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Geographic Perspectives - Pacific Basin

Web Mapping (GIS): Using Spatial Data to Explore Hawaii's Biodiversity

PBIN Web Mapping Service
The PBIN Web Mapping Service. Image: PBIN (Public Domain)

The PBIN web mapping service facilitates the exploration of biological data through a geographic interface. This tool has a high degree of functionality and some advanced GIS capability. Users can identify features, query data, create buffers, "mark up" the map interface with other relevant information and create a PDF map output. See the tutorial below to get started or -

GO TO THE WEB MAPPING SERVICE!

Web Mapping Tutorial

The Service has too many tools to list them all here, but following are some of the basic concepts. This information (and more!) can always be accessed by clicking the About tab (see below), and the help is always available by clicking the Help tab.

Tabs
When you open the map, you'll notice a number of "tabs" that control what information is displayed to the right of the map (

image of the tab bar ).

Clicking a tab does not alter the map display , but provides access to extended features such as the map's Legend , the list of available Data Layers that can be shown on the map, an overview map ( Key Map ), and Bookmarks that will zoom the map to either predefined areas (e.g. counties) or to areas that you define yourself.

Tools
Tools are displayed immediately under the tabs and are used to change the appearance of the map. In most cases, the tool you are currently using is outlined in red.
Default tools include:

• Zoom in tool Zoom in;

• Zoom out tool Zoom out;

• Zoom to Full extent tool Zoom to the map's full extent;

• Zoom to desired layer tool Zoom to the extent of a chosen layer;

• Zoom to last extent tool Zoom to the previous extent;

• Pan tool Pan the map (by grabbing and dragging it);

• Identify Tool Identify (or get information about) features on the active layer by clicking it;

• Advanced tools toolbox Access advanced tools (e.g. save a map, select features etc...)

Help
At any time, you can click the Help tab for more information about a particular tab, tool, or even a complete GIS tutorial (opens in a pop-up window).

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