HELP DOCUMENT
Contents
1. Overview of functions in the mapping solution................................................................................. 3
2. Month selector................................................................................................................................... 6
3. Display in the map (Map layer selector 1) ......................................................................................... 7
4. I want to see data on (Resource selector) ......................................................................................... 8
5. Search................................................................................................................................................. 9
6. General buttons ............................................................................................................................... 10
7. Map tools..... .................................................................................................................................... 10
8. Map layer selector 2 (Map layers) .................................................................................................... 19
9. Miscellaneous ................................................................................................................................... 21
10. Details and analysis ........................................................................................................................ 22
User manual, mapping solution
1. Overview of functions in the mapping solution
The map page has many elements that have to be taken into account. Here is an overview (the
way it is used is explained in sections 2-9).
a) Month selector
The month selector remains fixed above the map and is designed as a filing card.
b) Display in the map (Map layer selector 1)
This map layer selector is uppermost to the left of the map.
c) Resource selector (“I want to see data on”)
This is under Display in the map, to the left of the map.
d) Place name or gridIDsearch (“Search”)
The place name or gridIDsearch is under the Resource selector to the left, within the map.
e) General buttons
These two buttons are placed lowermost to the left of the map.
f) Map tool buttons
This row of buttons is placed to the left within the map itself, just beneath the month selector
for January.
g) Legend
This information box is placed uppermost to the right of the map.
h) Map layer selector 2 (“Map layer”)
This map layer selector is placed lowermost to the right of the map, just beneath the Key.
i) Scale display
The map scale is displayed lowermost to the left, within the map.
j) Coordinate display
The coordinates are displayed in the map lowermost to the right, within the map.
2. Month selector
When you enter the map page for the first time, January is automatically selected. The month
selector has no function before you select a map layer in Map layer selector 1 (see 1b). If you,
for example, click the check box for “Environmental value” in Map layer selector 1 (“I want to
see data on”), the map will be filled with Environmental data for January. If you then click on
February in the month selector, the map will be filled with Environmental data for February
(provided Environmental value is still selected). A month will always be selected. Year has no
function in this solution, because the data are identical from year to year. In brief, the month
selector is used to select the month you want to see data for.
3. Display in the map (Map layer selector 1)
a) Environmental value
This box consists of two check boxes, “Environmental value” and “Uncertainty”. If you tick
“Environmental value”, environmental value data will fill the map. If you have not selected a
resource group, the data will be for all the resource groups (seabirds, marine mammals, fish
and habitats) and species linked with the resource groups. See Section 4 to find out how to
select to display environmental value data for specific resource groups and species.
b) Uncertainty
If you tick ”Uncertainty” (both check boxes can be selected simultaneously so that you can see
the results of both Environmental value and Uncertainty in the map), you will see that no data
appear in the map. The reason is simple. You have to select a resource group or a species to fill
the map with uncertainty data. This is explained in Section 4. When the check boxes are
activated, the key (see 1g) is filled with a scale explaining the various colours displayed in the
map, that a black line denotes the coverage and that Uncertainty is divided into No data, High,
Medium and Low (see the figure below).
The data in the map are divided into 10 x 10 km grids, and each grid has its own gridID (see
10b).
See our web site (http://www.havmiljø.no) for a detailed explanation of Environmental value
and Uncertainty.
4. I want to see data on (Resource selector)
The Resource selector has no function if you have not selected “Environmental value” or
“Uncertainty” beforehand under “Display in the map“ (see Section 3). There are four resource
groups: Seabirds, Marine mammals, Fish and Habitats. Here you can choose to see the data for
an entire resource group, Marine mammals, for example. In addition, you can choose to see
data for a single species in a resource group, the Grey seal, for example, which is in the Marine
mammals. You cannot select a species without selecting a resource group first. The data may
have considerable variations through the year and therefore do not need to be displayed in
certain months.
The figure below shows the Environmental value and Uncertainty selected for the resource
group Marine mammals and the species Grey seal for August.
See our web site (http://www.havmiljø.no) for more information on the resource groups.
5. Search
The map solution has a search field where you can write in free text to search for a place
name, Hvaler, for example, or a gridID (see 10b) if you know this. In this example, Hvaler is
used in the search field, press Enter on the key board or click the button to the right of the
search field. The result of the search will be displayed in the search field (see the figure below).
Here you can click on the most appropriate result for what you are seeking, and the map will
enlarge (zoom) and be centred on what you have selected. In this case, you click on “Hvaler,
Archipelago in the sea in Hvaler”. As you see in the figure below (display part of the map), the
map zooms into that point.
This may be useful if you are interested in a particular place or area, in the case of an oil spill,
for example. Search by using the gridID, if you already know which grid you want to display.
Subsection 10b explains how to find the gridID.
6. General buttons
These two buttons have a self-explanatory text. Clicking on the “<< Reset map “ button will
empty all the data from the map, remove selected resource groups and species, empty the
search box and remove all selected map layers. The ”? Help document” button opens this
document in a separate window.
7. Map tools
The map tools are used to perform functions directly in the map. Each button and its function
are explained here:
a) Hand
When you click this button, you can navigate around the map as you wish by clicking within
the map and simultaneously keeping the left mouse button depressed. In addition, a box will
be displayed uppermost in the row of buttons, which contains a brief explanation of the tool
that has been selected (this can be hidden by clicking “(hide)” in the top right of the box).
b) Zoom buttons
As the figure above shows, these are buttons for Zoom in (enlarge the map), Zoom right out
(return to the outset) and Zoom out (scale down the map). Here you do not need to click
within the map, but directly on the button, and this will not affect the data which the map is
already displaying. If some data disappear when you zoom out, this is because they cannot be
displayed at the zoom level you have chosen.
c) Grid tool
When you click on the grid tool, by clicking within the map, you can obtain detailed
information on the Environmental value for the grid (10 x 10 km) on which you have clicked
(the more you zoom in, the more distinct the grids will become, and it will therefore be easier
to select a specific grid). The information will be displayed in a ”balloon” (explained in 9a),
which will contain data depending on which criteria have been selected (Environmental value,
Uncertainty, Resource group and Species). A box will also be displayed at the top of the row of
buttons, which contains a brief explanation of the selected tool. To stop using this tool, click
once on the button that was chosen (it has an orange background).
d) Polygon tool
The use of the Polygon tool is bit more advanced than that of the Grid tool. You use this tool to
obtain information about an area that is larger than a grid (which is 10 x 10 km). The cursor
(the mouse indicator) transforms into a blue “circle” that sticks in one position. Click within the
map to start to draw the polygon. Click once more when you want to alter the direction of the
polygon. Continue until you have drawn the entire polygon. The polygon may then look like it
does in the figure below, for example.
To end the drawing of a polygon, double-click on the point where you think the polygon is
complete. This will open a ”balloon” (explained in 9a) which contains all the information on all
the grids within the polygon, depending on which criteria have been selected (Environmental
value, Uncertainty, Resource group and Species). See the figure below.
It is important to bear in mind that when you use the polygon tool, the lines in the polygon
must not cross. If you cross the lines, erroneous information may be displayed in the “balloon”,
or you may not receive any information whatsoever. To stop using this tool, click once on the
button that was chosen (it has an orange background).
e) Measure distance
The measure distance tool is used to measure distances on the map from one point to
another. When you click on it, a small square will appear which will sit “fixed” on the cursor. In
addition, a box will appear uppermost in the row of buttons, containing a brief explanation of
the tool that has been selected (this can be hidden by clicking “(hide)” at the top right of the
box). Click within the map where you want the measurement to start, and double-click where
you want it to stop (see the figure below).
The double-clicking will result in a new box (“Measurement result”) appearing to the left of the
map, beneath the “Search” box, and this contains the distance measured on the map (see the
figure below).
To stop using this tool, click once on the button that was chosen (it has an orange
background).
f) Surface area measurer
The surface area measurer measures a selected surface area in square kilometres (km2). When
you click on it, a small square will appear which will sit “fixed” on the cursor. In addition, a box
will appear uppermost in the row of buttons, containing a brief explanation of the tool that has
been selected (this can be hidden by clicking “(hide)” at the top right of the box). Click within
map where you want to start measuring the area. The area will be drawn in the same way as a
polygon (see 7d). Double-click when you have finished, and a box with the result
(“Measurement result”) will be displayed beneath the “Search” box to the left of the map (see
both figures below).
To stop using this tool, click once on the button that was chosen (it has an orange
background).
g) Image of the map
This tool permits you to store an image file of the map with the data you have chosen to
display. When you click on this tool, you will obtain a dialogue box (see the figure below) which
says that this operation may take a little time. How long it actually takes to generate the map
into an image will depend on how many data the map segment contains.
This tool will not be marked orange, because the operation begins with a single click.
h) Small-scale map
This button switches on and off the display of a small-scale map in the lowermost right corner
of the map (see the figure below, which shows a slightly enlarged version). It can be used
irrespective of which selection has been made, or which map tool you are working with.
8. Map layer selector 2 (Map layer)
This map layer selector consists of several groups, such as Background map, Petroleum and
Shipping. You can click on the name, and the group will expand and display the map layers
belonging to the group. Map layers are “layers” which stack on the existing map. They may
consist of completely new maps, such as nautical charts, or supplementary lines, areas, grids,
etc. If you select too many layers in the map layer selector, the layers will very likely interfere
with one another so that one or more will not be displayed or will be poorly displayed. The
“Nautical map” layer is shown in the figure below. It is in the “Background map” group.
The “Coral reef” layer has been added in the figure below. Coral reef is in the “Natural
environment” group.
The “Particularly Valuable Areas (PVAs) in the Norwegian Sea” layer has been added to the
figure below. This layer is in the “Natural environment” group (see the figure below).
Which map layers you select depends upon what you want to display on the map.
9. Miscellaneous
a) Balloon
This is an information box displayed on the map when you click within a grid, for example (see
7c), or draw a polygon (see 7d). You can see an example of a balloon in the figure below.
The resource groups and species found in the selected grid or polygon are displayed in the
“Group or Species”. The “% value” column shows the percentage values. This is explained in
the ”Method and data basis” article on our web site (http://www.havmiljø.no). If you want to
look more closely at the analyses and details for the selected grid or polygon, click the link
“View analyses of the area” lowermost in the balloon. Click the blue cross at the top right to
close the balloon.
b) Loading indicator
The loading indicator is a revolving circle with a text beneath it saying that data are being
loaded into the map. When this is displayed, it may take some seconds before the data are
visible in the map, so please be patient. Working with maps in an Internet solution is heavy
and complex. When the indicator is visible, you are recommended to let it complete its task
before undertaking a new operation on the page. The figure below shows the indicator.
10. Details and analyses
This page appears when you click “View analyses of the area” in the balloon.
a) Reset button
When you click this button, you return to the map as it was when the “View analyses of the
area” was clicked.
b) Area marker using gridID
The area marker shows where you have clicked inside the map. You can also see the gridID
here. A selected polygon covers several grids, and a list of these appears when gridID is
activated.
c) Resource selector
The content in the details page may change if a resource group and perhaps a species is
chosen. This will affect both the scale and the criteria table (see 10d and 10e).
d) Scale and scale explanation
This scale shows percentage values throughout the year for each resource group present in the
selection made in the map. An explanation of what the colours represent (see the figure
below) appears to the right of the scale.
You can click on this colour key. If you click on “Seabirds”, for example, the line representing
seabirds in the scale will be emphasised, as in the figure below.
It will thus be easier to see the whole line for seabirds selected here, because in some cases
several lines will have the same value. You can also hold the mouse cursor above the lines to
see the dates per month, as shown in the figure below.
e) Criteria table and explanation
The criteria table basically shows the month selected on the map page. It also has a month
selector above the table, where you can select which month you want to display the criteria
for. The figure below explains and describes each criterion. The various values are explained in
the article “Method and data basis” in our web site (http://www.havmiljø.no). The
descriptions of the criteria are placed to the right of the criteria table.
f) Specify the scale and the criteria table
As explained in 10d, only data for the resource groups are displayed in their entirety. You can
extend this by selecting a specific resource group and a species in the resource selector to the
left of the scale. In the example below, the resource group “Fish” and the species “Norwegian
spring-spawning herring - juveniles” have been selected.
This scale functions in exactly the same way as described in 10d. The criteria table at the foot
of the details page will also change, depending on selections made in the resource selector
(see the figure below).
g) Print-out of details
A print-out of the data on the details page can be obtained by clicking the “Printer” icon (see
the figure above). A PDF file will be generated, which can be stored for later use and/or
printed. The figure below shows an example of such a PDF file when it has been printed.
You are recommended to read the articles on our web site, http://www.havmiljø.no, for more
information on details concerning Environmental value.