NR Maps frequently asked questions

The Active Layer is used to select features on the map screen. When NR Maps opens, cadastre is the default active layer (located under folder Land Administration). Only one layer can be active.

Change the Active Layer to select features on the map screen from a different data layer. Right mouse click on a layer and select 'Set Active'.

If a layer has search functions, they will be enabled when the layer is active.

A Filter layer tool is located at the top of the Layers panel.

Enter a name in the Filter text box e.g. water.

All layers containing the name water will be filtered in a new list. Close the filter to return to the default listing

View information about data layers in the metadata record. This describes details about the custodian, how and when the data was compiled, and usually includes a data dictionary describing the data attributes.

Right mouse click on a data layer and select metadata to view the record.

The Active Layer is used to select features on the map screen. When NR Maps opens, cadastre is the default active layer (located under folder Land Administration). Only one layer can be active.

Change the Active Layer to select features on the map screen from a different data layer. Right mouse click on a layer and select 'Set Active'. If a layer has search functions, they will be enabled when the layer is active.

Recommended reading: User guide – How to use the selection tools PDF (337.1 KB).

Use the blue personal bookmark tool to save your NR Maps session and keep the zoomed extent, displayed layers, active layer and even redline drawing mark-ups. The tool is located halfway along the list of tools at the top of the screen – it looks like a blue book! Hint - hover the mouse over each tool to view a short description. You can create and save personal bookmarks on your own computer or share bookmarks with colleagues.

The yellow bookmark tool contains a list of published bookmarks created by administrators. Click on the yellow bookmark tool, hover your mouse over the category lists, then click on a selection. Each bookmark has a different set of layers displayed on the map screen.

Zoom in to a scale < 1:600,000 to activate the data export tool.

Only data layers for the Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security (DEPWS) may be exported. Hover the mouse over the layer folder name to view the custodian name or check details in the metadata record.

NR Maps is not able to display an image date for the base maps layer Google Satellite. Google Earth displays a mosaic of the best available images typically between one to three years old. Google Earth will not display images with cloud cover.

Image dates are displayed using Google Earth Pro software (free). A time-slider tool can verify latest imagery available and also display historical images. Google Earth also has a web based platform that requires Chrome internet browser.

Previous versions of NR Maps had a simpler set of pre-set scales, e.g. 100k, 500k.

When Google Maps and Google Satellite were added as base map layers in NR Maps, the pre-set cached scales for these systems replaced the existing scales.

One click on the map screen represents a 50% zoom in or out.