USGS National Map Science Support Application - Demo

The goal of The National Map Science Support Application is to provide a spatial data viewer and analysis tools that will enable scientist to easily interact with and use The National Map data as well as view and apply local data and map services that support USGS Science. The Science Support Viewer simplifies major components of The National Map and provides this data in an easy to use, customizable and continually evolving geospatial application. “After all, many of us don’t want to build the car, we just want to drive it.”


Please read the following information and take the necessary steps to successfully implement and use the Science Support Viewer.

1) Can my computer run this software: The Science Support Viewer has been built on ArcGIS Explorer desktop technology and therefore requires software to be loaded. A few housekeeping steps are necessary to assure success. Please reference the following link to check your computer’s ability to run ArcGIS Explorer, check system requirements and to download ArcGIS Explorer software: Make sure that you download all required system and software updates prior to installing ArcGIS Explorer software. http://resources.arcgis.com/content/arcgis-explorer/1500/download

2) Web browser: The Science Support Application can be viewed within either Mozilla FireFox or Internet Explorer 7 but is best viewed in FireFox 4.0 http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/fx/

3) Starting the application: Once you have updated your computer’s ability to run ArcGIS Explorer and the Science Support Viewer, click on the Science Support Viewer logo link provided below to start the application. When the application is executed within your web browser a window will open providing information on the USGS_Science_Support_AGX_xx_xx_xxxx.ncfg file and how your browser will open or (handle) the file. If you are given a choice you need to open the file using the ArcGIS File Handler.

4) Be patient: The software and application saves time and resources by linking to outside web mapping services saving the user from storing data locally or remembering where data layers are and always providing the best, most current layers from an authoritative source. One disadvantage to this technology is that it may take a few minutes to load all of the layers. Please be patient as the application makes these connections.

5) What if one or more layers have broken links: When the application opens the user may find that one or more layers are broken or not available. This is a common occurrence with applications that link to Web Mapping Services as they periodically are taken down for maintenance or to update the layers. Please note that if this occurs it is the individual layer being referenced within the application that is broke and not the application itself. You will have the option to either repair the connection or to close the layer and continue with the existing layers that are available through the application. We suggest that you close the “service not available” window only and continue to use the application. You may reload the application at a later time and gain access to the broken layer once the provider makes them accessible.

6) Help: Online help for ArcGIS Explorer is available within the application by clicking on the ? in the upper left corner of the application or by going to the help page at: http://webhelp.esri.com/arcgisexplorer/1500//en/index.html#

7) Launch the application: You are now ready to launch the application and visualize, share and present your science spatially. To launch the USGS Science Support Viewer, click on the logo below. Please allow 2-4 minutes for the application to load.

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