Metromap Help


Using the Map


How do I use this map?
Clicking on the help button above the map will reveal pointers to the components of the site.



How do I change the map type?
A 'base' map is one which lies below other 'operational' layers. The default basemap is the Metro Basemap - a map of essential, regional reference data. Additional basemaps, including air photos are available by hovering over the 'basemap' icon in the top right corner. To view the full selection of basemaps, click the button at the bottom of the panel. While street-style basemaps are similar, each contains slightly different content for viewing.


How do I turn layers on or off?
Map 'layers' sit on top of the basemap and are available for display as needed. These layers include: service districts, zoning, and many others. By clicking on the 'layer' tab in the left panel, one can view available layers. Clicking on a layer will turn it on and off. *Note that some layers may not be visible depending on the zoom level of the map.


How do I view the map legend?
By clicking on the arrow next to a map layer, you can expand the map legend.


How do I quickly zoom in?
In order to quickly zoom in by drawing a 'zoom'-box on the map, hold down the shift key and the left mouse button and simply draw a box on the map. The map will zoom immediately to your area of interest.


How do I identify a property or taxlot?
The 'identify' tool is a tool that, when activated, allows the user to query data by clicking on the map. In order to activate the identify tool, click on the circle with an 'i' in the middle of it, below the layers icon. The button will turn blue when active and the mouse should display a question mark next to the pointer. Proceed to click on the map in desired locations while the information panel displays associated information.


When I identify, sometimes I get a marker, and sometimes a taxlot!?
Taxlots are often separated by right-of-ways (streets); since right-of-ways do not contain taxlot information, these types of map queries are not drawn but rather plotted with a point. When identifying at a small map scale (eg. zoomed way out) it is likely that you will encounter both taxlots and right of ways when identifying.

Using the information panel


How do I see more/less information?
In order to conserve space on the site, the most relevant data is displayed in each category with less relevant data hidden beneath. By clicking on the 'more' link at the bottom of each section, more information is available. Note that once expanded, the 'more' link now becomes a 'less' link and will collapse the data again.


I don't see the information I'm looking for!?
If you don't see what you're looking for, be sure to expand each section to ensure that it is not in the information panel, but just hidden. For reasons of liability, Metro is not able to display taxlot ownership information. If taxlot ownership information is desired, please refer to individual county's web mapping utilities: Multnomah County, Washington County, and Clackamas County. If additional non-taxlot-related information is desired, please contact the Metro Data Resource Center for custom maps and information requests.

How do I expand/collapse/resize the information panel?
If map browsing, without querying is preferred, the information panel can be collapsed by *either* clicking on the collapse button in the top right of the panel *or* the center button of the resize bar. For your convenience, these methods are illustrated in the below image:


Where does this information come from?
Geographic Information System or GIS data are created and maintained at the Metro Data Resource Center, as well as by other jurisdictions and agencies throughout the region. Metro serves as a clearinghouse for spatial data - providing a "one stop shopping" approach to accessing regional data. These regional data are known as the Regional Land Information System (RLIS). The information provided in MetroMap comes directly from RLIS and is updated quarterly. For more information on the individual layers, please visit the RLISQuery/Metromap metadata page.

Air Photos


What years of air photos are available?
Air photos are currently available for 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011. More years of air photos will be added as they become available.


Why do air photos from different years cover different areas?
Extended air photo coverage is staggered every other year.



What can I enter in the textbox to search for?
The textbox above the map accepts numerous inputs: Address, street intersection, points of interest, taxlot ID (*note - not R numbers), and zipcodes. The textbox is enhanced with autosuggest to assist in finding the desired location. Examples: 600 NE Grand Ave, Rocky Butte, Grand and Burnside, 97232, 1N1E35BC -03700. The more information you can provide the search, the better the results. Pressing the enter key or clicking on the search button will submit the query. Optionally, you may click on autosuggest candidates directly.

I can't find the location I'm looking for!? or my address isn't in the right place!!
Due to the difficulty of correctly tracking hundreds of thousands of addresses in the Portland Metro region, locations will occasionally slip through the cracks. If, after entering your address, the autosuggest fails to provide any candidates, it is likely that your 'address point' is not on file. A slightly different, less accurate algorithm will thus likely be employed to locate your address.

Saving the Map


How can I save my map?
Metromap is able to bookmark your map location and zoom, your query, the basemap and any layers the might be turned on.By clicking on the bookmark button, the bookmark dialog becomes available. Within this dialog are 3 options: (1) Metromap link - a link to your map within the Metromap application, (2) Bare link - a link to your map in an empty web page. (3) Embed - the previous item within a pre-canned iframe HTML object. *Note that items 2 and 3 do not currently include Metromap functionality such as the basemap nor layer selector.

How can I embed my map?
Simply place the embed code on any html page in order to include a map alongside your own content.

<iframe src='http://gis.oregonmetro.gov/metromap/embed/?c=45.509136,-122.711846&z=16&b=esriGray&q=Oregon%20Zoo&src=embed'
width='425' height='350' frameborder='0' scrolling='no' marginheight='0' marginwidth='0'></iframe>