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.
| Zoom In |
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Select tool and click map to zoom in to a particular area. |
| Zoom Out |
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Select tool and click map to zoom out over a particular area. |
| Zoom to Country |
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Click on the Country tool to view the map of the entire country. |
| Pan |
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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.
| Identify Place |
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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 |
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Select tool and enter place name below to search for a location. |
| Measure |
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Select tool and click on map to measure distance between points (clicks). |
| Set Units |
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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
| Clear Map |
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Select tool to clear features and measurements from map. |
| Print Map |
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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.
| Information |
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Select for information about the data layer. |
