NRCS Geospatial Data Gateway Enhancements

 

We mentioned in earlier email messages to agency personnel that we were planning to deploy a state interface in the gateway so users can more conveniently order maps for multiple counties or by state.  The capability is now available, as are other enhancements to the gateway.  Each enhancement, along with screen shots, is described below.

 

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  1. Quick County – This option remains unchanged for continuity with previous versions.  However, users will quickly discover that Quick County(s) can be used instead by selecting only one county.

 

  1. Place Search Gazetteer – This option was previously available as Quick Search. It is still available unchanged except that the option is on the right side of the screen since it is a navigation aid as well.

 

  1. Quick County(s) – This option provides for ordering one or more counties at the same time.  Each request should normally be for no more than 20 counties.  Users will simply select the state and click on the desired counties as shown below.  Each county will be submitted as a separate order and packaged by county.  Users will receive a separate email for each county ordered; thereby, permitting users to separately download each county when the FTP option is selected.  Separate CD sets will be received for each county ordered when the CD option is selected. 

 

 

When Quick Counties is used, an Auto Zone projection option for vector data is presented in Step 3.  When selected, the vector data will be projected to the dominant UTM or State Plane Zone for the county.  Other projection options permit the user to obtain maps in geographic or projected to a common zone.

 

 

 

The order confirmation page will present a list of order numbers, one for each county ordered.

 

 

  1. Quick State – This enhancement permits users to order data for an entire state.  This option can easily produce very large data volumes and should be used judiciously.  Orders should be tailored to manageable sizes for this reason.  A message will warn users if orders become too big. 

 

Tip: The gateway determines the order size as you click on products in Step 2.  A running total is presented at the bottom of the screen.  Simply unclick datasets to decrease the order size.

 

The Auto Zone Option is not available for Quick State because all data is collected and delivered as a single order.  Only one email will be received when using Quick State.  The data will be delivered county by county as with Quick County or Quick County(s).  All vector data will be in a single projection. 

 

Note:  We have no plans at this time to deliver maps by state as a single shapefile. 


 

  1. Minimum Bounding Rectangle (MBR) – Users can enter bounding coordinates to enclose an area of interest.  This option is available on the right side of the Step 1 screen.  The dialogue box shown below permits the user to enter coordinates in degrees/minutes/seconds or decimal degrees. 

 

Click on Continue to see a map with the MBR outlined in blue.  The MBR tool can be used to iteratively refine the MBR.  Otherwise, click on Continue to Step 2 to go directly to Step 2 and select products for delivery.

 

Data are packaged the same as if the mouse is used to define the MBR.

 

 

  1. Info - An Info button on the right side of the Step 1 screen provides Extent and Legend information on the map being displayed.