Queensland Globe help

Queensland Globe version 2.8 resolves a number of issues present in previous versions, and introduces Queensland Globe Offline.

Queensland Globe Offline lets you copy layer and place content in saved 2D maps to the browser cache on your laptop or android tablet. This content can then be accessed when using the device in areas that do not have internet coverage.

While Offline, you can:

• Query and Identify layers within the map
• Pinpoint your location through GPS (if you are within the extent of your map)
• Use the Drawing tools to mark places on the map, which can be transferred back to your online maps

There have been recent updates to the structure of layers under Water Plans and other items, as well as Biosecurity information, which displays a variety of flora and fauna zones across Queensland.

This tutorial offers an overview of features and functions; familiarity with the interface; and knowledge of capabilities.

This tutorial will provide you with information on how to add data to the map with the Topics and Layers panels as well as perform searches for specific locations.

It will build on proficiency with adding data to the map and performing searches; and managing the data that appears in the map through the Topics and Layers panels.

In this tutorial we will look at ways to view and query information associated with many of the layers in the Queensland Globe as well as export to KML, CSV, SHP or GeoJSON files. We will also talk about the concept of Places as a way to store locations and edit drawn objects on the map.

It will help give an understanding of how to view and query specific information; and ability to use Places to store locations and customise the map.

In this tutorial we will explore methods by which we can save and share our maps with others. For sharing maps, two approaches will be looked at. One is a method of saving and sharing our Queensland Globe map. The other is printing our map view.

It will guide users to save display settings and data as a map; sharing your maps and data with others; and how to print a map.

This tutorial will help showcase the differences between 2D, 3D and 360 view modes available within the Globe.

It will detail the controls that each mode use, viewing 3D Elevation profiles, and working in 360 mode.

This tutorial will provide information on how to search and view Imagery in the Queensland Globe.

It will introduce the Past Imagery Tool, navigating through the time slider, viewing historical imagery on the Queensland Globe and in QImagery, and how to narrow search results.

This tutorial covers Queensland Globe Offline, with the ability to save maps to a device and access them without an internet connection.

It will show how to create and use Offline maps, as well as important information to be aware of while using Queensland Globe Offline.

The Queensland Globe has been designed to work on a range of devices including tablets and smartphones. The application displays high quality imagery and data that is best viewed on personal computers with either Windows 7, 8 or 10 operating system, and later model smartphones or tablets. The user's choice of web browser on their device influences the response speed, and the recommendation is to use Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Firefox or Safari rather than Microsoft Internet Explorer. If required to use Internet Explorer, please ensure it is up to date with the latest version.

Improving Globe Performance

• Check your browser and versions - ensure they are up to date
• Use recent versions of Google Chrome for the best performance
• Search for a location or zoom to your area of interest before adding layers
• Limit the layers that are active - remove the layers you won't be using
• Using layers more efficiently means less data requests (usage), and loading speeds will improve

Before using Queensland Globe Offline, there are some key points that users must be aware of.

• Taking a map offline will save it to the cache of that particular device's browser that generates the Offline map
• Offline maps are only accessible on the device and browser they are created on.
• As they are saved in the browser cache, please be aware that clearing the cache will remove all Queensland Globe Offline map data present on the device.
• It is recommended to clear your browser cache prior to creating your Offline map.
• Offline maps must be in 2D mode

Browser performance

The preferred browser for Queensland Globe and Queensland Globe Offline is Chrome. Firefox users may experience performance issues when saving Offline maps. Performance is also impacted once an offline map is saved, including in the normal Queensland Globe application.

The maps are saved within your device's browser cache, so it is important to note that any mobile cleaning/security software may try to clear the cache to protect or improve performance. Please be aware of this possibility, as it will clear any Offline map data as well.

Device and browser availability

Creating and using Offline maps

To create an Offline map, users must first log in

Select the Maps menu - A Map must be saved to the user’s login before it can be taken offline

Click the dropdown arrow to the right of the Map you wish to take Offline

Select the "Take Offline" option

The Globe processes the layers that will be available Offline (“Included layers”), those that will be left behind because they are not visible or used (“Excluded layers”), any Place data, and will estimate the size of the map, indicating the storage needed on the device.

If you wish to change the name of the Offline Map, please remember to do so on this screen as you will not be able to change it later.

Click on "Save" to start generating the map

The map will begin downloading onto your device, this can take up to a few minutes - depending on the size of the map

Again, it is important to remember that each Offline map can only be accessed on the device it was originally saved to.

If the map fails to generate at this point, a message will appear detailing the issue (possibly connection issues or available device storage), and the process will need to be restarted.

Once the map is finished saving, the link provided will open Queensland Globe Offline, where you can view your Offline maps. It is recommended to open the link and bookmark it or add it as a shortcut to your device for quick access

The link will land on a blank Queensland Globe Offline with your Maps menu open, displaying the Offline maps that have been created on that device. Clicking on the icon alongside the Map name will launch it

You can also access your Offline maps directly from the Maps menu if you are still online, like any other saved map.

With an Offline map, you are able to Identify and Query layers, and draw places and text on the map. You can also pinpoint your location - provided you are within the extent of your Offline map, and your browser and device support using the location tool

Offline maps do not have the full functionality as the standard Queensland Globe, and as such some features are not enabled. There is also a limit zooming in and out, allowing only two additional zoom levels in. Data saved outside the extent that can be found by panning the map will only show “Map data not available”.

Once you are finished with your Offline map and wish to return to the Online Globe, there is a button located near the top right of the screen that will take you back when network connectivity is available

If you have drawn places on your Offline map and wish to bring your work back into the Globe, there is an option in the Maps menu to “Add All To Places” – which loads all Places from the selected Offline Map into your current Map. You will need to save your online Map with these changes.

If loading the places back to your online map, please be aware that Place duplicates may be made if they were present before the map was taken Offline, and may need to be checked.

Once you are finished with your Offline map, you can clear your cache to free up space on your device.

The best way to find out the date of the imagery that you are trying to identify is to use the Past Imagery Tool, located down near the lower right corner of the screen. Using the Past Imagery Tool, you can navigate to your selected area, search through all available imagery and discover capture dates for the most recent Imagery available, as well as historical aerial photography.

Adding the imagery project as a layer ensures you are seeing that project’s imagery and you can be sure of the capture date from the associated project attributes.

Using the Past Imagery Tool

To activate the Past Imagery Tool, zoom in to the point where it lights up and click the icon.

The timeline displayed along the bottom of the screen shows the date (year) of the imagery available for the current screen extent.

The numbers shown below the timeline represent how many images were captured during that year. Click on the arrows pointing left/right to explore earlier/later years.

Once a year is selected, the timeline will display prominently the months when the imagery was captured. Click on the arrows pointing left/right to explore adjacent earlier/later years.

Selecting a month will return the first image captured, and allow you to scroll through the Images and Projects using the Previous/Next options down along the bottom right.

There are buttons below the descriptive text to allow:

• Viewing the extent of the imagery on the map
  
• Adding the image as a Layer or a Place
  
• Previewing the imagery, as well as providing a link to QImagery to download and explore the imagery in greater detail
  

Clicking 'View Gallery' will expand the Past Imagery Tool to preview thumbnails of images found within the same timeframe/project.

If the screen is moved or you would like to search for past Imagery at a different location, navigate to the desired location and click on the refresh button (which will light up upon movement).

The filter option can be used to search for Imagery within a specified timeframe. The underlying white line on the slider displays where the earliest and latest Imagery has been captured. Alternatively, a date can be selected with the dropdown boxes.

360 data can be accessed quickly by looking through the Topics menu.

All of the new 360 data can be found in the Topics menu, under the 360 category on the left side. Click the launch button to start up a selected Topic.

360 mode is then launched into a local scene at the Topic’s map position, presenting 3D data both above and below the surface of Queensland.

The controls while in this view are similar to 3D, Left click to Pan, Right click to tilt, and mouse scroll to zoom in and out. There are also the normal navigation tools available on the lower right side of the screen.

If you lose track of your local scene, you can navigate back to it through the drawing tools (in the top right), using the Reset Map button, or by clicking the Reset Tilt button (near the navigation tools down near the bottom right).

360 mode can be activated any time the button is lit up, and will create a local scene based on your current screen position.

Before you can save and share maps, you will need to sign up with a provider account, or Login to the Queensland Globe with an existing account. Your Queensland Globe login will enable you to save maps up to 10MB in size, and then share them directly with a URL or through different media platforms.

Saving and sharing maps

1. Select Login or sign up
   
2. Select account or sign up
   
3. Create your map with additional layers, web services, zoom level, tools and places as required
   
   
   
4. Select maps
   
5. When you are ready to save your map select save as, type a relevant map name, then click 'Ok' to save
   
6. To share a map select the drop down on your saved map
   
7. Select share
   
8. Select next
   
9. Share your map via email, Facebook, Twitter or copy the URL
   

Save and share maps video

Import data

The Globe supports the import of simple GPX, KML, KMZ SHP or CSV files, where simple means; only positional data for place marks and polygons, and no other functionality (i.e. 3D objects, labels, tabular data, etc) and does not display embedded images or references from the file.

To add your own data to the Queensland Globe

1. Select the Layers button
   
2. Click on the Add My Data button at the bottom of the Layers panel
   
3. Drag and drop or browse to a GPX, KML, KMZ, SHP or CSV file of your choice or paste in a URL of a web map service
   

   When importing KML, KMZ, GPX, SHP and CSV files, they are handled as layers with attributes. These layers can be then be queried with the identify tool like other layers in the globe.

   Files are supported up to 20MB in size and up to 5000 features. Contents of a .shp or .kml file(s) must be under 20MB in its original format before compression.

   Shapefile content must be contained within a zip file and must include the mandatory files .shp, .dbf and .shx. The other shapefile file types can also be included but are not mandatory. A zip file must only contain one .shp file as content. Icon images can be displayed if they reference a publicly available web address.

   Although the supported import size has been increased up to 20MB, the size limit for saved maps is currently 10MB - please ensure you are within the limits if planning to save and share your maps.

   CSV import format

   When importing .csv files, the minimum mandatory columns are "Lat" and "Long" (or "Latitude" and "Longitude") and at least one other column.

   For example:
   

   Additional data columns will be treated in the Globe as fields that can be displayed as attributes using the Identify tool.

   Importing web maps and services

   Web map service types that are supported in the Globe, include:

   • OGC services (WMS and WMTS)
   • ESRI REST services

   OGC Web service support includes:

   • WMS - handles up to 9 sub-layers
   • WMS - when using the Identify tool a precise point is needed, a buffer will not provide a result
   • WMS - services needing a username and password are not supported
   • WMTS - Identify tool unavailable on this service
   • WMS/WMTS - service capability needs to support the Web Mercator projection (EPSG:3857 and equivalents) to match the basemap spatial reference
   • WFS is not supported at this time

Export data

There are a number of ways you can export a CSV, KML, SHP or GeoJSON file:

1. Add your item of interest to Places and download directly from the Places panel
• Using one of the drawing tools on the map i.e. the point, rectangle, line, polygon or circle tool will automatically add it to places
  
• Or select the ADD TO PLACES icon from a search result or a query layer attributes result
  
  
  
• Then select the Place button to open the Places panel and then download your file type of choice
  
2. Use the identify tool and click on an area of interest to bring up the layers panel, you can download the count of layers as a CSV or select your item of interest in the layers panel to bring up the features panel (image below) then download all the attributes as a KML, GeoJSON, SHP or CSV
   
3. Use the Query layer attributes function to download as per above

Please note: The limit on download size is 1000 rows, GeoJSON/KML/SHP files will export a maximum of 50,000 vertices.

Import and export video

Select the Spanner (top right) to pop out the toolbar use a drawing tool.

To edit an existing Place, navigate to the Places menu tab on the left, then click Edit places.

Navigating while drawing and editing

Once a drawing tool has been chosen or Edit Places has been selected, the Mouse acts as an edit tool for your drawn/edited objects and has the following functionality:

• Mouse hover:
  • Highlights the outline of geometry, and also presents the potential to add a vertex along a perimeter line
• Single click:
  • Selects geometry and highlights it’s perimeter, as well as showing all its vertices, or deselects all if clicked outside any geometry or vertex
  • Adds a new vertex at clicked location along a line or perimeter, or selects and highlights a specific vertex if clicked directly
• Double click:
  • Adds a new vertex at clicked location along a line or perimeter
  • Double clicking away from geometry on the map zooms in at the specified location
• Click and drag:
  • Within a geometry, close to a line, or directly on a vertex enables the mouse to move it around
  • While editing places when none are selected, enables normal mouse panning of the map
• Scroll wheel:
  • Changes zoom level of the map
• Crosshair cursor:
  • Helps specify when a vertex can be added over a line or perimeter
• Move hover:
  • Helps specify when selected geometry or text label can be moved

There are a number of Keyboard keys that can be used to help navigate while the mouse is being used to draw:

• The arrow keys move the screen in the selected direction (Up/Down/Left/Right)
• Using “+” or “-“ will zoom in or zoom out respectively (2D view only)
  • The Numbers key pad also works as long as Num Lock is off
• Pressing the “A” or “D” keys will rotate the view left or right respectively (2D view only)
• Pressing the “N” key will reset the orientation back to pointing North (2D and 3D view)
• Pressing the “J” or “U” keys will change the zoom level (3D view only)
• Pressing the “P” key will reset the tilt from oblique to aerial view (3D view only)
• Pressing the “Delete” key if any geometry or vertex has been selected will delete them
• Pressing the “Esc” (Escape) key deselects all geometry, vertices and active operations

Some of these shortcuts are not only used during drawing, they can be used for general Globe use as well.

1. An easy way to add land valuations and associated information to the Queensland Globe is by adding the Land Valuations Topic. On the Queensland Globe left side menu bar, select Topics
   


2. Select the launch button on the land valuations Topic
   


3. Select either the 'add to the Globe' or 'replace the current topic' button
   

Searching for a Property

4. There are several ways to find the property you are interested in. you can:
   • pan and zoom to it using the navigation tools,
   • search for a property by address, lot/plan or its Property Id,
   • select a property by its Property Id and highlight its boundary using a Layer Query. This method is recommended for large multi-lot properties.
5. To search for a property by address, lot/plan or its Property ID, select Search on the menu
   
   • Select your desired search method from the list of options. To search by Property ID select features of QLD
     
   • Type in the street address, lot and plan or Property ID of the place you are interested in, then hit enter or click the magnifying glass, then select the desired place from the results
     
   • The place will now be identified on the main Queensland Globe window. Zoom in to the property to see more information such as:
     • White label - Property ID number
     • Green label - new valuation (visible during revaluation period)
     • Gold label - current valuation
       


6. To select a property by its Property ID and highlight the property boundary on the map, select Layers on the menu
   
   • Find the Valuation layer and click on the down arrow beside he layer name to expose more functions
     
   • Select Query layer attributes and set up a query to select your Property ID, then press Query Layer
     
   • Click on the result to reveal the selected property record
     
   • then click on the Add to Places button to highlight the property on the map
     
   • Select Places on the menu
     
   • then click on the Property ID record to zoom to the highlighted property on the map
     
     
     

To discover more detailed information

To discover more detailed information regarding that land valuation you can use the Identify tool.

8. Select the Spanner (top right) to pop out the toolbar
   
9. Select the Identify tool from the toolbar array
   
10. The Identify menu gives you a number of options. Click the Select First Item checkbox
    
11. Then click on the preferred lot
    
12. This will display the Attributes menu for the location selected
    
13. You may need to use the Left and Right arrows at the top of the menu to toggle through the Attributes panels to get to your property valuation information
    

Land valuation video

1. Select Topics
   
2. Scroll down to the Property Topic and select the launch button
   
3. Select either the add to the Globe or replace the current topic button
   
4. Zoom to area of interest
   
5. Select the Identify tool from the Toolbar menu
   
6. The Identify menu gives you a number of options. Click the Select first item checkbox
   
7. Select the land parcel
   
8. The Attributes panel will display, scroll down and then select Information and products
   
   

   Please note: you may need to use the left and right arrows at the top of the attributes panel to toggle through and access the land parcel information.

9. Select the links to view a SmartMap or perform a Title Search
   

1. Once you are in the Queensland Globe map interface, click on the Layers button
   
2. Click Add layers
   
3. Type 'Registered water bores', or 'Survey control' then hit enter or click the blue filter icon
   
   
   
4. Turn on either the 'Registered water bores (DNRME and private)' or the Survey Control layer
   
   
   
5. Zoom or search to the required location
6. Select the identify tool and click on Select first item
   
7. Click on the desired bore or survey control mark
   
8. Select the Bore report link at the bottom of the Registered water bores Attributes panel or the Report link near the top of the Survey control mark Attributes panel
   
   
   • Please note: You may need to use the forward and back arrows in the black section of the Attributes panel toggle to the relevant information

Queensland globe allows you to show the elevation profile of the terrain available in the 3D view (on 3D compatible devices).

To display the terrain profile:

1. Toogle from 2D to 3D view
   
2. Using the line tool from the toolbar, draw a line on the map
   
3. View the line you created in
   
4. Expand to view further options, select
   
5. View the profile
   
6. Click and drag the point to move along the length of your line
   

How to view an elevation profile video

To identify these layers that can be queried by attributes look for:

To use layer attributes follow the instructions below:

1. Open layers
2. Toogle the on the right hand side of the layer name to expand menu options
   
3. Select the Query layer attributes option
   
4. For this example we will query the Land parcel tenures layer
5. Select attribute, operator and search criteria
   
6. Click QUERY LAYER
   
7. The results from your query are returned
   
8. Expand to view further details
   

Query layer attributes video

The Queensland Globe’s move from the Google Earth platform was an outcome of Google deprecating the technology and no longer supporting it. As a result some features provided by Google Earth like flight simulators, Google tours, directions and time slider of historic imagery are not available in the new Queensland Globe. The new web based platform allows the Queensland Globe to be easily accessible on multiple devices and evolve over time. The new Queensland Globe will continue to have updates and features added into the future.

You can pin an icon for Queensland Globe to your smartphone home/tablet screen for quick access. So rather than having to open a browser and enter the web address, you can simply click on the Queensland Globe icon on your home screen to open it.

Android

• Launch Chrome and type in http://qldglobe.information.qld.gov.au
• Tap the menu
  
• Tap Add to Home Screen
• You will be able to enter a name for the shortcut
  
• Then Chrome will add the shortcut to your home screen

Other popular Android browsers like Firefox for Android also offer this feature.

iPhone & iPad

• Launch the Safari browser on Apple's iOS and navigate to the website or web page you want to add to your home screen
• Tap the Share button on the browser's toolbar - that's the rectangle with an arrow pointing upward.
  It is located on the bar at the top of the screen on an iPad, and on the bar at the bottom of the screen on an iPhone or iPod Touch
  
  
• Tap the Add to Home Screen icon in the Share menu
  
• You'll be prompted to name the shortcut before tapping the Add button
  
• The shortcut can be dragged around and placed anywhere, including in app folders - just like a normal app icon
  (To create app folders on iOS, touch-and-drag an app's icon onto another app's icon and hold it there for a moment)
• When you tap the icon, it will load the website in a normal tab inside the Safari browser app