- 2007 Aerial Photos Now in iMAP (3/19/09)
- Downtime for Scheduled Maintenance on March 8, 2009 (3/6/09)
- Step back in time with iMAP's 1936 aerial photos! (6/23/08)
- New parcel label option: house number labels (10/24/07)
- New iMAP Map Set: Electoral Districts (10/24/07)
- A Big Step Up for iMAP Printing (04/02/07)
- 2005 Aerial Photos Now in iMAP (03/12/07)
- Easier iMAP Property Searches (03/12/07)
- New Map Set for iMAP: Shoreline Master Program (01/18/07)
- iMAP Makeover: Easier to Read Maps, Coordinate Mapping, Smart Links (10/20/06)
- Measure More with New iMAP Measure Tool Features (08/31/06)
- New Data Layers for iMAP's Sensitive Areas Map Set (07/18/06)
- New iMAP Custom Print Options (03/31/06)
- iMAP Changes: Improved Layer List, Additional Map Layers, User-Controlled Markup Tools (12/19/05)
- New iMAP Layers: Improved Elevation Contours, Mountain Peaks (09/30/05)
- Map Set Retired: WRIA 8 Action Agenda (04/18/05)
- Condominium Unit Descriptions Available
- Pop-Up Blockers
The King County GIS Center is pleased to announce the addition of 2007 color aerial photos to all iMAP map sets. This set of aerial photography was acquired in July 2007 at a resolution of 6-inches-per-pixel for western King County and one-foot-per-pixel for non-urbanized areas of Eastern King County. The new photos, acquired from Pictometry, represent the second wide-scale aerial imagery update for King County since 2002. The next image aquisition is scheduled for summer 2009.
More:
- iMAP home
- 2007 imagery - information and metadata
- Pictometry (external link)
iMAP, Parcel Viewer and our other online mapping and property research applications will be offlline for scheduled maintenance beginning on Sunday March 8, 2009 at 6:00 AM. We expect the outage to last for approximately one hour.
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The King County GIS Center and the Department of Transportation - Roads Services are pleased to announce the addition of 1936 aerial photos to iMAP. These black and white aerial photos cover almost all of western King County within the Urban Growth Boundary, including Mercer Island and Vashon Island. Information on how these aerial photos came about can be found in this essay on historylink.org.
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iMAP users now have the option to label parcels with the house number as well as the parcel number. We've received requests from iMAP users who wanted to be able to create maps that show house numbers instead of parcel numbers, and we've responded by making that option available to you. You can choose to label parcels with house numbers, parcel numbers, or both!
If you have a suggestion that will make iMAP better serve the needs of users, send it to us at giscenter@kingcounty.gov
The addition of a new map set, "Electoral Districts", brings the number of distinct sets of map layers that can be viewed in iMAP to eleven . This new map set provides district boundary information for King County, including voting precincts, King County Council, Legislative, Congressional and minor taxing district boundaries.
The district data layers in this map set are maintained by King County Records, Elections and Licensing Services Division and reflect district boundaries eligible for election. They do not include such service area boundaries as water or sewer service agency's service areas.
As with all iMAP map sets, the same iMAP interface and base map layers as well as a property search function are included along with this new collection of map layers.
More:
iMAP Electoral Districts: description, data layers
Find Your Council District
King County Records and Elections
Map print layouts in iMAP are now created in Adobe Acrobat PDF format, which makes viewing, saving, printing and sharing your map layouts easier than ever. Zoom, pan, save, print and more with all of the controls in Adobe's Acrobat Reader. There's a good chance you already have Acrobat Reader on your computer. If not, download it free from the Adobe website.
You can still choose a landscape or portrait orientation on any of three page sizes for your map layout. But printing your layouts is much easier since you no longer have to reset your browser to the orientation and size of your layout to get the correct print output—Acrobat automatically fits your map layout to your selected page dimensions.
Have you had trouble with lengthy map legends when printing from iMAP? Trouble no more—a second print page is automatically created if necessary to handle the map legend.
Give iMAP printing a try. Just click the same familiar iMAP print button to start a new custom map layout
2005 imagery:
–information about the imagery (information abstract & metadata)
Aerials Express (external link)
We've made two improvements to iMAP's property search function that regular users will especially like. First, we've done away with the old address search form that required you to enter the house number in one box and the street name in a separate box. Now you can quickly and easily type an address on one line. The address search will still show you a list of candidates if there isn't an exact match for what you enter. This means that if you wish, you can generalize your search by using partial street names, house numbers with no street names, and even street names with no house number. The less specific your input, the more results you can expect.
The second improvement is for condominium searches. Because an entire condominium complex is represented by only one address in our property database, it can be a challenge to find a condo complex using the address search function when buildings or units within a complex have different addresses from one another. But now you can search by condominium complex name—just enter all or part of the name and you'll get a list of matches from which to choose.
The addition of a new map set, "Shoreline Master Program," brings to ten the number of distinct sets of map layers that can be viewed in King County's web-based, interactive mapping application iMAP. The availability of this new map set coincides with the launch of a website that provides citizens a wide range of information about the update to King County's Shoreline Master Program, which is now underway.
The Shoreline Master Program is a set of policies and regulations that determine how major shorelines in unincorporated King County are managed. The program dates back to 1978 and has not been changed significantly since then. King County is now updating the program as required by the Washington State Shoreline Management Act, which was approved by public referendum in 1972. The program update will address the effects of nearly 30 years of development and population growth (more than half a million people).
The Shoreline Master Program map set in iMAP is just one of many new resources and tools that citizens can use to learn about the broad policy goals and the specific details of shoreline management in King County.
More:- iMAP Shoreline Master Program map set: description, list of data layers, iMAP start button
- Interactive property search lookup: view shoreline management jurisdiction for your property and access related information.
- King County's Shoreline Master Program
- News Release: "Shoreline management review launched in King County"
Map Redesign
The King County GIS Center is happy to announce the release of new map symbolization for iMAP. When we have asked users what we could do to make iMAP better they suggested changes in the way many of the map features are symbolized. We listened and got to work making easier to read maps that will better help you find the information you are seeking.
Among the many improvements, elevation contour lines can now be displayed in a light or a dark color so that you can choose the one that looks best for your purposes. Also, street lines are easier to see, parcel boundary lines are more distinct, city names are more legible, city boundaries are clearer and the cities layer ("Incorporated Area") no longer interferes with viewing aerial photos.
We hope you like these changes and find it even easier to use iMAP because of them.
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Map Your Own Coordinates
The latest new iMAP function lets you enter a pair of geographic coordinates for any point that lies within King County and automatically zoom to that point. Many users are already familiar with iMAP's "Capture Coordinates" tool with which one can obtain the geographic coordinates for any point in the iMAP display. Now the tool is called simply "Coordinates," and in addition to its original function, you can use it to enter any pair of coordinates you choose and map that location. The tool will accept both latitude/longitude and state plane coordinates. Latitude/longitude coordinates are derived typically from Global Positioning System (GPS) devices and mapping programs, such as Google Earth. State plane coordinates are used by surveyors, mapmakers, and GIS users. (For information about the state plane coordinate system, see "KCGIS Data Standards")
This new feature is another response to requests made by iMAP users during our user survey last summer and through e-mail inquiries to us. If you have a question or suggestion about iMAP, please e-mail us. Maybe your suggestion will appear in a future version of iMAP.
Coordinates entry form sample image: click to view full size
Make Your Own Smart Links
Have you ever wanted to send someone a hyperlink that will take them right to the same iMAP view you are seeing—maybe even with a particular parcel selected? Well now you can! Although there is no automatic way to create such a link, with a little planning, you can construct a URL to iMAP that will:
- open a particular map set
- select a specific parcel
- center on a chosen latitude/longitude or state plane coordinate
- zoom to a set scale.
If you are interested in learning how to do this, just consult the iMAP FAQs entry for complete instructions.
When surveyed recently, many iMAP users requested the ability to perform area measurements. We're happy to now offer this feature, as well as the new ability to see the length of each line segment drawn by the measure tool right on the map. Another requested change was in the default map units, which is now set to feet. You can switch easily to different units for both distance and area with the Set Units button.
Example of the iMAP Measure Tool results
| July 18, 2006 We've recently expanded the list of data layers that can be viewed in iMap's Sensitive Areas map set with seven layers related to the Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO). King County passed the Critical Areas Ordinance in January 2005 to protect public health and safety, as well as public and private resources, from natural hazards by limiting development in hazard areas, such as steep slopes or flood zones. The CAO is also intended to protect environmentally sensitive areas, such as wetlands and streams, from being adversely affected by clearing and development of land for residences, commercial use and livestock. The inclusion of the CAO layers in the Sensitive Areas map set can help users determine the presence of CAO-related factors that may affect permitting on particular parcels. However, proposed projects should be discussed with the Permit Center staff in the King County Department of Development and Environmental Services (DDES) at 206-296-6600. |
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The variety of custom maps you can print in iMAP just increased dramatically with the ability to choose from three page sizes and two page orientations. Formerly iMAP offered only letter-size map prints in a portrait orientation. Now you can print your own maps in standard letter (8.5x11-inch), legal (8.5x14-inch) and tabloid (11x17-inch) sizes, and you can choose a portrait or landscape page orientation for any of the three sizes. These six page layout options combined with iMAP's other map customizing functions, such as the ability to choose which layers to display, to highlight features on the map, and even to draw your own points, lines, polygons and text, make it possible to create truly individual and unique maps tailored to your specific needs.
The King County GIS Center is dedicated to making iMAP an ever more useful tool for you to find the information you need and get your work done. Your input is important to us and this update to the iMAP print function is in direct response to requests from iMAP users.
In our ongoing effort to make iMAP more useful and user friendly, we have made another round of improvements which include improved layer control, additional map layers, and a new tool for adding your own text, points and lines to the map.
Improved Layer Control
The most visible and important change introduced in this revision is the "Layer List" on the right side of the iMAP display. No longer one long list, the new layer list organizes layers into thematic groups. These groups can be expanded and collapsed so you can better control what you are seeing. All map layers will be listed, all the time. Instead of layers getting removed from the list for which the map is at a scale that the layer cannot be drawn, the layers will change font style and color to indicate that they can't be drawn at the current scale. Some layers will now include this small icon beside the name: 
We now give you an "auto-refresh" option which will update the map each time you turn a layer on or off, without having to click on the "Refresh Map" button.
Finally, a tabbed control at the top of the layer list lets you quickly tab between the layer list and the map legend without having to go over to the tool bar on the left side of the iMAP display.
Additional map layers
We've added new or updated layers to the iMAP map sets, including Zip codes, County Council Districts, PLSS townships and sections, Thomas Guide page and row/column indexes, and the Kroll map book index. To the Property Information map set we've added a layer to show properties known to have been used for Illegal Drug Labs.
Add text and graphics to your map
We've added a new tool to the toolbar that will let you add text and simple graphics to your map. Now you can annotate your maps with comments or pointers, or highlight an area or feature of interest before you save or print the map image.
Map set retired
The "Points of Interest" map set has been retired. Some of the Points of Interest layers have been moved into the "Property Information" map set, where they will be more useful.
Improved elevation contour lines are now available in most iMAP map sets. If you have ever looked at contour lines with iMAP, you will immediately notice the dramatic increase in quality that these lines represent. If you have never used contour lines with iMAP, you may not have been able to find them as they were in only four of the twelve iMAP map sets. The new contour lines, which cover all of King County, are now included in most map sets, including the widely used 'Property Information' map set (the default map set unless you choose otherwise).
Our new contour lines are available in 5-foot and 100-foot intervals. These are scale-dependent, so you will not see them listed as an available layer until you have zoomed in to a scale of 1:63,360 (one inch to one mile) for the 100-foot intervals and 1:12,000 for the 5-foot intervals.
These contour lines were created from our 6-foot* lidar digital elevation model (DEM), and replace the older, less accurate contours which were from a 10-meter DEM.
A mountain peaks data layer has also been added to complement the elevation contours. This layer shows the name of major peaks in King County and works very well when combined with contour lines, shaded relief, or aerial photos.
*The 6-foot dimension represents the smallest resolvable detail in the original lidar data capture.
Due to various technical and use-related issues, the "WRIA 8 Action Agenda" map set has been removed indefinitely from iMAP.
Many of us employ pop-up blockers to bypass annoying and unwanted advertisements. But did you know that if you are running a pop-up blocker you might prevent iMAP from opening? iMAP launches in a new browser window, a necessary function which could nevertheless be prevented by a pop-up blocker installed in your computer or browser. If you click on a link to launch iMAP and nothing happens, there is a good chance a pop-up blocker is preventing iMAP from launching.
We cannot test all pop-up blockers to determine your options, but most give you the ability to choose sites that you trust so that pop-ups and new browser windows are allowed for those sites only. Some let you override the blocking function on a temporary basis. For example, the Google toolbar pop-up blocker prevents iMAP from launching, but if you hold down the CTRL key while you click the iMAP link, iMAP (in its new window) is allowed to launch.