Watch High Res. Video Demo (20 MB) EarthDetails 3D Maps

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Navigation Help:

See the following picture please.

1 EarthDetails uses "Target Based" navigation. You always see the target center (or below center) of the screen. It is denoted by X with a compass needle above it. 2 Click this Compass bar to orient the scene North, East, West, etc. 3 Click this "Zoom" bar to get closer or further. 4 Click this "Tilt" bar sets the viewing angle around the target. 90 degrees means you're looking straight down at the ground. 0 degrees means you're looking horizontally. 5 Click on the image to move to that exact point (i.e. "target" the point.) 6 Click this "Turn" bar to rotate about the target any number of degrees you like. 7 Below the image are info lines describing the target. The elevation, slope, and aspect depend on the zoom. They become more localized (micro vs. macro) as you close in. The "Last Move" measures relative movement (bearing, distance, elevation gain) as you click a new point in the model.

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Frequently Asked Questions:

Why is there different maps in the scene?

Close up, the map scale is 1:50,000 and far away, where the 1:50,000 becomes too hard to read, it's a blend of 1:250,000 contour maps and 15m resolution satellite imagery.

Can I just turn off the far blending satellite imagery and 1:250,000 maps?

Sorry. It's on our to do list.

Why can I not grab and drag the picture?

Just click a point in the picture. It becomes the current target.

How do I use the gray bars? I cannot slide them.

The red markers are your current setting on the bars. Just click a new place on the bar and the red marker should jump to it.

How do I turn?

The viewing direction can be adjusted by clicking on the "TURN" bar for the desired number of degrees, as well as by clicking on the top bar to view the target in a fixed direction (North, NW, S, etc.).

How come the "TURN" bar does not have a red marker?

That bar is there to let you turn from your current position by the degrees you click. In essence, the current position is always at 0. To turn to a fixed bearing, use the compass bar instead. That bar does have a red marker.

How come the "Tilt" bar does not go all the way down?

Remember target based navigation. We adjust the camera so long as the target isn't lost from view and the eye is above ground.

How can I see more elevation detail?

Click the "Map" button. This will toggle the map and imagery On/Off. When they are turned off, the terrain detail is much more pronounced.

How can I get a larger screen size?

Clicking "Detail" gives you a larger screen until you start navigating again.

How can I save a scene or point?

Simple. Once you have the desired image after adjusting the tilt, zoom and direction, you can just use your browser's bookmark, or copy and paste the entire content of the address bar into a document.

How can I email a scene to a friend?

Again, simple. Just copy and paste the content of the address bar into an email. You can even embed multiple links into an email message describing a whole route or trip report. If your bowser has "send link" or "send page" features you are accustomed to, they should work as well, but make sure you get the whole page and not click just an item on the page (scroll bar or something).

How can I save or print just the image?

Right click on the image (or the bigger Detail image) and save/copy the image for printing.

How do I go to a given Longitude/Latitude?

Click the "Search Canada" button. Even with a blank search box, that will take you to the search page where you can enter Lon/Lat or do more name searches.

How do I use this for route planning?

Note: This is not intended to be an orienteering lesson, just a FAQ entry on how to read the page output: Using the 3D map and other sources of info you can decide on the best route of travel. Click consecutive points along the route. If using a GPS, make sure that you input into it waypoint Long/Lat in the datum that your GPS is set to. If using map/compass/altimeter, make sure that your compass is adjusted for magnetic declination from true north, your altimeter is calibrated regularly, and your coordinates are the same datum as the map. Then you can make a route card by recording the UTM and elevation of each point, as well as the "Bearing", "Distance", and "Elevation Gain" for each leg.

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