Overview
Working with Layers and Map Contents
Using the Toolbar
Identifying Features on the Map
Tips and Tricks
Still Need Help?
Overview
Interactive map applications at the Washington State Geologic Information Portal allow you to create custom maps, find more information about map features, and download some of the data displayed on the map.
* Some of the features of the interactive maps rely on pop-up windows, so please turn off any pop-up blockers. *
The application window consists of three main parts:
Map Contents
This area on the left side of the application window shows all of the map layers available for display in the Map Area, as well as which layers have data available for download. For more information on the Map Contents area, please see 'Working with Layers and Map Contents' below.
Toolbar
The toolbar contains several tools to help you find the map area you want and find out more information about particular map features. For more information on the toolbar, please see 'Using the Toolbar' below.
Map Area
This is the main area of the application window, and displays a map according to what area you have zoomed to and what layers you have turned on in the Map Contents area.
Working with Layers and Map Contents
The Map Contents area appears to the left of the map, and shows all of the map layers available for view. A map layer is a type of data shown on the map, such as roads, cities, or a satellite image. You use the Map Contents area to turn on and off layers, examine the symbols for layers, and download data (where available).
Map layers are organized into groups. Each group has a plus or minus button next to it, which allows you to display or hide the list of map layers within that group. A check box next to each layer name indicates whether the layer is currently turned on. You can click the check box next to a layer name to turn the layer on or off. Once you have turned one or more map layers on or off, click the "Refresh Map" button to redraw the map to reflect the changes in layer visibility.
Some layers may not be visible at the current map scale (zoom level). These layers are called 'scale dependent'. The names of layers that are not visible at the current map scale display in gray italics. You may need to zoom the map in or out to see a particular layer displayed, even if its check box is checked to draw.
If a layer has an icon resembling an eye 
next to the name, this means that this layer may obscure other layers marked with this icon if they are displayed at the same time. To view each map layer clearly, we recommend that you avoid displaying more than one layer marked with this icon at a time. Please note that it is possible to have more than one of these layers checked at the same time but still have only one of them display, if the scale dependency of those layers causes only one of them to be visible.
If a layer has an arrow 
next to the name, you can click on the arrow to download a data file for that layer for use in your geographic information system. Please note that each data file contains the data and metadata only (points, lines, or polygons, with associated attributes and metadata), and does not include symbology. You will need to apply your own symbology within your geographic information system.
If a layer has a star 
next to the name, you can click on the star to display a pop-up window showing a legend for the layer. The legend may display a single symbol or multiple symbols for the layer.
Using the Toolbar
The toolbar allows you to interact with the map using various tools, as well as search a bibliographic database for geologic references covering the area of interest. To use a tool in the toolbar, click on the tool you want to use. Some tools do an action immediately upon clicking the toolbar, while others require that you then click on the map; see the instructions below for using each individual tool. The results of using a tool depend on the tool. The map appearance may change, such as zooming in or out, or results may appear in a pop-up window, such as with the Identify tool.
Zoom In
Click and drag a rectangle: Click and hold the left mouse button down on the map at one corner of the area to you want to zoom in to. Drag the mouse to the opposite corner of the area to draw a rectangle, and release the mouse button. The map zooms in to the area of the rectangle.
Zoom Out
Click and drag a rectangle: Click and hold the left mouse button down on the map, drag the mouse to draw a rectangle, and release the mouse button. The map zooms out so that the current map area fits into the rectangle you drew. The smaller the rectangle you draw, the more the map zooms out.
Pan (Recenter)
Click and drag the map: Click and hold the left mouse button on the map, and drag the map. The location you clicked on moves to the location where you released the mouse button, recentering the map.
Full Extent
Full extent: Immediately zooms the map out to the area of all features and layers. The active tool does not change.
Identify
Click to identify: Click with the left mouse button on the map. A small icon is added to the map and a pop-up widow displays more information about the feature(s) you clicked on. See Identifying Features on the Map for more information on how to use the identification information.
Overview Map
Show or hide state overview: Shows or hides a small window showing the entire map extent, including a red box indicating the current map view. Please note that the overview map does not allow panning by dragging the red box.
Area Search
Search by area: Displays a pop-up window allowing you to zoom to and highlight a particular county, township, 7.5-minute quadrangle, 1:100,000-scale quadrangle, or latitude and longitude location. Select the type of area you want to zoom to from the drop-down list, and then select the particular area from the additional drop-down list(s) that appear.
Bibliography Search
Search a bibliographic database: Displays a pop-up window allowing you to search a bibliographic database of geologic references, based on a selected area (county, 7.5-minute quadrangle, or 1:100,000-scale quadrangle). Select the type of area you want to search on, and then select the particular area from the additional drop-down list(s) that appear.
Current Scale
Change the scale of the map view: Click on a scale value in the drop-down list to zoom to that scale. Or, click "Other" in the drop-down list to type in a custom scale that you want to zoom to. For example, to zoom to 1:40,000, click "Other" in the drop-down list, type in "40000", and press Enter. Note that when entering a custom scale, you must not include any commas.
Identifying Features on the Map
If you want to get more information about a feature on the map, you can do so using the Identify tool. To identify a feature, click the Identify button in the toolbar. Click on the feature you want to identify. An identify icon will be placed on the map at the location clicked. After a few moments, a pop-up window will display the coordinates of the location clicked, the names of layers where features were found at the location clicked, and details on each of those features.
Tips and Tricks
- If you want to move from one area of the map to another, it may be faster to zoom to full extent and use the Zoom In tool on the area you want, rather than using the Pan tool to drag the map.
- If your mouse has a scroll wheel, rolling the wheel forward will zoom in, while rolling the wheel back will zoom out.
- If the map has trouble loading, try closing and restarting your browser.
Still Need Help?
If you still need help using our interactive maps, or have a comment or question, please contact us (see above right for contact information).