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    This module is included inLens: Travelers in the Middle East Archives
    By: Travelers in the Middle East Archive

    Comments:

    "Overview of how to navigate GIS maps."

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TIMEA GIS Map Interface Tools

Module by: Marie Wise. E-mail the author

TIMEA GIS Map Interface Tools

The Travelers in the Middle East Archive (TIMEA) is a digital collection of images, texts, maps and educational modules related to Western travel in the Middle East during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. An important part of TIMEA is a Geographical Interface System (GIS) that enables users to better understand the relationships between the materials and the region.

However, the GIS interface and tools can be unfamiliar. To help users get the most out of the TIMEA geographical component, the following explains both how to use the GIS features and what information can be obtained with the tools.

For a fuller exploration of the TIMEA GIS interface, please visit http://aries.rice.edu/website/timea/intro.html

Tools and Layers

On the left side of the map in the GIS interface, you will find options for tools and layers. Tools let users work with the map that is presented, while layers allow different sets of information related to the map to be turned on or off.

Select Country

The Select Country feature allows users to choose which TIMEA GIS map will be displayed.

Navigation

The navigation tool set allows users to move around on the map displayed.

Table 1
Zoom In Graphic1.png Select tool and click map to zoom in to a particular area.
Zoom Out Graphic2.png Select tool and click map to zoom out over a particular area.
Zoom to Country Graphic3.png Click on the Country tool to view the map of the entire country.
Pan Graphic4.png Use the Pan tool to move the map within the map window. Click on the Pan tool then click and drag on the map to move to different areas.

Search & Measure Tools

Search and Measure tools allow users to discern particular information from the map that might not be visible.

Table 2
Identify Place Graphic5.png Use the Identify Place tool to learn specific information about a place or feature on the map. Select the tool and then click on a location on the map. Information about the location or feature will be presented below the map on the screen.
Find a Place Graphic6.png Select tool and enter place name below to search for a location.
Measure Graphic7.png Select tool and click on map to measure distance between points (clicks).
Set Units Graphic8.png Set the desired unit of measurement by clicking on the Set Units tool. Options appear below the map. Select feet, miles, meters, or kilometers from the drop-down list and then click the Set Units button.

More Tools

Table 3
Clear Map Graphic9.png Select tool to clear features and measurements from map.
Print Map Graphic10.png Select tool to create a printable version of the map display.

Layers

Layers are made up of data that is related to the map. This data, often referred to as data sets, can be displayed visually on the map. To display the information in a layer on the map interface, check the box next to the layer. Multiple layers can be displayed at the same time to compare information.

Of course, knowing how to interpret the data and understanding where it is obtained, is an important part of using the map. The information icon displays a legend and metadata about the layer.

Table 4
Information Graphic11.png Select for information about the data layer.

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Definition of a lens

Lenses

A lens is a custom view of the content in the repository. You can think of it as a fancy kind of list that will let you see content through the eyes of organizations and people you trust.

What is in a lens?

Lens makers point to materials (modules and collections), creating a guide that includes their own comments and descriptive tags about the content.

Who can create a lens?

Any individual member, a community, or a respected organization.

What are tags? tag icon

Tags are descriptors added by lens makers to help label content, attaching a vocabulary that is meaningful in the context of the lens.

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