The Jade is a Geographic Information System (GIS) web application that provides an easy way to view, search, and analyze geographic information. Dozens of layers are searchable, and even more may be selected by interactively clicking on the map. Selection results are exportable to multiple formats. The Jade application also serves as a mapmaking and report-generating tool, including the General & Environmental Parcel reports. Additionally, the Jade contains multiple years of high-resolution top-down (orthogonal) and bird's eye view (oblique angled) air photo coverage.
For many years Fairfax County employees have been utilizing our internal comprehensive map viewer, the GEM (Geographic Exploration and Mapping). With Jade, we are bringing the same platform, with much of the same data and functionality from the GEM, to the public. We hope you find the Jade a useful tool in exploring the county's geographic resources.
The following details on using the app include functionality NOT included with the handheld (phone) version. These are indicated by an *.
The Layers window controls the visibility of map layers. Geographic data in the Jade is presented as a series of nested groups. Anywhere a + is seen to the left of a term in the layer list indicates a group of layers . At the highest level are 5 groups: 3 thematic groups of feature (vector) data: Property & Planning; Community; Infrastructure & Environment, and 2 groups of background (raster) maps: Basemaps and Imagery. The next layer of grouping, within each of these top-level groups, are map services. The slider bar next to the service name in the Layers window controls the transparency of all the layers in the service. Many of the layers within these services are further grouped. For any layer, all groups of which it is a part and the service itself must be toggled on in order to view the layer. Clicking the right arrow next to a layer name will expose layer actions, described in the Interactive Mapping section of this page.
Themes are collections of layers, with select layers toggled on. When the Jade launches, the All Available Layers theme is enabled. This can be adjusted by choosing another theme from the drop-down list at the top of the Layers window. Choosing a specific Theme will narrow down the list of layers and determine the toggling of layers.
Basemaps provide background context for vector data. The Basemap group is found at the bottom of the Layers window. The first two in the list are generated by and for Fairfax County. The Real Property map corresponds to the "official" property map book, but is updated regularly. The Zoning w/Real Property includes the property layers, with the addition of underlying zoning data. Below these county-specific layers are basemaps with worldwide coverage. Topographic is the default basemap, and includes county-generated data at the closest scales. The Light Gray and Dark Gray basemaps provide a neutral background that may be useful when displaying many county layers on the map.
Countywide orthoimagery from several years is included in the Jade. Enable the Imagery group and disable the Basemap group to view the county's digital imagery holdings. The time slider bar allows for easy toggling between years. The number at the bottom of the slider bar indicates the year currently being displayed. (Note: when first accessing the imagery, there may be a slight delay in bringing up the images when switching between years.) The Imagery group contains imagery from the following years: 2017, 2015, 2013, 2011, 2009, 2007, 2002, 1997, 1990, 1980, 1976, 1960, 1953, 1943, 1937, as well as a World Imagery layer of recent imagery. When not using the slider bar, be sure to ensure that other images listed above the one of interest are toggled off.
The Imagery theme has been designed to simplify viewing of multiple years of imagery. Zoom to the area of interest and select “Imagery” from the list of themes. This theme includes the parcel layer symbolized to stand out on top of the imagery.
Click the Bird's Eye View button on the Basic Tools tab to open the oblique imagery window at the bottom of the map.
The window will open and load the north facing, most current, imagery. The Viewpoint Indicator in the top map window shows the center location and directionality of the imagery. The icon can be moved to recenter the image.
The date at the top indicates when the photo was taken, and the numbers next to that show how many images from the current direction exist in the library (all years). The arrows are for scrolling through these images.
The compass icon can be used to reorient the imagery. Click on the arrows around the edges or at the bottom to change direction. Clicking the circle at the bottom of the ring will open the orthoimagery for that location.
The Select Date menu reveals the number of total images (all directions, include orthoimagery) available at the current location for each year. Click on the year to view the images from that year for the current direction.
The Zoom In/Out tools can be used to change the scale of the map. Hovering over these tools will also reveal the Neighborhood/Community Level icons, which can quickly switch the map between these scales.
The Layers button reveals layers available to overlay on the imagery.
Click the Export Image to PDF button to create a PDF file of the imagery, with a title.
The Dual Pane button will split the imagery window into 2 panes. Imagery from different years/directions for the same location can be loaded for side-by-side comparison. The Open in new window button will launch the imagery in full-screen mode.
The Jade has two types of Searches for querying layer attribute information: the Global Search and the Layer Search. Search results are listed next to the map and may be displayed as Selections on the map. Layer attributes are available for viewing and/or exporting. See the Viewing & Exporting Search/Selection Result section of this document for details.
The prominent search window at the top of the application is useful for finding addresses, street names, or locations (including: parks, schools, shopping centers). Enter the search term(s) of interest and click the magnifying glass. When searching an address, omit the street type, or use abbreviations (Ex: Ave; Dr; Ln; Pkwy; Pl; Rd; St).
Search results are listed next to the map, and when individual results are clicked, they are shown as selections on the map. In addition, the attributes are available for viewing and/or exporting. See the Viewing & Exporting Search/Selection Results section of this document for details.
In addition to the Global Search bar, there are several layer-specific searches available on the Searches tab.
Begin typing the Parcel ID Number (PIN), continuing until the list of options narrows down sufficiently to find the correct one. Click the PIN, then click Search.
Fill in the House Number, Street Name and select a Type. As you begin to type the number or name, a drop-down list narrowing your search will populate. Once you have the complete address information filled in, click Search.
Begin typing a street name in the first box, then select from the drop-down list. The second list will then populate; select the intersecting street from the second drop-down list. Click Search.
Begin typing a subdivision name, choose one from the drop-down list and click Search.
The Select tool may be used to interactively select (highlight) features on the map to view attribute information, run tools such as buffer, or export the data.
To make a selection, ensure that the layer(s) of interest are toggled on in the Layer window and navigate to the map area and scale of interest. Click the Select tool on the Basic toolbar. Click on the map to make a point selection or drag the cursor to make a selection rectangle.
Any features of the active layers that intersect the clicked area will then be selected and outlined in yellow on the map. Selected features are listed next to the map with their description. When individual results are clicked the map centers on them. In addition, the attributes are available for viewing and/or exporting. See the Viewing & Exporting Search/ Selection Results section of this document for details.
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Click the Clear Selection button to dismiss a selection set.
Attributes may be searched and features may be interactively selected (for details on Searching or Selecting, see those sections of this help page). Either approach leads to a list of result(s) next to the map. Depending on the type of search/selection enacted, results may be immediately selected (highlighted) on the map, or may require clicking on individual items on the list in order to select.
In the Result list clicking the Panel Action Menu icon will expose additional options:
Switch to Table* will open the results at the bottom of the map to view all the attributes. Individual tabs display the results from each selected layer.
Zoom to All changes the map extent to show all results
Show Buffer Options* identifies features near the results.
The Export* options will create a .csv, .xlsx or zipped shapefile of the selected items.
Results may be also be Removed from or Combined with other results.
Click the "..." next to an individual feature will reveal additional options:
Show Buffer Options* to identify nearby features
Zoom to Feature
Pan*
Remove from Results
Copy to Drawing Layer*
Clicking on a feature on the map activates Map Tips, which are configured for many of the layers to select the feature and display a pop-up window with the layer name, a key attribute field for the selected feature and, often, links to more information about the layer. The option to View Additional Details will bring up the full attributes for the feature next to the map (on a handheld device, scroll down at the bottom of the screen). If multiple layers with Map Tips enabled are clicked, a scrolling option appears to view the information for each layer.
Right-clicking on the map brings up a context menu, with several options, including drawing a point or text, or plotting a coordinate.
The Drawing Tool tab contains additional drawing options.
Click on the right arrow to the right of the layer name in the Layers window reveals Layer Actions:
Turn on/off layer visualizations - the options vary depending on the type of layer, but include the ability to change symbology color and size.
Toggle labels - turn the layer's labels on or off
Customize labels - controls the label attribute field as well as font color and size.
While in the Layer window, click the Panel Action Menu icon and choose Select Change Layer Drawing Order. Click the right arrow next to "Service Layers". On the Service Drawing Order window, the map service drawing order may be rearranged by clicking on the dots on the upper left of the service name and then dragging and dropping the service to a new location. To control the drawing order of layers within a service, click the arrow to the right of the service name to reveal the Layer Drawing Order window. Layers within a service may be rearranged in this screen. Note: These changes impact the drawing order on the map, but not the display order in the Layer window.
To run a parcel report, locate and zoom to a parcel of interest using the Navigation or Search tools. Then, click the Environmental or General Parcel Report tool on the Basic Tools tab. Click on the parcel of interest on the map. The parcel report will be generated and open in a new window. This report can be viewed on screen and converted to a print friendly version for printing.
On a handheld device the parcel reports are available as a link after clicking on a parcel on the map.
If there are overlapping parcels (ex: condos, office suites), then a pick-list will be generated upon using the report tool to click on the map. Select the unit of interest, then click the Get Report button to generate the report. The report will include the selected unit number in the property location line.
Generate a report of an individual parcel that displays a variety of property and development information for that location. This includes property owner information, tax & assessment data, structure information, land use code and zoning district.
Generate a report of an individual parcel that displays a variety of hydrologic and soils information for that location This includes identifying the watershed, soil type & radon potential, as well as the presence of problem soils (asbestos, marine clay, marumsco) and various flood indicators.
Two options are available for creating a map of the current location and layers, as well as any user-added drawing(s) that are viewable in the map extent.
A map Snapshot is an image of the map at the current extent as displayed in the map viewer. No title, legend, or other map elements are included.
To create the image click on the Snapshot tool within the Basic Tools tab. This will open the Export a Map Image window. Several formats are available, and certain formats will include georeferenced data. The options are: BMP, JPEG, PNG, TIFF, GeoTiff, PDF. Select one of the options, check the box next to “Include Georeference Data”, if this is preferred, then click Create Image. Once the image is generated, the Export a Map Image window will appear. Click the View Image button. The image will open in the web browser. If the PDF format was chosen, then the Adobe Reader toolbar may be used to save or print the image. For other formats, the image may be saved in the selected format by right-clicking on the image and selecting the “Save picture as….” option.
The PDF Map option will create a map with a layout that includes a title, legend and scale bar.
To print a map of your current map view extent click on the PDF button within the Basic Tools tab. This will open the Print Map window, with options to customize the map.
Select a layout - If a layout "w/ legend" option is selected, all the layers that are currently activated will show up in the legend on the map layout.
Map Scale - Choose either current scale or another scale from the drop-down list.
Title – Give the map a name.
Notes - Include any notes pertinent to the map. These will be appear on the map layout.
The Lock print preview with map option will keep the defined print area (pink box) in the same location on the map if the map scale or extent is changed. Uncheck this box to change the print extent.
Once the options are selected/filled in click the Print button. A new Print Map tab will open and an Open File button will appear when the PDF generation has completed. Click the button to open the PDF in a new browser tab. Use the Reader menus and tools to print or save the map.
*This functionality is not included in the handheld (phone) version of the app.
