Frequently asked questions
What is Community Mapper?Community Mapper is a set of web browsers equipped with basic, interactive mapping capabilities that allow users to view a variety of environmental data for the southeastern Massachusetts region. It is based on ArcIMS Internet Map Server software from ESRI.
Who is the intended audience for Community Mapper?
The current version of Community Mapper is intended for use by anyone with an interest in the natural and cultural resources of southeastern Massachusetts. Future versions will include data and features that will enable users to more effectively focus conservation efforts in the region. These updated tools will be geared towards town planners, conservation commissions, open space committees, land trusts, and environmental organizations.
In order to better meet your needs, we'd like to know who you are and how you're using this site. Please contact us and let us know!
What are the capabilities of Community Mapper?
Community Mapper offers a number of features that sharply distinguish it from non-interactive, static maps. In each map browser, or viewer, users can choose which data layers to display. Users can also pan and zoom the map's extent, identify features, and perform simple query, select, and buffer functions. In short, Community Mapper's interactive capabilities provide much more functinoality and flexibility that a static map.
How does Community Mapper differ from GIS?
Community Mapper is not a Geographic Information System (GIS), nor is it intended to replace GIS. A GIS is a set of tools for collecting, storing, modifying, retrieving, and displaying spatial data. It includes computer hardware, specialized software, and trained GIS analysts. Data must be generated, or obtained through a GIS clearinghouse, such as MassGIS. Although most people are familiar with GIS's mapping capabilities, its greatest strength is analysis of spatial data.
In contrast, Community Mapper requires only a computer with an Internet connection and a web browser; no special software or technical training is needed. All you have to do is select the appropriate viewer, choose the data layers to be displayed, and refresh the map. Although Community Mapper does support some basic GIS functions, such as feature identification and simple queries, it does not allow you to perform spatial analyses.
Because of its accessibility and ease of use, we believe that Community Mapper will meet most of the needs of our target audience.
Are there instructions for using Community Mapper?
Yes, we have provided a tip sheet that should give you enough information to get up and running quickly. It contains brief explanations of how the buttons on the viewers work. You may want to print out the tip sheet and keep it handy as you begin to explore Community Mapper. Once you have become familiar with the basics, and wish to do more with the viewers, you should read the full-length user's guide. Both the tip sheet and the user's guide are available on the help documents page.
Where do the maps come from?
The map viewers in Community Mapper feature data layers grouped together based on a common theme. The majority of data layers currently available on this site were obtained from MassGIS. As Community nMapper develops and grows, however, we will incorporate data from a wider variety of sources, as well as original data layers created specifically for this site.
Can I print and save maps that I create on Community Mapper?
Every Community Mapper viewer has a button that creates an HTML print page containing the current map image, the overview map image, and a legend. The browser's File/Print menu item can then be used to send the display to your printer. The map and legend images can also be saved individually by right-clicking in the appropriate frame; the resulting files can then be edited using most standard image editing software.
Viewer tables containing descriptive information about map features can also be saved. Just right-click on the table, choose Select All, right-click again and choose Copy, then paste into Excel or any other spreadsheet program.
Can I add information to Community Mapper?
Data layers available for display in Community Mapper viewers are compiled by our staff; additional data layers that you may have stored locally on your own computer cannot be added directly into the viewer.
Our goal is to keep Community Mapper as current and useful as possible by revising and adding to our data sets. If there are data layers--or even ecological reports or field notes--that you feel should be incorporated into Community Mapper, please contact us. Keep in mind, however, that we can't satisfy every request--but we'll consider all of them!
Who pays for Community Mapper?
Community Mapper is offered free of charge to the user. The considerable expenses required to bring you this site are paid for by the Wildlands Trust of Southeastern Massacusetts and Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences, and by a variety of grants and donations from private philanthropies and public institutions. We thank the following for their financial and in-kind support:
Jessie B. Cox Charitable TrustMassachusetts Executive Office of Environmental AffairsSudbury FoundationDorr FoundationESRIMassachusetts Environmental TrustMakepeace Neighborhood FundMassachusetts Cultural CouncilIf you would like to support the Community Mapper, you may do so through membership in, and donations to, the Wildlands Trust. We welcome your support!
