NDOT LoIS Online Help Document Welcome to the Nevada Department of Transportation Survey Monument Location Information System (NDOT LoIS) Online Help Document. LoIS is an online survey monument query and data retrieval system that is available to anyone using the Internet.
Table of Contents 1. Introduction...1 2. Getting Started...2 2.1. Client System Requirements...2 2.2. Starting LoIS...2 2.3. Adobe SVG Plug-in...3 3. Cursor Display...7 3.1. Hand...7 3.2. Pointer...7 3.3. Text Bar...7 3.4. Cross...7 4. Map Legend Display Control...8 4.1. Default Legend Setting...8 4.2. Legend of a Zoomed In Area...8 4.3. Display Thresholds...9 4.3.1. Features Displayed at All Map Scales...9 4.3.2. Features Displayed at Some Map Scales...9 5. Map Controls... 10 5.1. Client Side Map Controls... 10 5.1.1. Zoom In... 10 5.1.2. Zoom Out... 10 5.1.3. Higher Quality... 11 5.1.4. Copy SVG... 11 5.1.5. View SVG... 11 5.1.6. View Source... 11 5.1.7. Save SVG As... 11 5.1.8. Help... 11 5.1.9. About Adobe SVG Viewer... 11 5.2. Server Side Map Controls... 12 5.2.1. Zoom In... 12 5.2.2. Zoom Window... 12 5.2.3. Zoom Out... 12 5.2.4. Pan... 12 5.2.5. Zoom to Extents... 13 5.2.6. Zoom to Select Set... 13 5.2.7. Zoom to Previous... 13 6. LoIS Query and Report Pages... 14 6.1. Query By Map... 14 6.1.1. Selection Set and Report Tools... 14 6.2. Query By Attribute... 17 6.2.1. Primary Query Criteria... 17 6.2.2. Additional Query Criteria... 17 6.2.3. Map Button... 18 6.2.4. Report... 18 6.2.5. Reset... 18 6.3. Point Reporter... 19 6.3.1. Download CSV File... 19 6.3.2. Display All on Map... 21 6.3.3. Display on Map... 21 6.3.4. LPN Numbers... 21 6.3.5. View Report Info... 21 6.3.6. Monument Image... 21 7. LoIS Workflows... 22 7.1. Query By Map... 23 7.1.1. Query... 23 7.1.2. Print Map... 24 7.1.3. Point Report... 24 7.1.4. Edit Query... 24 7.2. Query By Attribute... 25 7.2.1. Query... 25 7.2.2. Map Button... 26 7.2.3. Report... 26 7.2.4. Reset... 26 i
1. Introduction The Survey Monument was designed and developed by GeoDecisions in cooperation with the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT). LoIS was developed to assist NDOT with distributing survey monument information to Nevada DOT personnel and all other Nevada professionals with need for survey monument information. This Online Help document provides all the information needed to access and use LoIS, including: basic installation and set up guidelines, command and toolbar functions, map interface instructions, workflows for querying survey monument information, and reporting and map printing processes. 1
2. Getting Started This section describes the basic components and architecture of the LoIS application, along with the basic information needed to use the application. The System Requirements section describes client system requirements and browser setting configuration. The Starting LoIS and Adobe SVG Plug-in sections discuss the necessary steps to configure your system the first time the application is started. 2.1. Client System Requirements The Client computer should conform to the following minimum requirements: Pentium III 450 Mhz CPU 256 MB RAM 10/100 Mb Network Card or Wireless Network Card (Modem not recommended) Operating Systems: Microsoft Windows 95/98, NT, 2000, or XP Internet Explorer 5.5 Adobe SVG Viewer 3.0 SVGA Display at 1024 x 768 resolution Because the client depends on Internet Explorer 5.5 6.x, the minimum client hardware requirements are based on the minimum requirements for Internet Explorer 5.5. Thus the client machine is required to be at least a 486/66-Mhz processor (Pentium processor preferred) or higher with at least 32 MB of RAM (64MB RAM for Windows 2000). The above minimums reflect what is needed for the user to be productive with the application not minimally functional. The application is designed to run on a monitor with 1024X768 resolution. Lower resolutions may work, but will require horizontal scrolling. Resolution settings higher than 1024x768 will work fine, but may result in some extra white space around the map and other page components. Due to the large amount of monument data and the map data necessary to run the application, it is not recommended that the LoIS application be used on a computer with only a phone modem connection to the Internet. While the application should function without error, it may not perform adequately for efficient use. 2.2. Starting LoIS The LoIS application is available to everyone that has access to the Internet. To access LoIS, key in http://www.nevadadot.com/reports_pubs/lois/ in the web browser address window. This will display the Survey Monument home page. When the LoIS application is started, the page in Figure 2.1 will be displayed (the display may vary slightly due to monitor resolution settings and updates that occur to the pages over time). 2
Figure 2.1 - LoIS Home Page The top of the screen includes the common Nevada DOT template for Internet applications and contains links to the State of Nevada Internet information. The most important components of the LoIS Home Page are the links to the two key query functions that allow users to find survey monuments of interest. Those functions are: Query By Map and Query By Attribute. In simplest terms, the Query By Map interface allows users to view a Nevada map and choose an area to find survey monuments (e.g. the user draws a rectangle around Carson City to find all monuments in that area). The Query By Attribute interface allows users to identify certain criteria that filters the entire monument database to only those monuments that meet a desired set of parameters (e.g. return all monuments that were placed for aerial control). A disclaimer on the use of the data is also included, but it is very important to review the information in the View Report Info link on the survey monument Point Reporter page (see Section 6.3.5) to fully understand the appropriate uses and limitations of the survey monument data. 2.3. Adobe SVG Plug-in The map component of the Query By Map page requires a browser plug-in to properly display the map features and the related attributes on the map in Internet Explorer. The application is not officially supported in the Netscape browser, but may function adequately in the newer Netscape versions. 3
Nevada DOT employees should have this plug-in installed on their computers by default, but not all computers may have been included in the install. Please contact your NDOT computer support person in you are having trouble viewing the map. For individuals outside of Nevada DOT, a link to the Adobe SVG web page is included on the main LoIS web page. Click on the image to obtain the plug-in. At the time this document was written, Version 3.03 was the latest SVG Viewer version for Microsoft Windows. We recommend using Version 3.03, or the latest version if Version 3.03 is no longer available. During the load or when starting the Query By Map page for the first time, the following dialog will appear. Figure 2.2 - SVG Software License Agreement Select Accept to agree to the software license agreement. The necessary software will be automatically installed on the computer and integrated into Internet Explorer. If the plug-in does not load or the map does not display, be sure your security settings allow plug-in installation. The browser s security settings should be set as shown below for the SVG Viewer installation. Go to Tools > Internet Options in Internet Explorer (Figure 2.3) 4
Figure 2.3 - Internet Options for IE Click on the Security settings tab (Figure 2.4) Figure 2.4 - Internet Options Security Tab In the web content zone click on Internet and choose Custom Level button 5
Under Settings > ActiveX Controls and Plug-Ins set (Figure 2.5) Download signed ActiveX controls to 'Prompt' Download unsigned ActiveX controls to 'Prompt' Click Ok to save the settings Figure 2.5 - Security Settings If you are still experiencing difficulties installing the SVG Viewer, please contact your Technical Support. 6
3. Cursor Display There are four different cursor styles: Hand, Pointer, I, and Cross. The cursor changes appearance depending on its screen location and functionality. These cursors functions are initiated by clicking on the left mouse button. 3.1. Hand The cursor appears as a hand when it is over an active link on the web page or tool bars. This is an indication that some action will occur if the left mouse button is clicked. 3.2. Pointer The cursor appears as a pointer when it is over some form fields or any part of the map when no other command is active (e.g.: zoom or monument select commands). Users can make form selections from drop down lists by clicking the left mouse button when the pointer cursor appears. Clicking the left mouse button over active map features initiates an action. When the left mouse button is clicked over a survey monument when the cursor is a pointer, the Point Reporter page opens and that monument s data is displayed. 3.3. Text Bar The cursor appears as an I when it is over a form field that will accept textural key-ins. Clicking the left mouse button opens the field for data entry. Users can delete existing information or enter new information from the keyboard at the point where the text cursor was placed. 3.4. Cross The pointer appears as a cross when the select and zoom commands are used to identify an area of the map. Zoom Window and the monument selection commands are the primary commands that use this cursor. 7
4. Map Legend Display Control The Map Legend controls feature display in the map. The Map Legend lists all available features for the current map window (depending on the zoom level). Users click on the check marks to turn the features on or off in the map. The legend automatically updates as the zoom level changes and features are turned on or off by the web application (see Display Thresholds Section 4.3). 4.1. Default Legend Setting The legend displays the features in Figure 4.1 when the statewide map is displayed. The legend will change depending on the features that are available for display in the map area and at the specified scale. Figure 4.1 - Legend Settings 4.2. Legend of a Zoomed In Area The legend automatically updates when the map window changes, and additional features are turned off or on. Figure 4.2 shows an area of Carson City with additional features including survey monuments. In the example, the color filled City Limits feature is unchecked and is not displayed on the map. Figure 4.2 - Sample Legend for a Zoomed Area 8
4.3. Display Thresholds The term Display Threshold describes the automatic process that determines which features will be displayed as the map view changes. To keep the LoIS map from being too cluttered and difficult to read, LoIS Web automatically checks the map extents and updates the map and legend with the features appropriate for that view. Users are not able to change the display threshold settings. In addition to the Display Thresholds, the legend will not contain entries for features that do not exist on the map extent. For example, if no city limit boundaries exist in the map, then the legend entry for City Limits will be removed. 4.3.1. Features Displayed at All Map Scales The features listed below will always be displayed unless turned off in the legend or are not part of the visible display area. Interstates Interstate Shields State Counties U.S. Routes State Routes 4.3.2. Features Displayed at Some Map Scales The features listed below may or may not be displayed, depending on the current map scale. They are turned on automatically as the user modifies the map window. County Maintained Roads City Limits Monuments Metro Shields US Route Shields State Route Shields 9
5. Map Controls There are 2 types of map controls: Client Side Controls and Server Driven View Controls. 5.1. Client Side Map Controls When the user has the cursor over the map and single clicks the right mouse button, a pop-up menu of client side map controls is displayed. The commands in the pop-up menu, see Figure 5.1, are delivered with the SVG Viewer control. Figure 5.1 - Right mouse click SVG Viewer commands The client side controls are effective if the user intends to view various portions of the current map using relatively small variations in display scale. These commands operate only on the SVG map that has already been loaded into the client computer s web browser, and therefore the performance is very fast. However, if a user wants to pan the map view beyond the geographic extents of the current map, or zoom in to a much larger display scale, it becomes necessary to perform a server side map control command. The server side commands turn on and turn off certain features at predefined display thresholds to add detail at larger display scales and remove detail at smaller display scales. This improves the aesthetics of the maps and improves the map display performance once the new map has been loaded to the client browser. However, there is a slight time delay for processing and creating the new map on the server. Some of the important client side controls are described below. To activate these commands, issue a right mouse click over the map to open the menu. Then, move the cursor over the desired command and issue a left mouse click to activate the command. 5.1.1. Zoom In From the pop-up menu, choose Zoom In to zoom in (make the graphic larger) on the center of the viewing area. The zoom in factor is 2.0; the graphic is 100% larger each time you choose Zoom In. 5.1.2. Zoom Out From the pop-up menu, choose Zoom Out to zoom out (make the graphic smaller) from the center of the viewing area. The zoom out factor is 2.0; the graphic is 50% smaller each time you choose Zoom Out. 10
5.1.3. Higher Quality This command adjusts the resolution of the graphics returned to the map window. If the line is unchecked, the map is not as clear, but takes less time to generate. 5.1.4. Copy SVG To copy the map to the Windows Clipboard: From the pop-up menu, choose Copy SVG. The image may then be pasted into any document or in any program that supports the Paste function. 5.1.5. View SVG This command will open a new browser window and create a SVG display of only the map. This may be useful if trying to print only the map without legend graphics. 5.1.6. View Source This command will open a new browser window and display all the computer code used to generate the map. This may be useful if trying to debug a map problem or for developers wanting to leverage the map code. 5.1.7. Save SVG As This command opens the save dialog to save the current map as an SVG or compressed SVGZ format file. 5.1.8. Help This command opens a new browser window that contains additional help information about the commands used in the SVG Viewer. 5.1.9. About Adobe SVG Viewer This command opens a dialog that displays specific version and copyright information from Adobe. 11
5.2. Server Side Map Controls LoIS delivers a set of server side map manipulation functions. The command icons are located across the top of the map. These commands are similar in function to some of the commands on the pop-up menu. The server driven commands are: Zoom In, Zoom Window, Zoom Out, Pan, Zoom to Extents, Zoom to Select Set, and Zoom Previous. 5.2.1. Zoom In The Zoom In command decreases the map display scale by a factor of 2.0. When users click on the Zoom In command, the map is automatically regenerated from the server. You do not need to identify a point about which to zoom; the center of the new display is the same as the original map. Less area is displayed and some features may be turned on or off by the Display Threshold settings. 5.2.2. Zoom Window The Zoom Box command is used to view a specific area of the map. To define a new map view, click on the command, then identify the area by issuing a single left mouse button click at the starting corner point of the zoom rectangular window, and then a second left mouse button click at the ending corner point of the rectangular window. The new map is generated and displays features according to the Display Threshold for the area selected. 5.2.3. Zoom Out The Zoom Out command increases the map display by a factor of 2.0. When users click on the Zoom Out command, the map is automatically regenerated from the server. You do not need to identify a point about which to zoom; the center of the new display is the same as the original map. Additional area is displayed, but some features may be turned off by the Display Threshold settings. 5.2.4. Pan The Pan command shifts the map focus to another area of the Nevada base map without changing the map scale. Pan is used by issuing a single left mouse button click at the point to move, and then issuing a second single left mouse button click where the first point should reside after the map is redrawn. A line appears during the process to show where the first point was clicked relative to the new place it is to exist on the map. 12
5.2.5. Zoom to Extents The Zoom to Extents command fits the entire Nevada State boundary area to the map window. Feature display is determined by current legend settings and the Display Thresholds. 5.2.6. Zoom to Select Set The Zoom to Select Set command fits all the survey monuments identified by a map selection or query filter in the map window. 5.2.7. Zoom to Previous The Zoom to Previous command recreates the immediately previous map window so that an accidental view manipulation can be undone. The application only remembers a single previous view. If the button is pressed multiple times, it simply displays the same view again. 13
6. LoIS Query and Report Pages The following sections describe the main LoIS web pages and the basic functionality of each page. These sections are important because in later workflow descriptions the exact functionality of these pages will not be reiterated. 6.1. Query By Map The Query By Map page, Figure 6.1, is the map query and display interface to the survey monument database. Through this page, survey monument result sets can be narrowed spatially or results from the Point Reporter page can be displayed. Figure 6.1 - Query By Map Page 6.1.1. Selection Set and Report Tools The toolbar at the top of the map contains tools for querying and reporting the survey monuments, and manipulating the map view. The tools for the map view manipulation were covered in the previous section called Map Controls Section 5. The remaining tools are used for querying and reporting the survey monuments. The portion of the toolbar not described elsewhere is shown in Figure 6.2. Figure 6.2 - Monument Selection Toolbar 14
6.1.1.1. Select by Polygon The Select By Polygon command creates a Selection Set of monuments from a user defined shape. To create the shape after selecting the command, use a series of single left button clicks to identify the vertices of the shape. When the desired shape is complete, use a double left button click to signal the completion of the shape and the survey monuments in the shape will be inserted into a new Selection Set and displayed on the map. 6.1.1.2. Select By Rectangle The Select By Rectangle command creates a Selection Set of monuments from a rectangular area. To create the rectangular area after selecting the command, use a single left button click to identify the location of the first corner of the rectangle, then use a second left button click to identify the location of the opposite corner of the rectangle. When the rectangle is complete, the survey monuments in the rectangle will be inserted into a new Selection Set and displayed on the map. 6.1.1.3. Select By Circle The Select By Circle command creates a Selection Set of monuments from a circular area. To create the circular area after selecting the command, use a single left button click to identify the location of the center of the circle, then use a second left button click to identify a point along the circumference of the circle (this is equivalent to the radius). When the circle is complete, the survey monuments in the circle will be inserted into a new Selection Set and displayed on the map. 6.1.1.4. Refine Select Set By Attributes The Refine Select Set By Attributes command opens the Query By Attribute page, and maintains the active Selection Set. This means that all attribute filters will be applied to the Selection Set, not the entire monument database. This provides for further narrowing of the monuments selected visually on the map. 6.1.1.5. Clear Selection Set The Clear Selection Set command empties any monuments saved in a Selection Set so that a fresh Selection Set can be designated using one of the Select commands, or to clear any select set that might be passed to the Query By Attribute page. 15
6.1.1.6. Display Point Report The Display Point Report command sends the existing monument Selection Set to the Point Reporter page (see Section 6.3). 6.1.1.7. Print Preview Print Preview opens a new browser window that contains only the map and legend components of the Query By Map web page for printing purposes. Figure 6.3 shows a sample print preview map. Figure 6.3 - Print Preview Page 16
6.2. Query By Attribute The Query By Attribute page allows the user to filter the monuments reported by the attributes in the survey monument database. The page is broken into two key areas: Primary Query Criteria and Additional Query Criteria. Figure 6.4 - Query By Attributes Page 6.2.1. Primary Query Criteria The Primary Query Criteria are the most common and more complex attribute query filters. These filters may actually use spatial query input (a coordinate and radius) rather than purely attribute filters. 6.2.2. Additional Query Criteria The Additional Query Criteria are attribute filters that are less commonly used, but still help reduce the larger monument database into a usable subset. Both Primary and Additional Query Criteria can be specified for a query. 17
The Additional Query Criteria area has two unique tools. Selecting the small + on the left side of each row with the left mouse button explodes the row and shows the allowable values for that field. Those individual values can then be selected to narrow the query. If not all the value boxes are checked for a field, then the check at the far left is dimmed to designate that a filter for that field exists (see Figure 6.5). This dimmed state is shown whether the field is exploded or minimized. If all the value boxes for a specific field are checked, then the check for the field will be bold like all the other checks. If all value boxes are checked, this is requesting that the application show all the rows in the database (unless the query is narrowed elsewhere). To minimize the row so that it does not show the values, left click on the -. The checked boxes will remain checked until selecting Reset or closing the browser. Figure 6.5 Query Field Usage 6.2.3. Map Button Map opens the Query By Map page and shows all the monuments on the map. 6.2.4. Report Report opens the point reporting page. 6.2.5. Reset Reset clears all filter criteria so that a new filter can be started. 18
6.3. Point Reporter The Point Reporter page, Figure 6.6, displays the monuments in an easily understandable format. The format of the page allows for easy printing. The Point Reporter page is shown below: Figure 6.6 - Point Report Page The Point Reporter page includes many functions that are useful for further understanding and use of the survey monument data. 6.3.1. Download CSV File This function creates a comma delimited text file (.csv extension) that can be used in other applications such as Microsoft Excel or Lotus 123. This file must be saved to your local hard drive for further use. It is downloaded as a compressed.zip file that contains the.csv file. Use PKZIP or other similar decompression software to access the.csv file. When selecting the Download CSV icon, the following dialog is displayed: 19
Figure 6.7 - File Download Dialog Selecting Open will give various results based on what zip uncompression software you use. This is not the recommended solution. Select Save, and the following dialog appears: Select your folder and filename and select Save. Figure 6.8 - Save As Dialog The download dialog will then provide a status of your download. Figure 6.9 - Download Complete Dialog At this point you can open the file, folder, or close the dialog and navigate to the file manually. 20
6.3.2. Display All on Map Display All on Map shows all the survey monuments currently displayed in the Point Report on the map. The map will be in a new window so both the report and map can be viewed simultaneously. If the survey monuments are spread throughout the state of Nevada, the entire state will be displayed. Otherwise the smallest area that shows all the monuments will be displayed. 6.3.3. Display on Map The Display on Map functions very similarly to Display All on Map except that it shows only one survey monument the monument for which the Display on Map icon was selected. If the map is displaying very little detail, it may be necessary to zoom out to see more map features to identify the location. 6.3.4. LPN Numbers The LPN refers to a project number that the survey monument is assigned to. Clicking on the LPN number at the far right side of the report generates a new query of all survey monuments in that LPN. The report is then updated with only the monuments from the LPN all other survey monuments are lost. 6.3.5. View Report Info This link opens a very important information file. The file provides details about each of the fields on the report and explains the appropriate use of the provided information. Everyone should review this file prior to using any information obtained from the application. 6.3.6. Monument Image Several of the survey monuments have digital pictures of the survey monument stored in the database. If the monument you identified has a picture, the following icon and link will be displayed to the right of the Station: Clicking on the link will open a new browser window and display a top view picture of the survey monument. 21
7. LoIS Workflows This section explains the general workflows that a typical user may use to find information on the LoIS Web Application. These workflows do not constitute all possible monument query scenarios, but they do provide an initial set of processes that may be used, and eventually augmented, to meet an individual users needs. A visual representation of the possible workflows is in Figure 7.1. This conceptual figure shows the general pages the user would navigate through to query and report on the survey monument database. Figure 7.1 - Conceptual Diagram of LoIS Web Page Workflows 22
7.1. Query By Map Query By Map allows users to identify an area on the map to search for existing survey monuments. 7.1.1. Query The survey monuments will be highlighted as they are selected and can then be sent to the Point Reporter page for a formal report. The process described below demonstrates a simple Query By Map workflow. 1. Open the LoIS Home Page 2. Select Query By Map. The following web page will be displayed: Figure 7.2 - Query By Map Workflow - Initial Screen 3. Use one of the zoom commands to find the map area desired. In the example in Figure 7.3, the user zooms into the Carson City area. 23
Figure 7.3 - Query By Map Workflow - Zoomed Area 4. Use one of the map query tools to identify an area on the map. The map query tools are Query By Rectangle, Query By Circle, or Query By Shape. Each command allows the user to customize the size of the shape to search on the map. See Section 6.1.1 for the details of each map query tool command. 5. Once the shape is placed, the monuments found in the area are highlighted on the map. At this point multiple actions can be taken. 7.1.2. Print Map This command will generate a page that is ready to be sent to the printer for use in hard copy format. 7.1.3. Point Report Selecting this icon will open the Point Reporter page and will provide a list of all monuments selected on the map. All functionality on the Point Reporter page functions as described in Section 6.3. 7.1.4. Edit Query Selecting this icon on the toolbar will open the Query By Attribute page and will further narrow the monuments selected on the map by whatever additional criteria the user selects. See Section 6.2 for the specifics on using this page. 24
7.2. Query By Attribute Query By Attribute allows users to identify and filter the survey monuments reported based on the specific attributes in the monument database. 7.2.1. Query The fields must be populated in this page to filter the monuments by only the desired subset wanted in the report or map. 1. Open the LoIS Home Page 2. Select Query By Attribute. The following web page will be displayed: Figure 7.4 - Query By Attribute Workflow - Initial Screen 3. Two query areas are delineated on the page: Primary Query Criteria and Additional Query Criteria. Those areas are explained fully in Section 6.2. Select the criteria desired for the survey monuments wanted in the report or map display. The example in Figure 7.5 shows a query on all monuments within 250m of an entered latitude and longitude that have a Horizontal Datum in NAD 27 coordinates. 25
Figure 7.5 - Query By Attribute Workflow - Established Query 4. Select the button to designate the desired report format (Map or Report). 7.2.2. Map Button Map opens the map display and shows all the monuments on the map (see Section 6.1). 7.2.3. Report Report opens the point reporting page (see Section 6.3). 7.2.4. Reset Reset clears all query criteria so that new query can be started. 26