Transect’s Map tool makes it easy to find suitable sites for your renewable energy projects. In this article, we’ll review how the Map functionality can help you pinpoint and de-risk project locations.
In this article, you'll learn how to:
Getting Started
The Map can be accessed by selecting Map from the top navigation bar or by clicking Open Map from the Dashboard. Within the Map, you can use your mouse to zoom in and out, or click and drag to specific areas. You can also right-click to populate additional details about that area.
Starting a New Project
Within the "Start a Project" widget, you can locate an area of interest in one of the following ways:
: Upload a KML/KMZ of your project site, or bulk upload coordinates from CSV to create multiple projects at once.
: Quick parcel select to create your project boundary.
: Draw a polygon directly on the map.
: Draw a line directly on the map to create a linear report.
Alternately, you can use the Parcel Filter to identify parcels with suitable criteria, or use the search field in the upper right-corner to locate project areas by address, coordinates, or APN.
Looking for a project site? Check out this article to learn more.
Navigating the Map
You can navigate the Map using your mouse or the right-side toolbar. From the toolbar, you can complete the following actions:
- Search: Search for ideal project sites using an address, APN, or coordinates.
Zoom: Use the +/- icons to zoom in and out on the Map. You can also zoom using the scroll bar on your mouse.- Ruler: Measure the distance between points with the ruler. Simply click on the Map to add a vector, then click again to measure the distance between points.
- Trash: Delete drawn items (polygons/lines) from the Map.
- Save Image: Download a PDF, PNG, or JPG of your current map view for easy reference.
- Full screen: to view Transect in full screen. To exit, click the icon again or use the ESC key.
- Download KML: Export your drawn polygons to a KML file.
Reviewing Map Layers
The Map provides various layers that can help you de-risk and visualize potential impacts within your area of interest. Within the “Layers" widget, select the check box to activate a layer or uncheck to remove a layer from view.
Next to the layer, you can also opt to:
: pin the layer as the topmost layer in the Map.
: favorite the layer, which populates it in the "Favorites" category. 
: select the dropdown arrow for additional settings, including adjusting the opacity of the layer, adding labels to the map, and viewing the legend and description.
: select Add/Edit Layers at the bottom of the layers widget to view and tailor your all Map layers list. Click here to learn more about managing map layers.
Ordering a Report from the Map
- From the Map, identify your Area of Interest (AOI) either by searching or uploading a KML file.
- The 'Manage' widget will populate once your AOI has been established, where you can add a project title.
- Select Save & Order Report.
- Add your project details to the relevant fields on the next page. If "I don't know" is selected as an option, Transect will provide a more conservative estimate for your project.
- Click Save & Order Report.
Want to learn more about Transect reports? Click here to learn more.