District Engage allows internal users to further detail spatial information by adding layers to existing maps in the map library.
Map layers can be used to display the following items on a map:
One or multiple descriptive pins, with each pin having a individual description and an optional image.
A shape (e.g. polygon, line, rectangle, circle) to indicate specific area on the map
Best practice guidelines when working with map layers:
As each individual layer will be represented as a single item in the map legend, we recommend to:
Use distinct layers for pins and shapes, i.e. not have both pins and shapes on one and the same layer
Use a distinct layer per shape, i.e. not combine multiple shapes on one layer
Use one layer per individual pin category (e.g. picnic area pins on one layer, restroom area pins on another layer)
Adding a layer to a map
District Engage provides two ways to add layers to a map:
Create a layer in District Engage and add it to your map. See below for instructions.
Upload a layer created outside of District Engage to your map. Click here for more information on adding layers created outside of District Engage.
Create layers in District Engage and add it 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:
Create a map in the map library and save it, or open an existing map you want to edit. Click here for more info on creating project maps.
To open the new or existing map, use the top-level menu to navigate to the Projects tab.
Select the relevant project; this opens your project overview page.
In the left-hand menu, under Content, click Map library. This shows all the maps available for this project. Select the map you would like to add a layer to.
Click the Edit tab.
Scroll down and click +Add new layer.
Select the Layer Builder type from the dropdown.
Fill in 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.
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.
When creating a pin layer: Click Point, and drop your pin to the map. Provide the pin with a Title, Description, Marker Icon and optional Image.
Toggle on the Enable street view checkbox to include a link to the marker's street view. Public users will be able to click on this link to access the marker's street view on Google. Note: when you enable the marker's street view, a link is automatically generated below the checkbox. This allows you to check whether the Street view for the selected coordinates exists in Google.
When selecting your Marker Icon, you can either choose a default icon or a custom icon. See below for more info on Marker Icons.
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)
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.
When you have created your layer element(s), click save.
The lightbox window will now close. To add your newly created layer to the map, click Add layer.
Click Save as draft to save the map and its layer(s). The layers have now been added to the map.
Edit a layer created in District Engage
Select the relevant project; this opens your project overview page.
In the left-hand menu, under Content, click Map library. This shows all the maps available for this project. Select the map you would like to edit the layer of.
Click the Edit tab.
Scroll down and click on the layer you would like to edit.
Click the Edit map layer button. This will open a lightbox window. This window will display the elements of this layer.
To edit existing layer elements, click the element on the map and make the edits in the right-hand sidebar. Click Done.
To add new elements to the layer, select either Point, Line, Polygon, Rectangle, or Circle and add these elements to the layer. Click Done.
Note: To erase all elements on an existing layer, click Edit features and click Delete all.
Click save to save the edits to the layer.
The lightbox window will now close. To save the changes on the layer, click Done.
Click Save as draft to save the map and its layer(s).
Delete a layer created in District Engage
Select the relevant project; this opens your project overview page.
In the left-hand menu, under Content, click Map library. This shows all the maps available for this project. Select the map you would like to edit the layer of.
Click the Edit tab.
Scroll down and click on the layer you would like to edit.
Click Remove.
Click Save as draft to save your map.
Setting marker icons for map pins
When you add pins to your map layer, you are able to select the marker icon for the pin.
There are two options for the marker icon:
Default marker: A default marker that can be configured in terms of colour and size.
Custom marker: An icon uploaded by users in either the site or project marker library. Icons uploaded in these libraries will be available in the marker icon dropdown in the Layer Builder. Click here for more info on marker libraries.
Click here for more info on marker types.