Getting Started
View a brief video to learn how to use the features in Solar Mapper.
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Introduction
Solar Mapper is a web-based mapping tool that shows environmental data related to solar energy development in six southwestern states: California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona. Its purpose is to provide access to screening-level data about resources and constraints, with analysis tools to help improve siting decisions.
The map layers in this tool were used to prepare the Solar Energy Development Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS). Solar Mapper will be updated over time with new map layers and powerful analytical tools.
Layers
To get started, use the Layers widget to search, show, and hide map layers. Select a tab to choose how layers are listed. Use the plus and minus buttons to show and hide groups of layers. Click the check box next to a layer to make it visible on the map or to remove it from the map. The Active Layers tab on this widget lists the currently visible layers. Click the Legend tab to view a dynamic legend that shows the symbology for all displayed layers. The "i" button displays metadata information for the layer, including a text description, data source, database fields, and other details. Metadata opens in a new browser window, so pop-ups must be enabled to use this feature.
Navigation
The map navigation controls allow you to pan and zoom using several options. You can pan using buttons, zoom to the full extent of the study area, review your current history of views of the map (go back and forth), zoom using plus and minus buttons, zoom using a slider, and pan or zoom using tools that let you interact directly on the map. Use the drop-down menu to change the base map. Click the arrow in the lower right corner to view an overview map.
Locate
If you want to find a known area, use the Location tool to zoom to the location based on a place name, a street address, the Public Land Survey System, or latitude and longitude coordinates.
Bookmarks
The Bookmarks tool helps you zoom to a predefined location such as the full Solar PEIS study area, each of the six study states, or each of the Solar Energy Zones. You may also add your own bookmarks.
Identify
Use the Identify tool to get detailed underlying data for a specific map location within the displayed layers. Click the Identify tool to display its widget, and then click a point on the map to display the data. The drop down list at the top of the info window allows you to identify which information to display.
Use the Print tool to print a copy of the current map on your local printer.
Report
The Report tool provides detailed reports for a proposed project location drawn on the map. Reports planned for Solar Mapper include Land Jurisdictions and Protections, Ecological Resources, Visual Resources, and Water Resources. Reports open in a new browser window, so pop-ups must be enabled to use this feature. An Adobe PDF file version of the report can also be downloaded.
Two report types are currently available:
- USGS GAP Protected Areas Database Report: A summary of land jurisdictions and protected land categories based on the U.S. Geological Survey, Protected Areas Database
- Land Jurisdiction and Protected Areas Report: A summary of land jurisdictions based on Bureau of Land Management, Surface Management Agency data; and protected land categories based on a compilation of federal land management agency data.
Measure
Distances and areas can be measured on the map with the Measure tool using a variety of units.
Panoramas
The Panoramas widget displays the locations of interactive photographic panoramas. Panoramas in close proximity are clustered as a single icon with a label showing the number of panoramas available in that area. Hover over a cluster to view individual panorama icons. Click an icon to view a panorama. The panorama will open in a new window. If the panorama does not open, select the pan tool (hand icon) in the navigation controls, then click the panorama icon.
Click and drag on the interactive panorama or use the buttons to pan left, pan right, zoom in, and zoom out. Click the Close link to close the panorama window.
Additional Help
If this help page doesn't answer your questions about the Solar Energy Environmental Mapper, please contact solarmapper@anl.gov.