Online public land maps with geolocation

[Jelf]

Most states have detailed information showing the boundaries of various kinds of public land at the federal, state and local level. Government agencies also have all kinds of map information that is useful for all kinds of outdoor activities from hunting to 4-wheeling to horse riding to hiking to boating to fishing and everything in between.

I have started a project to locate that data where it is hosted on Geographical Information System (GIS) servers and produce online maps so everyone has a super easy way to see and use that data. The types of GIS data that these online maps will display include:

1. Boundaries of public land
2. Recreation features such as picnic areas, campgrounds, boat launches, trailheads, etc
3. Fishing and hunting information
4. Habitats
5. Public safety including wildland fires and earthquakes

So far I have completed online maps for several states, including California. The type of data that is available varies by state. I have also completed several national level online maps.

Below is the homepage link for this project. Please take a moment to read through the text before you start playing with the map links. Also, if you want to get the most out of these maps, be sure to read the “Tips”.

Public land map homepage:
http://www.propertylinemaps.com/p/public_land_map.html

All of these online maps are displayed by Gmap4 which is an enhanced Google map viewer that I developed. Using the same software to display all of this GIS data from coast-to-coast means you see a consistent interface based on the familiar Google maps and you also get the same broad feature set for every map.

For those that are GIS savvy (or would like to be) you can peek under the hood and see how the magic works by visiting my GIS page (written at a newbie level):
http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4_gis-viewer.html

Wait... there’s more... or soon will be.

Each GIS feature you see on these maps have more information (called “attributes”) stored on the GIS server. Currently Gmap4 does not let you click a GIS symbol and see the attribute data. I plan to add that feature this winter.

Think of this as my Christmas present to you. Enjoy!

Joseph, the Gmap4 guy

 

[1_pointer]

Way cool! Thanks!

I was quite surprised to learn that in some cases the .pdf maps that the states produced are georeferenced. Using Avenza pdf maps app on my phone I can then see where I am on the map. Pretty slick for free.

 

[pabearhunter]

Thank you Jeff.

 

[Jelf]

Thanks for the kind words.

Opps! I forgot to include an important point in my post. The map legends are really important to help you understand the story the map is telling you. To see the map legends, click the button in the upper left corner that says "About this map".

 

[Nameless Range]

Nice Job Jelf. One complaint I have about Montana's cadastral site is the NAIP photography they use as their imagery layer. Google is way better.

I also like the "USA state sources for GIS data" list you created, as well as the Canadian ones. Those could be useful.

 

[Jelf]

I will certainly produce map links for Montana.
However I have several other states in mind to do before I get to MT.

After Wisconsin the next one will likely be Oregon.

 

[Z Barebow]

Quite the coincidence. I was hunting public land in MN over the weekend and I was looking for an overlay for MN WMA's for GE and your site came up in the search. One day later, I see you post. Nice work.

Now that you have me hooked, where are CO and WYO on your state list? (Full disclosure I have a self interest in these states for upcoming hunts)

THX for your hard work.

 

[Jelf]

Glad you found my site. The internet is just amazing.

I don't have any real order for which states get done before others. After Oregon I likely will do one or two eastern states. It takes awhile since this is a 'spare time' project. But I will certainly get to CO and WY in due course.

BTW, my wife and I lived in northern WY for 5 years and had the good fortune of seeing a lot of that country from horseback.

Joseph

 

[1_pointer]

Glad you found my site. The internet is just amazing.

I don't have any real order for which states get done before others. After Oregon I likely will do one or two eastern states. It takes awhile since this is a 'spare time' project. But I will certainly get to CO and WY in due course.

BTW, my wife and I lived in northern WY for 5 years and had the good fortune of seeing a lot of that country from horseback.

Joseph

FWIW, there is a fairly good contingent from Indiana that post here...

 

[Jelf]

A few months ago I started this thread to make people aware of a project I was undertaking as a public service to make recreation related GIS (Geographical Information System) data easily available. GIS data has two parts. One part displays symbols, lines and areas (i.e. polygons) on a map. The other part can display information (called “attributes” in GIS-speak) about each GIS thing you see on the map. Sometimes the attribute data includes a link to even more information. This can be extremely useful to people that play outdoors.

In my first post in this thread I promised to add the ability to display the GIS attribute data. Good news - that work is now done. Also the homepage for this project now has Gmap4 links that display GIS recreation data for 14 states and more national level maps have been added. The next two states that I will process will likely be Missouri and Indiana.

To see a good example of GIS attribute data:
1. Go to the homepage I made for this GIS mapping project:
http://www.propertylinemaps.com/p/public_land_map.html
2. Scroll down to the map links and open the "USA Weather Map". This map shows all the current weather watches and warnings. This data is hosted on a GIS server operated by NOAA.
3. Click any colored area and soon a popup will appear.

That popup shows all the GIS attribute data for the thing that you clicked. Note that one of the attributes is a link. If you follow that link then you will see the details for that weather watch or warning.

Gmap4 does not attempt to process the attribute data. Instead, it simply displays the attribute data 'as is'. If some of that data is coded or looks like gibberish, don’t blame me.

After a map opens, you can click "about this map" in the upper left corner to:
1. See the map legends
2. Learn how to turn other GIS layers on/off
3. Get other tips for using the map

You can make an interesting map by looking at the GIS layer showing weather watches and warnings and then also turning on the layer that displays the weather radar.

If you are GIS savvy, here is a greatly expanded list of GIS servers by state:
http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4_gis_more_help.html#source_state

Anyone that is willing to follow a few simple instructions can make their own custom Gmap4 map links to display the GIS data they wish to see.

For more information about Gmap4, please see:

Gmap4 homepage: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.html

Gmap4 default map: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php

Joseph, the Gmap4 guy