County GIS

County of Peterborough Web-GIS

What is "Web GIS"?

"GIS" stands for "Geographical Information System" and refers to a computer-based system for storing, analyzing, and displaying map and database information. A regular map shows only spatial data such as lakes, roads, and vegetation. A geographic information system (GIS) goes further by linking attribute data to spatial data. For example, address ranges and street names can be linked to street segments. This link creates "intelligent" map features and provides the ability to analyze spatial data, letting you use map data in a whole new way. After you have worked with the map and the data to specify what you want to display, you can print the current map view or copy it into another document.

When GIS data and functionality are made available over the Internet, as has been done for the County of Peterborough, the system is referred to as a "Web GIS". With Web GIS, users do not need to purchase and install expensive GIS software in order to access and work with maps and databases. Also, users do not need to become experts in sophisticated GIS applications, since the functionality is made available through a regular web browser and an integrated Viewer with a simple, user-friendly interface. (However, users do need to have patience while the MapGuide Viewer downloads data from the server, which can take several minutes, particularly with a slow Internet connection.

How to Use the Peterborough County Web-GIS

Download and install the MapGuide Viewer Plug-in (approx 3mb) on your computer. The Viewer is free and easy to install.
1. Select the Windows Internet Explorer Plug-in and save the EXE file to your hard drive. (This site does not operate Netscape plug-in at this time, check for future updates)
2. Browse to the saved location and double-click the EXE file.
3. Follow the installation directions and install the MapGuide Viewer on your system. This setup only needs to be done once in order to access the County of Peterborough site or any other Autodesk MapGuide site. Postings of future upgrades will be available on this site.
Enter the Peterborough County Web-GIS.

Find what you’re looking for in the Selection frame.
1. Under “What are you looking for?”, select a search feature (ex. Lakes).
2. Under “Where is it located?”, select individual or multiple municipalities, or the entire county. The search area will become coloured in the map window.
3. Press “Get List” to find features matching your criteria.
4. Under “Select feature & click Display” make your selection.
5. Press “Display” to zoom into your selection and display information at the bottom of the browser window.
6. After zooming in, feature symbols will become visible with a common name viewable by hovering over the symbol.
To navigate, use the Viewer Toolbar.

For a description of each of the toolbar buttons, see the Viewer Toolbar quick reference.

Screen Settings

This site is optimized for Microsoft's Internet Explorer web browser (i.e. not tested with Netscape Navigator, Mozilla, Opera, or any other browser) and works best with a screen resolution of 1024 x 768 or higher. At 800 x 600, some items - such as the list and button in the middle of the right panel - may not be visible. To resolve this, try any combination of the following:

maximize your browser window if it's not already full size (double-click on its title bar)
increase screen resolution if possible (right click on desktop, select Properties and Settings)
decrease the size or number of toolbars (View > Toolbars and View > Toolbars > Customize)
move the toolbars, address field, and menu bar into one row (next to each other instead of below each other)
decrease the display size of text (View > Text Size)
if none of the above ideas help... scroll the middle-right panel down until the Get List button is visible.

Help

For more information while using the map, select Help from the right-click menu in the map window.

Credits

The County’s Web-GIS was made possible, thanks in part, through the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources’ GeoSmart Program.

Disclaimer

This is a public website and is intended for your personal and non-commercial use. The County of Peterborough its employees, or agents, do not undertake to guarantee the validity of the contents of this website and mapping application, and will not be liable for any claims for damages or loss arising from their application or interpretation, by any party. The data presented is for illustrative purposes only and is not a substitute for a legal survey. Do not rely on this map for legal administrative purposes or applications that require accurate positional data. Do not rely on it as being a precise indicator of routes, locations of features, or as a guide to navigation. This map may contain cartographic errors or omissions

Map Source Acknowledgements

This road network information has been generated or adapted from the Ontario Road Network Database, a database built from source data provided by the Municipalities of Ontario to the Government of Ontario under licence. The Ontario Road Network Database is the property of the Government of Ontario and is used under license from the Government of Ontario. Copyright 2004, Queen’s printer for Ontario.

For more information please call:

Tammy Sikma, Manager of GIS
(705) 743-0380 Ext 346
or E-mail tsikma@county.peterborough.on.ca