Please make sure your Browser is maximized to see data in its best format. Turning off Favorites, History, Search, and other browser options will increase the screen area available for map viewing. Please note that “Pop Up Blockers” may interfere with the use of the mapping system. We recommend that you disable them for best results of our mapping service. Your browser's “Back”, “Forward” and “Print” buttons will not usually produce the results you expect. Your browser's Refresh Button will return you to the full view of our regional mapping (as at startup).
Navigating the maps and map services is mostly done within the map screens. There are 4 main parts to the map screen:
- Map Display Area – The right centre area (largest part of the screen) is where the mapping and graphics appear.
- Tool Bar – located across the top (green area) and displays various tools available to you for navigating and searching the map. Their use is explained below in section 3.
- III. Information Panel – located on the left side of the screen (purple area). Search query boxes and currently available "layers" information will be found in this area of the screen. It can also be used to display the map legend.
- Links
Bar – located along the bottom right side of the page
(light blue area). This displays various links to the Help
(instructions) page, Contact Us, our GIS Disclaimer and the RDCO
Home page. By using the Help link you can refer to this
Instruction page for assistance while using the maps as it opens
in a separate, smaller window for easy reference.
Legend 
displays the map legend key on the information panel on the left side of the
screen indicating what each map symbol represents.
Layers 
(yellow colored layer icon). This tool opens a list of optional themes (layers)
that you may select to have visible on maps. You can choose from up to a dozen
options. A more detailed description appears below, in section 4.
Toggle 
(rectangle with red box in upper left corner) Clicking on this tool will insert
a small overview map onto the upper left hand corner of the general map display
area. When zoomed into a small area, this overview map can be helpful in
keeping track of where you are on the main map.
Zoom In 
(the magnifying glass with the + sign) Use this tool to make objects on the map
bigger.
To zoom in to an area, Pick the Zoom in button from the panel,
release and move over the map. Pick lower left corner of area of interest, hold
mouse button down and drag away. Release mouse button at upper right corner of
the area you want to see. The map will regenerate showing the area you have
selected. Some layers may disappear and some new layers may become visible. The
current scale will be shown in status area, bottom right. This scale is useful
for deciding whether to turn on more layers.
Zoom Out 
(the magnifying glass with the - sign) Use this to make objects on the map
smaller, and see more area.
Pick the ZOOM OUT button, release, then
move over the map and click mouse once over the map’s center (or where you want
the new center to be). The map will redisplay with more area visible. Again,
some layers may disappear or reappear.
Zoom to Full Extent 
(blank magnifying glass). Clicking this button will cause the map to expand to
show all areas of the map.
Back to Last Element 
Clicking on this button will cause the map to return to your immediately
previous map view.
Pan 
(hand) Click and release this button to turn on the pan tool. Now place the
cursor over the map, click down, and drag the map in the direction you wish to
move it. Release the button and the map will regenerate using the same scale
but having a new centre.
Identity Tool 
(lower case letter 'i') – Click on this button and release to turn your mouse
cursor into a query tool. Click on an item of interest in the map, that is on
the active layer, and a popup report will indicate attribute data about that
item. For example, a road segment will indicate the name, segment length, and
possibly an address range. If nothing happens either you didn't click quite
close enough to the entity or you forgot the make the correct layer “active”.
Search Tool 
(small image of table with red question mark) – Clicking on this button will
open up a search box in the information panel area.
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You can select from three programmed search functions: Find a Parcel, Locate a Street or Locate a Park. Selecting one of these options will open a new box in the information panel, allowing you to type in the search criteria (such as parcel information, a road name or the name of a park or features in parks that you would like to find)
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Information about the item or items you requested will appear in a table on the left side of the screen. It is possible that many entities match your query and all will be listed. You can then scroll to the one of interest. A link is provided in the Record box, allowing you to go directly to the appropriate map. For Parks searches a link appears along the bottom that allows you to go directly to the website page with specific information pertaining to that specific park.
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Measure Distance 
(image of ruler) Use this tool to measure distances on the map. Each time you
click the map, a new point is added. If you click the map three times, you will
end up with two lines segments – one from the first point to the second point
and one from the second point to the third.
You can add as many
segments as you like. As you move your mouse away from the last point, the
segment length changes in the Segment text box. The next time you click the
map, the new segment length is added to the total length in the Total text box.
To clear the Total and remove segments from the map, click Clear Selection on
the toolbar. If you are done measuring, click another tool on the toolbar.
Clear Selection Tool 
(image of eraser) Click this tool at any time to clear any selections you may
have made. This tool is often used when you make a mistake and wish to start
selecting all over, or when you complete one query and wish to start fresh on a
new query.
Print Map Tool 
(image of printer) Click this tool and print options will appear below the map
display area. A new browser window opens containing a printable version of your
map. Click the print icon to immediately print the map or you can use the File
and Print menu. When the print dialogue box appears, check the print settings
and make any necessary changes. Click okay and the map prints complete with a
title, disclaimer and North arrow.
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A layer represents a theme within a map, such as roads, properties, lakes, and so on. Data can be represented by a line, a solid area, a point symbol, or text. Some layers can be viewed at any scale (they are always available). Many layers are only available within certain scale limits. Layers containing detailed information such as legal descriptions will usually not display until you zoom in close and reduce the scale.
Only one layer can be “active” at any one time. You can make a layer active by clicking the radio button next to the name. Queries automatically apply to the active layer. For example, to query for road names, the “roads” layer must be active. The results of the identity function will also depend on which layer is active.
Initially, the following layers are available on the GIS map system:
- RDCO Boundaries- this layer shows the boundaries of the Regional District of Central Okanagan.
- Major Highways- this layer will display major highways within the region.
- Water Districts- when this layer is activated, information will be displayed showing the specific water districts within the Regional District.
- Fire Districts- when this layer is active, information will be displayed showing the specific fire district within the Regional District.
- Map Grids- this layer shows map grid numbers for reference on various printed topographic maps
- Lakes- this layer will show only larger lakes within the Regional District. Please note no names are currently displayed.
- Jurisdictions- this layer will show a colored display outlining local municipalities and native reserves within the Regional District of Central Okanagan boundaries.
These additional layers are available on more detailed map views:
- Zone Annotations- indicates the current zoning of parcels
- Legal Descriptions- indicates the current legal description of parcels
- Roads- shows roads when activated
- Road Names- shows the names of roads
- Land Use Zones- indicates current land use for properties
- Land Use Contracts- this layer indicates whether zoning has been modified
- RDCO Parks- this layer shows parks in the Regional District of Central Okanagan
- Parcels- when activated, this layer displays parcels
When available, a layer can be turned off and on by clicking the check box to the left of the layer name. Layers are drawn on your screen over top of each other in the reverse order they are listed in the layers section. Since some layers may hide layers you are interested in, you may need to turn off some layers. Also, reducing the data clutter on the screen will refresh a map faster and the view will be less confusing.
If you turn a layer on and no new data appears, it may be because you are in a part of the map where no data exists such as areas outside of built-up areas. Or another layer may be hiding the data you seek.