Get to know the map features

Quick overview

(Hint - Click on the number labels to get to its description quickly.)

Image of PhotoMap with numbered user interface controls
  1. Find

    This is your starting point - to find a specific location and get to that part of the map quickly, type in the street name and click on the magnifying glass button. Read more on how to find a location.

  2. PhotoMap button

    This is the map you will see at your first visit. If you end up viewing other map types, selecting this brings you back here.

    With PhotoMap selected, you can overlay StreetMap labels over the PhotoMap background by switching that option under PhotoMap on.

    Hints:
    - You can tell if a button is on or off by its button text colour: green = ON, blue = OFF.
    - You can use MultiView while viewing this map type.

  3. StreetMap button

    Displays an opaque StreetMap. Although this option is on automatically, you can choose to turn it on or off while viewing PhotoMap or Terrain.

  4. Terrain button

    This map type lets you view the terrain map which shows details such as heights and levels. (Hint - Switch StreetMap on while viewing terrain map to make navigating the map easier; then, turn StreetMap off to stop the labels from hindering your view.

  5. MultiView button

    MultiView allows you to view the PhotoMap from another angle.

    MultiView is available but currently off. MultiView is available but currently off.

    This button is visible at all times, but the "MultiView" label title appears only when:

    • you zoom far enough into the PhotoMap, and
    • if MultiView PhotoMaps are available for the location you are viewing.

    Click on the MultiView button to activate it - the green state indicates that MultiView is active, and the current direction you are facing is North. (Note: The default view is towards North.)
    MultiView Default Direction

    To face a different direction, click on the clockwise/anti-clockwise arrow buttons.
    MultiView Select To Change DirectionMultiView Select To Change Direction

    The checkboxes tells you which direction you are now facing. In the above cases, East and South.

    You can exit the MultiView mode and return to the original PhotoMap by clicking on the PhotoMap button or any of the other map type buttons. Alternatively, zooming out from the PhotoMap will do the same thing.

  6. More...

    Allows you to see more location specific information on the map. Click on the checkboxes next to the listed overlays to show or hide them. The location specific information will appear as markers on the map page. (Hint - Click on a marker to see additional options and information.)

    MultiView Select To Change Direction

  7. TimeView

    TimeView provides you with the ability to view the PhotoMaps captured on different dates. This therefore allows you to see changes to the environment over time.

    With the cursor on this panel, you can use the scroll wheel on your mouse to move between dates.

    MultiView Select To Change Direction

    1. List of available dates. Click on the list to see which dates are available and select the date you want, to view that PhotoMap.

    2. Available TimeView date. The dots represent the dates for which PhotoMaps are available. The number of dates available depends on the zoom level and location you are viewing.

      Click on one to see PhotoMaps captured up to or at that point in time. Once selected, the dot appears as a green indicator [D].

    3. Date showing. This blue indicator marks the date of the PhotoMap you are viewing and it appears if the date you selected is not available.

      This date is determined by the date of the PhotoMap in the centre of the map for simplicity. PhotoMaps from many different dates are used to create the single view you see, showing all the dates can get confusing especially when viewing maps at high-level. We have therefore kept this information to the bare minimal.

    4. The selected date. This green indicator is the date currently selected.

      Absence of a blue [C] marker means the PhotoMap you are looking at was captured on the date you have selected.

      It is possible a date has been selected although you have not clicked on any of the dates. This happens if you accessed our website via a link someone has shared with you and the date selection has been made via the url (permalink). (Hint: In this case, you should see something similar to "&nmd=20101126" in your browser address bar. The numbers that follow "&nmd=" represent the date which has been selected in the format yyyymmdd.)

    5. What date is this for? Move the mouse cursor over each dot to see its date. Select any dot to view the PhotoMap for that date.

    6. Blue and green date indicators You will see both the blue [C] and green [D] indicators, if you select a date and then pan to another map location or zoom-in on the map, but there is no PhotoMap available for that date.

      When this happens, instead of showing you a blank page (which is not very useful), we show you slightly older PhotoMaps instead. The blue indicator [C] and "Showing..." at the bottom of the screen highlights this PhotoMap’s date.

      (Note: When they are both visible, the blue [C] indicator is always on the left of the green [D] indicator.

    7. Go to latest date. Click on this to quick get to latest available PhotoMap for the location and zoom level you are viewing.

  8. Provides access to other parts of the site, such as the forum, top finds, FAQs, help and troubleshooting notes, blog, legal and corporate writeups.

  9. Share

    Click this button if you want to share or embed the current map view.  A Share box will appear onscreen to provide you with options for sharing your find:

    • by copy and pasting the link into your email, message or document.
    • by copy and pasting the code into your blog or website.
    • with your favourite social network like Facebook and Twitter.

    Read more about sharing a map location or integrating it with an application you are currently using.

  10. Edit

    Click this button to make your own mark on the maps. Yes, you can add your own content like many others have done. If you know of a street or landmark that is missing from the maps, you are welcome to add them in.

    Read more about editing the map. We are all trying to understand our world better, and you can help us achieve that.

  11. Zoom toolbar

    Allows you to control the map zoom level. Click on the Zoom in button / Zoom out button buttons to increase or decrease the zoom level. The Zoom reset button button zooms out to show the world. If your mouse has a scroll wheel, position the mouse over the map and use the scroll wheel to adjust the zoom level. Alternatively, use the plus and minus keys on your keyboard. (Hint: you can also doubleclick to centre the map and zoom into that location.)

  12. Terms of use and Copyrights

    This gives you quick access to the Terms of use for our website and PhotoMaps, as well as our copyright acknowledgements.

  13. Showing...

    This shows the date of the PhotoMap you are currently viewing. This date usually corresponds to the Date showing indicator in TimeView.

    This date can be different from what you have selected. This is because you have navigated to another part of the PhotoMap or changed the zoom level, and the date you selected is no longer available. When this happens, you will see 2 highlighted indicators in TimeView. See how this showing... date is derived.

  14. Scale bar

    The scale bar will automatically respond to the zoom level you are at.

  15. The map area

    This is the area the map displays. You can change what you see here using the map interfaces listed on this page, and how it looks will depend on your choice of PhotoMap, StreetMap, Terrain or MultiView.

  16. Right click menu

    This menu provides access to the following functions:

  17. The logo is tucked away at the bottom because we know it’s not all about us. Understanding our environment better is a community effort and we’re proud to be a part of it.

Navigating the maps

The information below will be useful if you have never used an online map before.

Draggable Maps

Click and drag maps to view adjacent sections instantly (no long waits for new areas to download).

Mouse shortcuts

Double-click to zoom functionality - Double left-click to zoom in and double right-click to zoom out (Ctrl+ double-click for Mac users).

Keyboard shortcuts

Pan left, right, up and down with the arrow keys. Zoom in and out with the plus (+) and minus (-) keys.

Scroll wheel zooming

Use the scroll wheel on your mouse to zoom in and out of the maps.

Buttons - general behaviour

When a button is selected it will turn green to indicate it is ‘on’. When the layer button is white it indicates it is ‘off’. Try turning on PhotoMap and StreetMap at the same time!