Create project maps

Maps let you share geospatial information with your community, and are a great way to encourage engagement in a project. 

A Project map consists of a base map, which is populated with interactive pins and shapes. When a user clicks on the pin or shape, a pop-up window displays information. 

To share a map with the public, you'll first need to create the map (and its layers) using the Map content tool, and then add it to your project or page as a content block. 

Note: You cannot add a map to a project without first creating it using the Map content tool. Conversely, to display a map on any page, you will first need to add your map as a content block to that page. To learn more about content blocks, click here.

To create a map for your project

1. In the left-hand menu bar, click Projects. This displays a list of all existing projects.
2. Click on a Title to open a project.
3. In the project sub-menu under Content, click Maps. This shows all the maps for this project.
4. Click on the + icon located on the right hand side of the screen.
5. Add a Title and a Description.
6. Choose a Style for your map from the dropdown menu. Try the different options to see how they appear.
7. Provide the latitude and longitude separated by a comma for the Center of the map, e.g., -37.81122075245419,144.97134078539938.
8. Use the slider to set the default Zoom level of the map. Viewers can zoom in and out from this point.
9. Set the Min zoom and Max zoom levels for the map. This limits the range viewers can zoom in and out.
10. Tick Bound map if you want to force viewers to use the current view of the map only. Note: When this is selected, you may also want to set the Min zoom level to prevent the users from zooming out of the bounding area.
11. Click Save as draft to save your map.

Once your map is saved, you can begin adding layers to it. The section below describes how to add layers to your map using the District Engage Layer Builder.

You can also import layers created outside of District Engage onto your base map. To learn how to add external layers to your map, click here.

To add layers to your map

District Engage has a Layer Builder that allows internal users to create layers and add them to the map.

To create a layer through the District Engage Layer Builder:

1. Use the top-level menu to navigate to the Projects tab.
2. Select the relevant project; this opens your project overview page.
3. In the project sub-menu, under Content, click Maps. This shows all the maps available for this project. Select the map you want to add a layer to. Alternatively, create a new map using the steps outlined above. 
4. Click the Edit tab.
5. Scroll down and click +Add layer.
6. Select the GeoJson Builder type from the dropdown.
7. Add a Title (the title will be referenced in your map legend), and click Configure new map layer. This will open a lightbox window that allows you to add pins or shapes to a layer.
8. In the Style tab, select the element you would like to add to your layer. Note: It is best practice to use distinct layers for pins and shapes.
   1. When creating a pin layer: Click Point, and drop your pin to the map. Provide the pin with a Title, Description and Marker colour and Marker size. Optionally enable Google Street view. Click Done. Repeat this process for every pin you want to add to the layer. Note: It is best practice to only display pins of the same category on a single shape (e.g. pins indicating picnic areas should be on one layer, pins indicating restroom areas should be on another layer)
   2. When creating a shape layer: Depending on your preferred shape, click Line, Polygon, Rectangle, or Circle, and draw your shape on the map. Set the shape styling: Fill & Fill opacity, Stroke, Stroke opacity, Stroke style and Stroke width. Click Done. Note: It is best practice to only display one shape per layer.
9. When you have created your layer element(s), click save.
10. The lightbox window will now close. To add your newly created layer to the map, click Add new GeoJson layer.
11. Click Publish to publish the map and its layer(s). The layer has now been added to the map.

If you would like to learn more about map layers click here
If you would like to learn how to upload an external map layer click here

To display a map on your site

1. In the left-hand menu bar, click Projects. This displays a list of all existing projects.
2. Click on a Title to open a project.
3. On the project page, click Edit.
4. Scroll to the bottom of the page, and click Add block.
5. From the dropdown, select Maps.
6. An Add Maps block will appear. Enter a Title and select which of the existing maps you would like to display and how these should be displayed. You have the option to display all existing maps, or to make a custom selection.
7. Click Add Maps when you are ready.
8. When you are finished editing, click Publish. The selected maps will now be displayed on your main project page.

Note: Only published maps will be publicly visible.