GIS Explorer

Description

The GIS Explorer allows you to view and edit the map and its metadata. You can also set properties and filter controls for the map.

Do note that the GIS Explorer may be shared and can be used and accessed by GIS View in the dashboard. Also, do note that only users with mod-explorer privilege can access the GIS Explorer page and users with mod-explorer-edit privilege can edit the explorer. These users must be one of the roles selected in properties of the GIS Explorer.

Basic Functions

THe following are the basic functions of the GIS Explorer:

  • Zoom in and out
  • Turn on/off different layers
  • View information of the markers
  • Filter control selection

Zoom In/Out

You can zoom in and out of the map by clicking on the “+” and “-” icons on the upper left corner of the map.

Turn On/Off Layers

There are different types of layers, namely tile, geo and pin layers. For each type, more than one layer may be created. You can choose to select or turn these layers on or off. Depending on the setting, you may see the different layers or the “Layers” icon at the upper right corner of the map.

If the “Layers” icon is displayed on the map, hover over the “Layers” icon to display the different layers available for selection. Choose a different tile layer by selecting one of the radio buttons of the tile layers. Select the checkbox to turn on or unselect to turn off the geo and pin layer.

If the different layers are displayed on the map, simply select or unselect as desired.

The tile layers can be presented as tiles layers or purely as layers, while the geo and pin layers are presented as layers. When presented as tiles, only one tile can be chosen at any one time. When presented as layers (see below), multiple layers can be selected. In this case, ensure one of the tile layers are selected at any one time, or else an empty map will be displayed.

If the geo and pin layers are not selected, a bare map will appear with no markers or pins.

Do note that if the layer selection is not enabled, the “Layers” icon or the layers will not appear on the map.

View Information

Click on any marker on the map, the Information Panel will appear at the bottom of the page.

The actual information that appears will depend on the datasource chosen and how the “Info Filter” control is being set up for the selected marker. The sample shown here is mock up data and while it is intended to be realistic, does not represent any real people or situations.

The panel displays information of the selected marker. You can select one or more checkboxes to filter the markers on the map. For example, in this mock dataset, you can select “Nationality Malaysian” checkbox and the map will display all markers with Nationality that are Malaysian.

You can also use the “Proximity” field to filter the markers that are at a predefined distance from the currently selected marker. To do so, key in the desired distance and select the checkbox on the left of the “Proximity” field. The map will display the markers that are within the defined distance.

To close the panel, click on the “X” icon on the upper right corner of the panel or click on the selected marker.

Filter Control Selection

The filter control allows you to control the data to be displayed in the map. When the page is in edit mode, you can add, edit and delete the filter controls.

To access the filter control panel, click on the “>” icon on the upper left corner of the page to display the Filter Control Panel. Any filter control that are set as always visible will be displayed in the panel. Filter controls that are not set as visible works in the background.

Click on the icon on the left of the corresponding filter control to display the list of available options. Click on the checkboxes to select or unselect the options. The markers on the map will change according to your selection.

Depends on the type of filter control, there may be 2 buttons on the right of the filter control. The left button deselects all options. The right button inverts the selected options. This means that all options that are selected become deselected. Likewise, all options that are deselected become selected.

To close the filter control, click on the icon on the left of the corresponding filter control. Do note that the selection on the filter control will be reset once the filter control is closed.

Edit Mode

To edit the GIS Explorer, click on the “Edit” button at the upper right corner of the page.

In edit mode, the GIS Explorer page will display and allow edit on the following via their respective icons:

  • Filter Controls (left panel)
  • Map Properties (right panel)

Filter Controls

The Filter Control Panel is located on the left of the page. To access the filter controls, click on the icon in the upper right corner of the Filter Control Panel. The “Control Properties” dialog box will appear, listing all existing filter controls for the explorer. In the “Control Properties” dialog box, you can add, edit, delete and re-arrange the filter controls.

Add

To add a filter control, click on the “+” icon and a new filter control (new row) will be added.

Edit

To edit a filter control, click on the “…” icon next to the corresponding filter to display the “Control” dialog box.

There are several types of filter controls for GIS Explorer. The fields for each type of filter control differs. Refer to Controls for more details.

Delete

To delete the filter control, click on the icon.

Re-arrange

You can re-arrange/sort the filter controls by clicking on the and/or icons next to the corresponding filter controls. That will determine the order of the filter controls that will appear in the Filter Control Panel in view mode.

Map Properties

The Map Properties on the right of the page allows you to edit or set up the map and markers in the GIS Explorer, as well as the information of the markers.

To access to the Map Properties, click on the icon on the upper left corner of the map (next to the Filter Control Panel). The “Map Properties” dialog box that appears consists of 4 sections.

Section Description
Map Center Defines the initial center of the map.
Zoom Defines the initial, minimum and maximum zoom factors.
Layers Defines the tile, Geo and pin layers.
Layer Control Defines which tile, Geo and/or pin layers are to be displayed on the map.

Map Center

The “Map Center” section allows you to set the initial center of the map.

Field Description Mandatory Input Type Constraints Default Value

Use Current Center Icon
When clicked, uses the current location on map as map center. N Icon None None
Latitude Defines the latitude coordinate of the map center. Y Text field -90 to 90 Dependent on map
Longitude Defines the longitude coordinate of the map center. Y Text field -180 to 180 Dependent on map

Do note that for numeric fields, when the number is entered, you have to hit the “Enter” key for the change to be effective.

Zoom

The “Zoom” section allows you to set the zoom factors.

Field Description Mandatory Input Type Constraints Default Value
Initial Defines the initial zoom value.
The icon next to the text field can be used to set the initial zoom value using the current zoom value on the map.
Y Text field Integer greater than or equals to 1 12
Min Defines the minimum zoom value. Y Text field Integer from 0 to 25 0
Max Defines the maximum zoom value. Y Text field Integer from 0 to 25 18

Do note that for numeric fields, when the number is entered, you have to hit the “Enter” key for the change to be effective.

Layers

The “Layers” section allows you to set up and edit the different layers for the explorer. It is divided into 3 sub-sections, tile, geo and pin layers. These layers can be then be selected to be displayed on the map, as well as made selectable for users.

Tile Layers

The Tile Layers sub-section allows you to set up one or more tile layers for the map.

The Tile Layers sub-section allows you to perform the following:

  • Enable/disable a tile layer
  • Delete a tile layer
  • Add a tile layer
  • Edit a tile layer

When a tile layer is initially added, it is enabled by default. You can disable a tile layer by unselecting the checkbox next to the desired tile layer.

To delete a tile layer, click on the icon next to the desired tile layer.

To add a tile layer, click on the “+” icon. A new tile layer (new row) will be added.

You can re-order the tile layers by clicking on the and next to the tile layers.

To edit the properties of a tile layer, click on the “…” icon next to the desired layer to display the “Tile Layer” dialog box.

Field Description Mandatory Input Type Constraints Default Value
Name Unique name of the tile layer. Y Text field Any text “[New Tile Layer]”
Attribution Defines the attribution text to be displayed at the bottom of the map. N Text field Any text Empty
Opacity % Defines how opaque the tile layer outline are in percentage. Y Text field Integer from 0 to 100 100
Use Predefined Selects the predefined tile layer.
Options are:
- Not Selected (blank)
- Default
- Grey
- OS
- Positron
Y Drop-down list Select from drop-down list Not selected (blank)
URL Defines the location of the map. Y Text field Any text Empty
Control As Layer If selected, allows tile layer to be controlled as a layer. Y Checkbox Selected or not selected Not selected

Do note that when “Use Predefined” field is selected (that is, not blank), the selection will override any previous settings made.

When the “Control As Layer” field is not selected, the tile layer is presented as a tile on the map with single selection mode. When the “Control As Layer” field is selected, the tile layer is presented as a layer on the map with multiple selection mode. In this mode, it is advisable to reduce the opacity to enable the layers to see through each other.

Geo Layers

The Geo Layers sub-section allow you to set up one or more the geo layers for the map.

The Geo Layers sub-section allows you to perform the following:

  • Enable/disable a geo layer
  • Delete a geo layer
  • Add a geo layer
  • Edit a geo layer

By default the geo layer is enabled when it is initially added. To disable a geo layer, unselect the checkbox next to the desired geo layer.

To delete a geo layer, click on the icon next to the desired geo layer.

To add a geo layer, click on the “+” icon. A new geo layer will be added.

You can re-order the geo layers by clicking on the and next to the geo layers.

To edit the properties of a geo layer, click on the “…” icon next to the desired layer to display the “Geo Layer” dialog box.

Field Description Mandatory Input Type Constraints Default Value
Name Defines the name of the geo layer. Y Text field Any text “[New Geo Layer]”
Attribution Defines the attribution text to be displayed at the bottom of the map. N Text field Any text Empty
Opacity % Defines how opaque the geo layer outline are in percentage. Y Text field Integer from 0 to 100 100
Geo Layer Selects the geo layer.
Options are:
- PA
- PA.PP
- RG
- RG.PP
Y Drop-down list Select from drop-down list Not selected
Color Selects the colour of the geo layer. Y Colour map Select from map “Dim grey”
Weight Defines the weight of the outline of geo layer. Y Text field Integer from 1 to 50 2
Fill If selected, fills the geo layer with the colour selected in “Color” field. N Checkbox Enable or disable Not selected

The options available for “Geo Layer” field depends on the GeoJson file loaded into Ambience. The above options are for the current GeoJson file in the Ambience software.

Pin Layers

The Pin Layers sub-section allows you to define the properties of the markers or pins to be displayed on the map. More than one layer can be defined. It also allows you to include filter controls on the markers to define the colour of the markers, information to be displayed for the selected marker, etc. Without the pin layer, no markers or pins will appear on the map.

The Pin Layers sub-section allows you to perform the following:

  • Enable/disable a pin layer
  • Delete a pin layer
  • Add a pin layer
  • Edit a pin layer

By default the pin layer is enabled when it is initially added. To disable a pin layer, unselect the checkbox next to the desired pin layer.

To delete a pin layer, click on the icon next to the desired pin layer.

To add a pin layer, click on the “+” icon. A new pin layer will be added.

You can re-order the pin layers by clicking on the and next to the pin layers.

To edit the pins, click on the “…” icon next to the desired pin player to display the “Pin Layer” dialog box.

Field Description Mandatory Input Type Constraints Default Value
Name Defines the name of the pin layer. Y Text field Any text [New Pin Layer]
Attribution Defines the attribution text to be displayed at the bottom of the map. N Text field Any text Empty
Opacity % Defines how opaque the pin layer outline are in percentage. Y Text field Integer from 0 to 100 100
Geo Datasource
Dataset Selects the geo dataset. Y Drop-down list Select from drop-down list Not Selected
Subset Selects the geo subset. N Drop-down list Select from drop-down list Not Selected
GeoJson Field Selects the geo JSON field. Y Drop-down list Select from drop-down list Not Selected
Group Field Places the output of the dataset./subset into separate groups or data traces based on field selected. Y Drop-down list Select from drop-down list Not Selected
Selection Field Defines the field for selection in the GIS View. N Drop-down list Select from drop-down list Not Selected
Controlled By Add or remove filter controls for the explorer. N Drop-down list Select from drop-down list Not Selected
Pins Displays the pins according to the value selected in Group Field. N Text field Not editable Empty

When used in GIS View in the dashboard, the “Selection Field” field set above provides a field to control other views in the dashboard. The “Group Field” field can be used in the same manner.

Layer Control

The Layer Control section allows you to select the tile, geo and pin layers to be displayed on the map and the layers to be made selectable for the users.

Field Description Mandatory Input Type Constraints Default Value
Enabled Enables/disables the layer control. Y Checkbox Enable or disable Enabled
Hide Single Tile If selected, and if one tile layer is selected in the Content field, the explorer will not display the tile layer of the map. N Checkbox Enable or disable Disabled
Collapsed If selected, allows the layer control to be collapsed when not in use. N Checkbox Enable or disable Disabled
Content Defines which layer(s) to be displayed on the map. N Dialog box Selection Not selected

To set up the “Content” field, click on the “…” icon below the field. The “Layer Control Content” dialog box will appear.

Field Description Mandatory Input Type Constraints Default Value
Tiles Selects the tile layers to be displayed on the map.
If more than one tile later is selected, the first tile layer at the top will be set as initial value.
N Checkbox Tile Layer sub-section must be set up and enabled Not selected
Layers Selects the geo and pin layers to be displayed on the map and set the initial options. N Checkbox Geo and pin layers sub-section must be set up and enabled Not selected

There are 2 sections in the “Layer Control Content” dialog box. The “Tiles” sections selects the tile layers, while the “Layers” section selects the geo and pin layers. These layers must be set up in the Layers sub-section prior setting the layer control content.

In the “Tile” section, select the outer checkboxes next to the desired tile layers to enable them. If more than one tile layers are selected, the topmost tile layer will be set as the initial option. You can change this initial option by clicking on the radio button of the desired tile layer.

For the “Layers” section, enable the desired geo and pin layers by selecting the outer checkboxes. This action will enable the inner checkboxes of the selected layers. Set the initial option by selecting the inner checkboxes of the desired layers.

Refresh

The manual “Refresh” button is available and is particularly useful if there are other users currently editing on the same page.

The “Refresh” button is found on the upper right corner of the page. Clicking on it reloads the map.