MAPS Atlas -- A Land and Climate Evaluation System

Viewing Interactive Maps

The maps described below can be viewed interactively from your web browser. You will be able to zoom in, zoom out, identify features and perform several other interactive map operations. Just click on the link in the MAP TITLE and the map will be "served" from our end using Arc Internet Map Server software (ArcIMS). ArcIMS, designed by ESRI, was developed to allow web users to view GIS maps without the need to download special software for their computers. 

Tips for viewing interactive maps . . .

1. If your map comes up in a small window, and you want to make it larger, try these steps
    a.  Maximize the window immediately after you click the link from the MAPS Atlas page
    b.  Refresh the map

    c.  If neither of the above work

        i. Copy the link from the current window into a new, maximized window
        ii. Press Control-C to copy
        iii. Press Control-V to paste

 

2. Important!  Before turning on the MAPS Cells, Townships or Sections layers, zoom into a small area of the map.  Otherwise, the map will take a long time to draw.       

3. Tool bar: Move your mouse cursor over any one of the tools at the left of the map window. A description of what the tool does will appear in a pop-up window.

4. Legend/LayerList tool: The top tool on the left toggles between the map legend and a list of its layers. In order to choose which layers will be visible and to designate the active layer, the LayerList must be displayed. 

5. Identify tool: The seventh tool down on the left is the "identify" tool (a black circle with a white i inside). It allows you to view the attributes of a feature (such as a county, a road, a river, or a MAPS cell) by clicking on it. In order for this tool to work, the circle next to the layer name in the table of contents on the right side of the map must be selected, indicating that the layer is active. To identify a feature, zoom in to the area of interest, click on the identify tool, then place your mouse cursor over the feature you want to identify, and click on the feature. A list of its attributes will appear. Values for the 150 MAPS attributes can be viewed only when the MAPS Cells layer is active. 

6. When you turn layers on or off, you must refresh the map to display your changes.

7. If you are viewing the interactive maps over a telephone line Internet connection, it will be SLOW. You should find a computer with a fast Internet connection.

<< Return to MAPS Atlas Home

MAP TITLE: Montana Agricultural Potentials System (MAPS) Base Map
This map shows the boundaries of all the MAPS cells in the state of Montana, along with reference layers such as roads, rivers, section lines, etc. Try zooming into a small area and using the identify button to view all 150 attributes for an individual MAPS cell.

MAP TITLE: Average Number of Strong Chinooks per 100 years
CONTENT: Illustrates the average number of strong Chinooks per 100 years (compiled 1978).
MAP UNIT LEGEND: Map values range from 0-300 and delineate Chinook frequency per 100 years.
MAP PURPOSE: Chinook frequency is useful when considering areal difference in winter climates of the state.

MAP TITLE: Mean Annual Precipitation
CONTENT: Illustrates average annual precipitation distribution based on the thirty year period of 1941-70. This map is considered to be the best statewide average annual precipitation map available (compiled 1978).
MAP UNIT LEGEND: In low precipitation areas (6-20 inch annual rainfall) 2 inch increments are used, in moderate precipitation areas (20-40 inches) 10 inch increments are used, and in high precipitation areas (40-120 inches) 20 inch increments are used.
MAP PURPOSE: The Average Annual Precipitation Map is used by resource planners to optimize water resource planning and development.

MAP TITLE: Soil Water Holding Capacity (STATSGO)
CONTENT: Illustrates a soil's capacity for plant available water. Available water is the amount of water in a soil that can be absorbed by plant roots (compiled 1992).
MAP UNIT LEGEND: Inches.
MAP PURPOSE: Useful in soil conservation, determining a soil's productive capacity, and irrigation management.

<< Return to PLACES Home

MSU-Bozeman

This page was last updated on July 2, 2001.