How to use the VectorMap map viewer

VectorMap ( is the umbrella site for showing the location of collection records for a variety of vectors (mosquitoes, sand flies, ticks, mites, fleas) as well as reservoir hosts. Dedicated websites, MosquitoMap, SandflyMap, TickMap, are available for three of these vector groups. VectorSurv is an associated application that caters for temporal collection data from longitudinal studies where vector surveillance is undertaken.

You can access the VectorMap map viewer ( from the MosquitoMap ( SandflyMap ( and TickMap ( websites. For example, from MosquitoMap:

  • Open the Data Portal page. Open the Silverlight viewer link via the orange box (you may need to install Silverlight if it is not already on your computer).
  • When viewer is loaded, OK the disclaimer, and it will look like this:

While you are in the viewer, explore the following:

  • Click on the red dots. These showthe locations of collections and by default the opening screen showsrecords for mosquitoes. The drop-down list under the Vector Themes box lets you select other vector types. When you click on a red dot, a data panel with show up.Note that one dot could represent many different records from the same place – you can scroll through the records at a single site from the data panel
  • Explorethe Map Layerstab (blue tab at the top of the left panel), Note that some layers appear ‘greyed-out’ if they are beyond the current zoom range – zooming in results in them becoming active (greyed out to black).
  • Note the Transparency slider that controls visibility of the Map layers so that you can see underlying layers.
  • Mouse over the round blue information iconsto see more data about that layer. Note that more details, and downloads of layers are available from the Metadata tab within the MosquitoMap, SandflyMap and TickMap websites (e.g. Note the check box that controls the visibility of a layer
  • Note the triangle to the left of a layer that expands or collapses visibility of groups of layers and the symbology information
  • Explore the Vector Theme, Distribution model, and Disease Modeldrop down lists. Making a model selection adds layers in the bottom of the left hand column.
  • Explore the Search mosquitoestab (top blue tab on the left panel) to do a text search or to filter text according to your selections. Note that the vector type and the corresponding databasewill change depending on the Vector Theme you select. Once you select your text click on the search button, which creates a Results tab. You can clear the search text choices for all data fieldsby clicking on the Clear button within the Search area, and you can also use the Clear Results button, which will clear the results in the Results area. A new search term within a field will over-write previous selections within that field (e.g. for Country), but not previous selections within other fields, so be sure that you clear a search completely before doing another search as it could include previous search terms in the new search. Clicking on the Map Layers tab expands this panel.
  • From the Results tab that is generated by your search, click on the species of interest – this will filter the red points on the map to just those that are that species. If more than one point results, it will show the first page of records as large red points with the record that you mouse over as a radiating point. If you click on that point, more details will be shown, and the point will change color to blue. Results can be sorted by the drop-down box for fields.
  • The results of a search for a particular species can be Exported to Excel or Google Earth. You can go back to the results list of species by clicking on the “Go To Species List” link.
  • Note the Basemaps, Map tools, and Bookmarkstab (on top of the screen)
  • Bookmark an area of interest with the Bookmarks tab
  • Use the Identify tool under the Map Tools tab to get more information about activated layers for an area of interest that you define.
  • Note that VectorMap shows the mouse location (see the lat/long change in the bottom rightof the screen as you move the mouse over the map). You can change the format of the XY coordinates.
  • Zoom and pan. For pan just move the mouse over the map while you hold the left hand mouse button down. For zoom, either use the zoom control on the upper right oruse the scroll wheel on your mouse or hold SHIFT down, while simultaneously holding the left hand mouse button down, then move the mouse to trace a line between opposite corners of an imaginary square on the map– it will immediately zoom to the area you have just defined

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