Using BioFinder: Tips & Tools

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Map Layers

When BioFinder launches, your map will display on the right and on the left is a Map Layers menu. You can toggle map layers on/off by clicking the checkbox next to each layer name. Layers may appear “greyed out” if the data can’t be seen at the current map scale. Simply zoom closer, or right-click on a layer title and choose to “Zoom to Visible Scale”.
For more help see "Introduction to BioFinder, Navigation Tools" tutorial.

BioFinder Components: The 21 components contributing to Vermont’s biological diversity (terrestrial and aquatic biological, ecological, and natural heritage data) in this group are the core of BioFinder. To turn this feature off and on click on the box next to the title. Click the plus sign next to “BioFinder Components” to reveal the 21 component layer list. Clicking the check box next to each will turn each component on or off. A layer that is “greyed out” can’t be seen at the current map scale. To see this layer, simply zoom closer using the scale tool on the left-hand corner of the map, or right-click the layer title and choose to “Zoom to Visible Scale.”
Clicking on this symbol will give you greater detail:

Tiered Contribution to Biodiversity: This layer depicts relative concentrations of components contributing to biological diversity present and is segmented into six tiers. Tier 1 sites have the greatest concentration, tier 2 through 5 sites have decreasing concentrations and Tier 6 identifies locations where no component data was assessed or selected during the development of BioFinder. This layer is a coarse-scale measure for determining the level of potential risk associated with the development of a particular area. It can be turned on/off by clicking the checkbox.

  

Basemaps

BioFinder opens with a “grey canvas basemap” behind the map layers. Using the base map selector pull-down menu at the top right of the map screen you can change the basemap to Bing aerial photo (which identifies roads, towns and other features), topographic map, or black white ortho photos. (The option to use “more map layers” is currently unavailable.)

BioFinder Tools

Once you peer a little deeper you will find several tools and functions to help you get more out of BioFinder. These tools and other advanced user information can be found in the Tutorial Videos and under Getting Around,
You can access tools in two ways:

1. Pull-Down Menu: A green/white pull-down menu in the top left corner of the map, gives you a list of BioFinder-specific tools: Point Identify, Area Identify, Tier Report, Component Report, and so on. Instructions for using each tool will pop-up or be listed in the left column of the page.
2. BioFinder Toolbar: The toolbar at the top left-hand side of the map provides access to four tool tabs: Identify/Query, Getting Around, Upload/Draw and Measurement. This toolbar can be turned off by selecting the “Show/Hide Toolbar” option in the BioFinder Tools pull down, or by clicking the wrench/screwdriver icon in the top right corner of the map screen. Turning off the toolbar makes more room for your map.

 

Tabs in the Toolbar

Identify/Query: The features under this tab were developed specifically for BioFinder.  Instructions for using each of these tools will appear in the left column of the map page upon selection.

• Point Identify tool, which is a single pixel that measures a 10 m x 10m spot on the map, identifies the components contributing to biological diversity and the Tier rank for any point that you select on the BioFinder map.
• Area Identify tool, which uses a shape that can be drawn around area, identifies all components contributing to biological diversity present within an area that you that draw on the BioFinder map.
• Tier Report tool generates a report (as a spreadsheet or pdf file) describing the Tier rankings and number of acres in each Tier within an area that you’ve selected.
• Component Report tool generates a report (as a spreadsheet or pdf file) describing the components of biological diversity and the total number of acres for each component within an area that you’ve selected.
• Extract Component Data tool allows you to download data for one or more of the 21 components within an area that you’ve designated on the map for use in ArcGIS other GIS mapping programs. Data can be downloaded as either a shapefile or as a feature class within a geodatabase. Note, the file size limit is 5MB, so it is not possible to extract data for all 21 components across a large area. Instructions for selecting components and defining a map area will appear in the left column of the map page upon when this tool is selected.

Getting Around: tab offers tools to help you move around the map and links to detailed help files and video tutorials.

Help?: Clicking on this button takes you to a comprehensive set of help files on application-generic functions relating to the Geocortex Essentials map viewer application.

What’s This?: Clicking on this tool and then clicking an area on the map viewer where you need help will open a help topic about that feature. Pressing the F1 key anywhere on the map viewer will do the same.

Video Tutorials: Clicking on Video Tutorials opens the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources GIS YouTube page where you will find the following demonstration videos:

1. Introduction to BioFinder, Navigation Tools: Reviews how to zoom, pan, turn layers on/off.
2. ANR Atlas: Shows how to add data from the ANR Atlas.
3. Upload a Shapefile: Show how to upload these geospatial vector data formats.
4. BioFinder Tools: Runs through how to use three tools, Identify Visible Layers, Point Identify and Area Identify, to find detailed descriptions of map components and other custom functions.
5. Using BioFinder Reporting Tools: Reviews how to create a Tier Report and Component Report.
6. Printing a Map: Shows how to print your map.
7. Save/Load Your Custom Project: Reviews the ways you save specific data you want to save and use.

Upload/Draw: The tools under this tab help you customize your maps. The Add Data tools allow you to add other map services (such as the ANR Atlas) available from the Agency of Natural Resources as well as GIS shapefiles of your own creation.

Measurement: These tools measure both distance and area on your map. Measurements are added in increments as you draw so that you have the distance for each segment as well as the overall distance or area.