and intuitive.

If you are new to using Google Maps™, we encourage you to explore Google™-provided help resources to provide you with a basic understanding of the interface.

› Google Maps™ Help Resources

GeoFUSE Online Maps Difference

GeoFUSE Online Maps differs slightly from Google Maps™ as the primary purpose of GeoFUSE Online Maps is to allow both novice and expert users alike to quickly locate and identify available GeoEye archive imagery around the globe.

› Getting Started
› Screen Layout

If this help documentation does not answer your questions, additional assistance can be obtained by sending an e-mail to GeoFUSE Support.

Getting Started

The following is a step-by-step tutorial on using GeoFUSE Online Maps.

1. Find a Place
   A GeoFUSE Online Maps session begins by finding a place of interest to you. Simply enter a place name or description (e.g., "Denver" or "Victoria, BC") in the space provided, and then click the Find button. For certain locations (primarily North America), you may also enter a street addresses or a zip code.
   
   The Google™ geocoder will resolve your place name or description and will relocate the map to the primary matching location. If you do not find your desired location, try entering a more specific descriptor(s).
   
   TIP: For those exploring the service for the first time, Featured Locations are provided that allow you to click on popular locations around the world.
   
   
2. Search the Image Catalog
   Once you have successfully located your place of interest, you can use the provided tools to manipulate the map and/or initiate a search of the GeoEye Image Catalog.
   
   

   		Point Tool The point tool initiates a search for GeoEye archive imagery that exists at the point clicked on the map.
   		Polygon Tool The polygon tool allows you to draw an area of interest on the map surface to search for GeoEye archive images that exist within the polygon you define. Complex polygons are limited to a maximum of 31 vertices and the maximum coverage area is limited 50,000 sq km.
   		Map Extent Tool The map extent tool allows you to initiate a search of all GeoEye archive images that exist within the map extent, meaning the visible boundaries of the map display. TIP: Use the zoom slider bar to adjust the map extent before clicking this tool.
   		Dynamic Pan Tool The dynamic pan tool does not initiate an Image Catalog search, but it allows you to move the map within the viewport (the boundaries of the map display) to fine-tune the area of interest displayed, either before or after searching for imagery.

   
   
3. Learn About GeoEye Imagery Products
   Once you have initiated a search of the GeoEye Image Catalog, the results of your search will be displayed in two ways: in a table to the left of the map and by gray image "footprints" overlaying the map. There are several operations you can perform at this point to learn more about the archive imagery footprints displayed:
   
   
   • Get Image Information
     For any images listed on the left side of the screen, click the Details link to display a bubble containing image details as well as links to additional information.
     
     
   • Turn Footprints On or Off
     Use the footprint icon to toggle footprints on and off of the map surface.
     
     
   • Turn Preview Images On or Off
     Use the image icon to toggle the display of preview images on and off. Low-resolution preview images are displayed on the map surface.
     
4. Additional Options
   
   

   		Help The Help icon directs you to this help page.
   		Clear The clear icon allows you to clear your Image Catalog search results and remove footprints and/or preview images from the map.
   		Download The download icon allows you to download the footprint data of your Image Catalog search results. All footprints that match your search are included in the downloaded file. The file can be downloaded in ESRI Shapefile, KMZ, HTML, or CSV format.
   		Search Preferences The Search Preferences icon allows you to specify search preferences relating to image collection date, cloud cover levels, and collection vehicle. These preferences can be applied to new searches and to filter existing search results.
   		PermaLink The PermaLink icon allows you to copy and paste the URL of your current map view into another browser instance, an e-mail, instant message or other document.

Screen Layout

Following is a diagram of the screen layout of the Online Maps application to include callouts detailing the screen elements.

1. Find a Place
   The Find a Place tab, which is the default view when you first enter the Online Maps application, can be clicked to return to the Find a Place function from within the Search Image Catalog tab.
   
   
2. Image Catalog Search Results
   Image Catalog Search results are displayed on the Search Image Catalog tab when you initiate an Image Catalog search. If no results are available, this is indicated by a status message.
   
   
3. Search Image Catalog
   The Search Image Catalog tab, which automatically becomes active once an Image Catalog search is initiated, can be clicked to return to the Image Catalog search results from within the Find a Place tab.
   
   
4. Image Catalog Search Results Paging Controls
   Clicking on paging controls will allow you to page forward and backward within the Image Catalog search results in the event that your results do not fit on a single page.
   
   
5. Zoom Control
   The zoom control, a standard Google Maps feature, allows you to zoom in and out of the map.
   
   
6. Search Tools
   The search tools allow you to dynamically pan the map and to initiate any one of the three different types of Image Catalog searches (detailed in "Getting Started" section).
   
   
7. Base Map
   The base map displays your area of interest and Image Catalog search results.
   
   
8. Footprints and Preview Images
   Image Catalog search results footprints are displayed on top of the map along with any selected image previews. Footprint and image previews can be turned on and off using the icons in the Image Catalog search results table to the left of the map.
   
   
9. Additional Tools
   Additional tool buttons allow you to access help, clear search results, download search results, set preferences, and PermaLink map views (detailed in "Getting Started" section).
   
   
10. Current Preferences
    The preferences area of the status bar shows the currently set search preferences. Click the Set Preferences icon to change these settings.
    
    
11. Area of Interest (AOI)
    The AOI area of the status bar shows the latitude and longitude of the selected Point of Interest (POI) or the area (in square kilometers) of your Area of Interest.
    
    
12. Mouse Pointer Position
    The current location area of the status bar shows the geographic location of the mouse pointer (latitude and longitude).