How to use Web Fire Maps
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First choose your region of interest; there is a global coverage
as well as selected regions and countries to choose from. In order to open a
Web Fire map click on the region or country of your choice using the drop down menu at
the top of the page or by clicking on the Maps
link on the side menu or by scrolling over the world map.
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Check Box
When you click on a region or country link a new window will open
with a checkbox of all the GIS and satellite image layers available for
that selection. Check those layers that you would like to be visible when you open your map.
The active fires layer and country outlines will be selected by default.
Note: You should consider the speed of your internet connection when choosing layers
- loading a image layer can take a long time unless you have a relatively fast internet connection!
After selecting your layers, click the "Open Map" button to load the map
containing the layers of your choice.
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Map-Interface
Clicking the "Open Map" button leads into the
Web Map-interface .The first Map loaded contains the layers chosen. To the left
of the map is the toolbar to the right a legend and a date query. You can make query/analysis/change to the map by using the various tools within the
toolbar. Description of the individual tools currently available are as follows:
|
Tool |
Name |
Use |
|
 |
Layer/Legend Toggle |
Toggle between the
legend and layer list (The
legend/layer appears on the right side of the Web Map window)
|
|
 |
Zoom In |
Zooms-in by either clicking on the map or by drawing a box
around the region of interest
|
|
 |
Zoom Out |
Zooms-out either from a clicked position or by
drawing a box.
|
|
 |
Zoom to Full Extent |
Zooms to the full geographic extent of all
visible layers.
|
|
 |
Zoom to Last Extent |
Zooms to the previous map. It acts as a toggle
between the current map and the previously created map.
|
|
 |
Pan |
Click on the map and drag the cursor with the left
mouse button down. This will move the view extent in any direction.
Note: The pan button is disabled for the full extent of the region.
|
|
 |
Identify Feature |
Click on a map feature on the map
to display attribute information for the feature selected. The info
is shown in the area of the screen beneath
the map view. Note: The feature should be a part of the
Active layer. If you have problems using the Identify command, try clicking in the top left hand corner of the feature
|
|
 |
Query |
Performs a query on the Active layer
based on a criteria set by the user. Arithmetic and logical
operators could be used in performing the query. The service
searches the database for records matching the criteria and shows it
in the screen beneath the map view.
Note: the query will work on the full data set, not just for the selected area.
|
|
 |
Find |
Finds all the records containing the text matching
the search-string. The search is performed on the
Active layer . The matching records are shown in the screen
beneath the map view.
|
|
 |
Measure Distance |
Measure distances on the map view by clicking a
start and end location. The distance for the segment and the total
distance is displayed.
|
|
 |
Set Units |
Map Units could be changed to feet/ miles/
meters or kilometers.
|
|
 |
Clear Selection |
Clears currently selected/highlighted features from
the map.
|
|
 |
Print |
Prints the map and the legend currently in view. A
template is created before the actual map is printed.
|
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Date Query
Date query is used to select the time period
for which the MODIS active fire data is displayed. The start date and the
end date should be specified within the boxes and in the format specified below:
Note: After the dates have been input into the boxes, the "Display Fires" link or the "Refresh Map" link in the Layer List frame needs to be clicked to update the map for the changes.
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