Cuyahoga County Planning Commission

Cuyahoga County Greenprint
Technical Guide

Contents

  1. General Instructions
  2. Map Layers
  3. Tools
  4. Frequently Asked Questions

General Instructions

Map Layers

Layer names and controls can be seen by picking the layer stack button in the lower left corner of the side panel: map layers. If you ever lose this panel, retrieve it using the "I want to" blue button in the viewer. Select "Change Visible Map Layers" and this panel will appear. (You may have to expand the side panel using the arrow (right arrow) next to the 'I want to...' menu button.)

Layers are organized in three groups. The first is "Operational Layers." All of the topical data layers reside here. The second group, Base Maps consists of the Parcel data layer and several years of aerial views. The third group is the Shaded Relief layer. The layers are organized and accessed the same way digital files are in computer applications such as Explorer. The Plus sign (plus sign) symbol to the left of a group or layer indicates that more layers or more detail is available below that level. Click this symbol to expand the grouping to view these additional layers. Click the minus sign (minus sign) to collapse the grouping. Individual layers or groups of layers can be toggled on and off with the check-box. Most of the "Greenprint" layer groupings are denoted by CAPITAL LETTERS, while individual layers are typically lower case.

Some layers feature a "slider bar" (slider) to the right of the layer name. This tool functions like a dimmer switch and allows the user to create more transparency or more opaqueness when displaying the layer.

There are a series of five "Layer Actions" that can be chosen for any layer by clicking the arrow (arrow icon) next to any layer:

There are two ways to adjust the size of the side panel. Note the arrow (right arrow) next to the 'I want to...' menu button. Click on this to fully collapse the panel. It will change to a "Right Arrow" which you can click to reopen the panel. Click, hold and drag the "Left Arrow" to adjust the panel width. Half way down the panel (right side) is a handle (drag handle). Click, hold and drag to change the panel width.

Panel Action Menu

At the top of the side panel is a context sensitive menu button (menu icon). The contents of this menu change depending on what is displayed in the side panel:

Search box

In the upper right corner is a search box for finding places on the map. The search function can be used in three different ways:

Click the magnifying glass (search icon) or hit 'Enter' on your keyboard to begin the search. Search results will appear in the panel to the left of the map and be marked with a blue pushpin icon in the map. You may have to expand the side panel. Pick the best match from the list to zoom to its location. Selected results will be highlighted with a yellow circle.

'I want to...' Menu

A variety of tasks are available within the 'I want to...' menu. Simply click the blue button to see your options:

Tools

A variety of tools are available by clicking on the tools button (tools icon) in the upper right corner of the map. See the Tools section of this document for more detailed information on each of the available tools.

Results

The Identify tools, the Query tool, and the Global Search return results. These results are displayed in the side panel to the left of the map.

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Map Layers

Addresses and Locations

This is a pre-defined "group" of layers provided by the Cuyahoga County GIS Department:

Transportation

This is a pre-defined group of layers provided by the Cuyahoga County GIS Department, including depictions of roads, railroads, and other transportation features. Varying amounts of detail are available depending on the map scale, and include:

Political

The following layers are provided by the Cuyahoga County GIS Department.

Land Status

Two individual layers comprise the Land Status layer group:

EPA EnviroAtlas

EnviroAtlas is an interactive web-based tool developed collaboratively in 2014 by USEPA in partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and other federal and non-profit organizations, universities, state, county, and city-level stakeholders. Regular updates to EnviroAtlas will occur through 2022.

The full EnviroAtlas Dynamic Data Matrix contains more than 400 layers of data. The main data categories include: nature & natural resources (including agriculture); EPA-regulated topics & pollution; human community; regional - ecological & political. Please note that the Greenprint displays just two of the data sets: Active Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and Superfund Sites.

An Active RCRA site simply means that the property owner has registered with EPA as either a Large Quantity Generator (LQG), or a facility which Treats, Transports, Stores or Disposes of hazardous waste under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act program. These hazardous waste handlers may include facilities as large as industrial manufacturing sites or as small as dry cleaners and auto mechanic shops. Registration as a RCRA permitted site is an administrative requirement and does not imply contamination.

Superfund Sites are properties which have reported to EPA under the Superfund Enterprise Management System (SEMS) and SEMS National Priorities List (NPL). Superfund is a program administered by the EPA to locate, investigate, and clean up the worst hazardous substance contaminated sites throughout the United States under the Federal Comprehensive Emergency Response, Compensation and Liability Act. Such reporting may include known releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants.

Open Space

Cuyahoga County Open Space Inventory consists of public and institutionally owned open space. Four general types are depicted:

The Open Space Inventory does not necessarily include conservation easements on privately held lands.

Source: Cuyahoga County Open Space Inventory, 2014, Cuyahoga County Planning Commission. Originally developed as part of a multi-county inventory, the Cuyahoga County portion has been continually maintained and updated by the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission with input from the Cleveland Metroparks and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. In recent years, the Open Space Inventory has been expanded to include smaller, integral open spaces in Cuyahoga County including all of the City of Cleveland's municipal parks and recreation centers.

Cuyahoga Greenway Network

The Cuyahoga Greenway Network is a system of interconnected trails that includes off-road all-purpose trails and on-road bikeway connections (bike lanes, sharrows and designated bicycle routes). The network is comprised of major and minor routes identified through a county-wide planning initiative undertaken by the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission, NOACA, and the Cleveland Metroparks. This Greenway Plan (completed 2019, adopted in 2020) depicts existing and planned routes of regional significance throughout the county. The routes typically traverse more than one community, fill gaps between identified regional routes, and create non-motorized transportation connections to destinations, employment centers and other activity centers. Planned trails and routes are depicted at a conceptual level and the exact placement could be adjusted once detailed design and engineering plans are underway.

Trails and bikeways which are more local within a given community can be viewed as Existing Off-Roand and Existing On-Road.

Trails and bikeways are categorized and depicted accordingly on the map:

Priority Projects

Also displayed are:

Source: The Cuyahoga Greenway Partners, a collaboration of trails advocates representing various agencies, regional organizations, and municipalities.

Watersheds

The Watersheds layer shows two depictions of watersheds:

A watershed is a geographic region with rivers and streams that all drain into a larger, single named body of water. Hills and valleys direct water to the drainage basin, such as a river or lake. The action of a watershed can be viewed on a small scale, such as the area that drains into the creek behind a house. Or, watersheds can be large such as the range of land and streams that drain into the Ohio River or Lake Erie. (Ohio EPA)

Most of the watersheds in Cuyahoga County are supported and coordinated by local watershed stewardship groups, such as Friends of Euclid Creek or Doan Brook Watershed Partnership. These watershed stewardship groups can be contacted through hyperlinks available in the map.

Local Watersheds

The local watersheds available for viewing in the map are classified as a Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) 12 of the National Hydrography Dataset, and have been modified slightly for local naming conventions and groupings. The HUC level indicates watershed size and HUC 12 is considered a local sub-watershed that includes tributary systems.

Source: Ohio Department of Natural Resources, c. 2001; Modified by the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission.

Local Watersheds, by Percent Impervious

The same, local watersheds are available for viewing in the map with a depiction of the amount of their land area covered by impervious surface - e.g. asphalt, buildings, and other hard-packed surfaces that prevent precipitation from percolating into the ground.

Information published by the Center for Watershed Protection has been incorporated into the watershed maps, developed a series of manuals with guidelines and practices for watersheds that correspond to their degree of impervious cover. The shadings and groupings shown in the Greenprint Viewer correspond to the guidelines in the Urban Subwatershed Restoration Manual Series Manual 1: An Integrated Framework to Restore Small Urban Watersheds. (see page 37), available as a downloadable PDF or through the CWP's online library.

Sources: Ohio Department of Natural Resources, c. 2001; National Land Cover Dataset, 2006.

Water Features

Cuyahoga County is served by four major water systems or features: the three major river valleys of the Rocky, Cuyahoga and Chagrin Rivers and the lakeshore of Lake Erie. Tributaries to these water features typically reach from upland headwaters, down through a variety of dense urban land uses, and ultimately to Lake Erie.

Three water feature categories are depicted in separate sub-layers:

Wetlands are represented in a separate layer.

Source: Water features were compiled from two sources. Streams and Water Bodies were digitized by the Cuyahoga County IT Department from 2006 aerial photography images. Graphical enhancements to these data sets were provided by the Cleveland Metroparks. The Stream Labels feature names and representations of underground stream connections were provided by the National Hydrography Dataset (NHD, 2011), a product of the US Geologic Survey. Local data provides the highest level of graphic detail, while the NHD dataset provides a complex national network of water features, including names (where known) and the modeling of water flow.

Wetlands

Existing wetlands are depicted from two available sources, each in its own sub-layer. Wetland features from these two well-recognized inventories often overlap and vary in their coverage, due to varying methodologies and time. Each has a different set of characteristics, as well.

Sources: National Wetlands Inventory (NWI): The National Wetlands Inventory is a collection of inventories conducted throughout the United States under the direction of the US Fish & Wildlife Service. In Ohio, Ducks Unlimited, serving as a consultant to the US Fish & Wildlife Service, resurveyed wetlands throughout the State in 2009. For a detailed report on the data collection process, see Updating the National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) for Ohio (PDF).

The Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) contracted with Davey Resources Group for two GIS-based surveys. The first was conducted in 2000 in the Cuyahoga River watershed (within Cuyahoga County). In 2006, a second GIS-based inventory was conducted for the balance of the county. The purpose of these studies was to provide general information on the locations and sizes of wetlands. The study authors advise that the inventories should not be used in place of a wetlands determination and/or delineation. If detailed size and wetlands boundary information is required, a proper wetlands delineation, including a wetlands boundary survey, should be performed by a qualified wetlands specialist. For the full report, see the GIS Wetlands Inventory and Restoration Assessment (PDF).

Water Feature Corridors

A riparian zone or riparian area is the interface between the land and a river, stream, wetland or shoreline.

There are several indicators available to help identify riparian zones. Two methods are used in the Cuyahoga County Greenprint:

  1. 100-Year Flood Plain: Flood plains are commonly used to gauge flooding potential, and as a proxy for low-lying riparian areas. The map of FEMA flood plain areas was updated for Cuyahoga County in 2010. A flood plain can be a hazard area for roads, buildings and human activities. FEMA flood insurance can be purchased (at different rates depending on the potential flood hazard) for a structure in a flood plain.
  2. Active Stream Area: Working with several partners, including the Cleveland Metroparks and the Chagrin River Watershed Partners, the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission (CCPC) developed a predictive series of buffer areas - areas to be preserved for protection - around various types of water features highlighted in the map. The methods utilized are patterned on well-established modeling approaches and use a particular feature's drainage area to delineate its buffer or active stream area.

    The maps show buffered water areas, by feature, as determined by the CCPC:

    • Lake Erie Shore: 300 feet buffer
    • Navigable River (Cuyahoga): 300-foot buffer
    • Navigable River (Chagrin, Rocky): 120-foot buffer
    • Stream Bank (Larger Watershed): 120-foot buffer
    • Stream Bank (Smaller Watershed): 75-foot buffer
    • Ponds, Lakes, Other Water bodies: 120-foot buffer
    • Wetland (National Wetland Inventory): 120-foot
    • Wetland (Soil and Water Inventory): 120-foot
    • Small Stream Centerline: 25 foot buffer

    When viewing these modeled buffer areas on the map, users can click within any given buffer area and "View Details" to see the reasoning behind that particular buffer area size.

    Note that these riparian buffers were generated only for above-ground water features and exclude culverted portions streams.

Source: Flood plain data, Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Flood Insurance Program

Active Stream Area data developed by Cuyahoga County Planning Commission (CCPC), based on water features identified in 2006 aerial photography and wetlands inventories referenced in the Wetlands section.

Priority Conservation Areas

Priority Conservation Areas (PCAs) are areas that are recognized as significant spaces to be preserved as open space. In Ohio, PCAs are locally selected and generally identified in a Balanced Growth Plan that has been approved by local communities and endorsed by the Ohio EPA. This is a voluntary designation and is specifically geared toward watershed protection under the Ohio Balanced Growth Program. While the Balanced Growth Planning process can result in identifying areas prioritized for development and for conservation, the Greenprint shows only the Priority Conservation Areas. Four approved Balanced Growth plans have been completed in portions of Cuyahoga County: Big Creek Watershed, Chagrin River Watershed, Chippewa Creek Watershed, and Furnace Run Watershed.

A PCA designates areas for protection and restoration that may be critically important as ecological, recreational, heritage, agricultural, and public access areas. They can also be significant for their contribution to water quality and general quality of life. Optionally, agricultural areas may be designated as Priority Agricultural Areas (PAA).

The PCA designation does not change the landowner's property rights, and the property is still subject to local land-use regulation. The land may be eligible for state funding incentives to support and encourage its use as a desirable area for conservation driven by state public policy that would not encourage or provide funding for development within the designated PCA.

Resources:

Balanced Growth Plans:

Census Block Demographics

Census Blocks are generally the smallest geographic unit available from the U.S. Census Bureau, often representing city blocks in urbanized areas, and larger areas, longer than city blocks, in suburban and rural areas. Demographic data for these very small geographic units are available only in the decennial census, most recently the 2010 Census. Demographic information available for Census Blocks include population by Age, Race, and Hispanic Origin, as well as Housing Occupancy.

These demographic indicators are available in the Greenprint for individual blocks or in groups of blocks by using the Query tools (e.g. Polygon or Rectangle). Users can also see demographic information by using the Buffer Options. The Buffer Options can be found in the context menu for the Query results panel; available only after searching for other features.

Census data will be updated in the Greenprint with the release of 2020 Census data. Updates will be completed early in 2022.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 TIGER/Line Shapefiles; and 2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)Summary File.

For general information on the Census, see the U.S. Census Bureau.

For local Census data, see the County Planning Commission Census Page.

Urban Tree Canopy Metrics

The Urban Tree Canopy Metrics layer group is based on the Cuyahoga County Urban Tree Canopy Assessment (UTC) first conducted in 2011 and updated in 2017. It has eight individual layers that display the following:

*Right-of-way information is for continuous sections of same-street right-of-way in a municipality.
**Possible Tree Canopy right-of-way metrics are for pervious surfaces only.

Each layer provides a thematic summary of percentage of total land cover for the selected area.

For the complete set of tree canopy metrics see the Urban Tree Canopy Assessment Update

Source: Cuyahoga County Planning Commission Urban Tree Canopy Assessment, originally published in 2013 and updated in 2019.

Land Cover

Land Cover can generally be considered the vegetation, water, natural and human-made surface of the earth. The land cover layer used in the Greenprint is the basis for the County's Urban Tree Canopy (UTC) Assessment Update, captured in 2017. High resolution land cover data is a key tool in not only "seeing" but also measuring natural resource patterns, especially in the densely built urban environment of Cuyahoga County. The land cover layer can be used as a "base" when highlighting green infrastructure issues.

The land cover data in the Greenprint was further analyzed through the UTC assessment and summarized by various geographic levels including city, neighborhood, and parcel levels. See the URBAN TREE CANOPY METRICS layer group for more detail on these geographic summaries.

The UTC assessment produced a classification system for ten classifications of land cover in Cuyahoga County:

  1. Grass/Shrub: Grass and low-lying shrubs
  2. Bare Soil: Exposed dirt, including beaches, baseball infields, and some agricultural fields
  3. Water: Visible water features
  4. Buildings: Exposed houses and buildings, generally excluding garages and other smaller structures
  5. Roads / Railroads: Exposed pavement within the public right of way, as well as railroad beds
  6. Other paved: Exposed pavement within private property, typically including parking lots and private roadways
  7. Tree Canopy over vegetation/ Bare Soil: Tree canopy extending over vegetation or bare earth
  8. Tree Canopy over Building: Tree canopy extending over buildings
  9. Tree Canopy over Road: Tree canopy extending over road / railroad
  10. Tree Canopy over Other Paved: Tree canopy extending over other paved surfaces

As measured in the UTC study, "Tree Canopy" includes classes 7, 8, 9, and 10.

Source: Cuyahoga County Planning Commission Urban Tree Canopy Assessment Update, 2019. The UTC land cover analysis was developed through the integration of several data sources - primarily from the National Agricultural Imagery Program (NAIP) 2011 and 2017, 4-band aerial imagery, US Department of Agriculture; as well as additional imagery, LIDAR elevation data, and other local data sources.

Tree Canopy Change (2011-2017)

Tree Canopy Change depicts the change in tree canopy on the surface of the land from 2011-2017:

urban tree canopy change legend

Source: Cuyahoga County Planning Commission Urban Tree Canopy Assessment Update, 2019.

Topography

The Topography layer group contains two layers: Elevation Contours and Steep Slope, with each providing information about the shape and elevation of the ground surface.

Elevation Contours

Elevation contours are linear representations of the elevation of the ground. When the layer is enabled, contour lines will appear on the Greenprint as users zoom in to see the detailed line work.

Each continuous line represents a particular elevation value, and the lines are spaced at two-foot elevation intervals. Thicker index lines represent intervals of 10 feet and are automatically labeled with their elevation value. To find the elevation value of thinner lines, users can count individual lines in two-foot increments, adding or subtracting two feet from the nearest index line with an elevation value. Alternatively, users can click on the Identify tool for a given line and find its elevation value.

Contour lines that are spaced closely together on the map indicate steeper slopes, with elevation changing rapidly. Conversely, flatter areas will have very few lines in a given area and may not show a distinct contour line pattern.

Contours will often form circular patterns, such as around all sides of a hill. In that simple case, it is assumed that contour lines inside of others are rising in elevation. Dashed elevation lines represent depressions. Closed depressions will often occur around ponds, wetlands, or other such low-lying areas.

Other contextual clues can help in reading contour lines and the associated terrain. For example, the Shaded Relief layer (at the bottom of the layer list) illustrates shadows cast from a virtual sun shining from the northwest. Another example, using water features, generally occurs for lower elevations and may cause contour lines to stretch out in the downhill direction of the water's flow.

Elevation contours can also be used to effectively calculate slope (steepness) along a given path by dividing the change in elevation by the horizontal distance between any two points.

Source: Elevation contours were developed by Cuyahoga County from a 2006 aerial photography project. See Cuyahoga County GIS Data.

Steep Slope

Steep Slope is a layer that depicts land having a percentage slope greater than 12%, shown in two classes: 12-18% and 18.1% or more.

Slope is measured as rise over run and is depicted here in percentage classes. For example, a stretch of land 100 feet long that rises fifteen feet in elevation has a slope of fifteen percent (15/100).

Planning and conservation literature cite varying definitions for "steep" slope. Considerations include soil type, land cover, and allowable landscape techniques. Hillside protection ordinances likewise cite varying standards, and often include slope-density standards that limit the density of development according to the degree of slope.

Source: Steep slope data was developed by the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission from a digital elevation model provided by the Ohio Statewide Imagery Program, 2006.

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Tools

Basic Tools

home button
Home

Opens the Home Panel

 identify button
Identify

Activates the Identify tool

 initial view button
Initial View

Return to initial map extent

 print button
Print

Create a printable version of the map

 export button
Export

Save a map image

 share button
Share

Share the current map on social media

 third=party map button
EagleView

Display EagleView imagery

Home: Open the Home Panel.

Identify: Activates the Identify tool. Clicking in the map frame will identify all visible features and list them in the Identify Results pane. When this tool is active, the Identify Options menu appears. Use this menu to enable or disable buffering (a buffer appears around the Identified point, everything within the buffer will be identified) and to select identifiable layers.

Initial View: Returns the map view to the extent visible when the viewer initially loaded.

Print: Opens the print dialogue, which allows you to create a printable version of the map with a legend, scale, and customizable title.

Export: Creates an image file from the map view in a variety of formats. Some formats allow for the inclusion of georefernce/location data that will allow you to view the image

Share: Opens the Share dialogue, allowing you to share a link to the viewer on the most common Social Media platforms. The current map extent and layer visibility is recorded in the link when the Share button is clicked.

EagleView: Displays EagleView imagery in a separate viewing pane at the bottom of the map. This pane can be resized or moved to it's own tab or window. It also has it's own set of navigation tools and is synced to the purple marker on the viewer's map. Moving the purple marker in the map will move the EagleView view and moving the EagleView view will move the purple marker. If you lose track of the marker's position, you can reset the EagleView view using the 'Center this map to the viewer' button in the upper right corner of the EagleView pane.

Navigation

pan button
Pan

Enter pan mode

 zoom in button
Zoom In

Click on the map to zoom in

 zoom out button
Zoom Out

Click on the map to zoom out

 initial view button
Initial View

Return to initial map extent

 full extent button
Full Extent

Return to the full extent of the map

 previous extent button
Previous Extent

Zoom to the previous extent

 next extent button
Next Extent

Zoom to the next extent

 bookmark button
Bookmarks

Opens the bookmarks view

Pan: Cancels any active tools and enters pan mode. Click and drag the mouse to pan around the map.

Zoom In: Click on the map to zoom in at that point. Click and drag a rectangle to zoom to that area.

Zoom Out: Click on the map to zoom out at that point. Click and drag a rectangle to zoom out from that area.

Initial View: Returns the map view to the extent visible when the viewer initially loaded.

Full Extent: Zooms to the full extent of all layers in the visibility map. (Not all layers display at all scale levels or extents)

Previous Extent: Zooms to the previous extent. Button will remain active as long as there is a previous extent to zoom to. Use this button in conjunction with the Next Extent button to cycle through extents.

Next Extent: Zooms to the next extent. Button will remain active as long as there is a next extent to zoom to. Use this button in conjunction with the Previous Extent button to cycle through extents.

Bookmarks: Opens the bookmarks view that contains a list of predefined bookmarks. The bottom of the list contains a button to add your own bookmark.

Measurement and Markup

All measurements are approximate.

measure polyline button
Measuring Method

Measure lines or shapes

 distance button
Distance

Measure a distance

 area button
Area

Measure an area

 point button
Point

Place a point on the map

 text button
Text

Add text to the map

 line button
Line

Draw a line on the map

 freehand line button
Freehand

Draw a freehand line on the map

 ellipse button
Ellipse

Draw an ellipse on the map

 circle button
Circle

Draw a circle on the map

 polygon button
Polygon

Draw a polygon on the map

 rectangle button
Rectangle

Draw a rectangle on the map

 edit drawing button erase drawing button clear drawing button
Edit Drawing

Edit existing markup or measurements

 plot coordinates button
Plot Coordinates

Add coordinates to the map

Measuring Method: Whether you are about to measure a distance or an area, first select how you want to draw the measurement.

Distance: Draw a multi-part line to measure a distance. Click once to start the line, click once to get a measurement for a distance, click twice to finish the markup measurement and get a total. Distances appear on each segment. When the tool is active, the Measure Options appear in the toolbar: set units, enable or disable snapping and set snapping layers. Next to the Measurement Options is the Measure Tool selection which is used to set the tool type: line (straight point to point, click between points), freehand (freehand tracing, click and hold to trace). Use the Edit Drawings tool to adjust drawn measurements or markups, erase certain measurements or markups, or clear all measurements and markups.

Area: Draw a shape to measure an area. Click once to start the shape, click to add a vertex/point to the shape, click twice (double-click) to finish the markup measurement and get area and perimeter totals. Distances appear on each line section of the shape and area and perimeter appear in the middle of the shape. When the tool is active, the Measure Options appear in the toolbar: set units, enable or disable snapping and set snapping layers. Next to the Measurement Options is the Measure Tool selection which is used to set the tool type: freehand shape (freehand tracing, click and hold to trace), ellipse (click and drag to adjust shape), circle (click and drag to adjust shape, polygon (click at each vertex/point in the shape), rectangle (click and drag to adjust shape). Use the Edit Drawings tool to adjust drawn measurements or markups, erase certain measurements or markups, or clear all measurements and markups.

Point: Click on the map to place a point markup. When the tool is active, the Markup Options appear in the toolbar: enable or disable snapping and set snapping layers, select markup style from a variety of colors and shapes. Use the Edit Drawings tool to adjust drawn measurements or markups, erase certain measurements or markups, or clear all measurements and markups.

Text: Click on the map where you want your text markup, then enter your text in the text box. When the tool is active, the Markup Options appear in the toolbar: enable or disable snapping and set snapping layers, select markup style from a variety of colors and shapes. Use the Edit Drawings tool to adjust drawn measurements or markups (such as rotating text), erase certain measurements or markups, or clear all measurements and markups.

Line: Click once to start the line, click again to add vertices/points along the line, click twice to finish and create the line markup. When the tool is active, the Markup Options appear in the toolbar: enable or disable snapping and set snapping layers, select markup style from a variety of colors and shapes. Use the Edit Drawings tool to adjust drawn measurements or markups, erase certain measurements or markups, or clear all measurements and markups.

Freehand: Click and drag to draw, release to create the line markup. When the tool is active, the Markup Options appear in the toolbar: select markup style from a variety of colors and shapes. Use the Edit Drawings tool to adjust drawn measurements or markups, erase certain measurements or markups, or clear all measurements and markups.

Ellipse: Click and drag to place and adjust the shape, release to create the ellipse markup. When the tool is active, the Markup Options appear in the toolbar: select markup style from a variety of colors and shapes. Use the Edit Drawings tool to adjust drawn measurements or markups, erase certain measurements or markups, or clear all measurements and markups.

Circle: Click and drag to place and adjust the size, release to create the circle markup. When the tool is active, the Markup Options appear in the toolbar: select markup style from a variety of colors and shapes. Use the Edit Drawings tool to adjust drawn measurements or markups, erase certain measurements or markups, or clear all measurements and markups.

Polygon: Click once to start the polygon, click again to add vertices/points along the polygon, click twice to finish and create the polygon markup. When the tool is active, the Markup Options appear in the toolbar: enable or disable snapping and set snapping layers, select markup style from a variety of colors and shapes. Use the Edit Drawings tool to adjust drawn measurements or markups, erase certain measurements or markups, or clear all measurements and markups.

Rectangle: Click and drag to place and adjust the size, release to create the rectangle markup. When the tool is active, the Markup Options appear in the toolbar: enable or disable snapping and set snapping layers, select markup style from a variety of colors and shapes. Use the Edit Drawings tool to adjust drawn measurements or markups, erase certain measurements or markups, or clear all measurements and markups.

Edit Drawing: Click the dropdown below the button image to select the type of edit. When the tool is active, the Markup Options appear in the toolbar: enable or disable snapping and set snapping layers, select markup style from a variety of colors and shapes.

Plot Coordinates: The Plot Coordinates button prompts the user to click once on the map to get its coordinates. The map is labeled and the left panel changes to show the coordinate values. Options are available to change the coordinate system and to hide, edit, or delete the coordinate labels.

Identify and Query

Activating an Identify tool opens the Identify Options Menu. Use this menu to enable or disable buffering (a buffer appears around the Identify shape, everything within the buffer will be identified), enable or disable snapping, select snapping layers, and select identifiable layers. Please note that not all Identify Options are available for every Identify Tool.

identify point button
Point

Identify at a point

 identify freehand line button
Freehand

Identify with a freehand shape

 identify polyline Button
Line

Identify with a line

 identify polygon button
Polygon

Identify with a polygon

 identify rectangle button
Rectangle

Identify with a rectangle

 query button
Query

Perform an advanced query

 filter button
Filter

Apply a filter to one or more layers

Point: Identify all visible features at a specific point. Identify Results appear in the side panel.

Freehand: Identify all visible features that touch a drawn freehand markup. Click and drag to draw, release to create the freehand markup. Identify Results appear in the side panel.

Line: Identify all visible features that touch a drawn line markup. Click once to start the line, click again to add vertices/points along the line, click twice to finish and create the line markup. Identify Results appear in the side panel.

Polygon: Identify all visible features that touch a drawn polygon markup. Click once to start the shape, click again to add vertices/points along the shape, click twice to finish and create the polygon markup. Identify Results appear in the side panel.

Rectangle: Identify all visible features that touch a drawn rectangle markup. Click and drag to place and adjust the size, release to create the rectangle markup. Identify Results appear in the side panel.

Query: Opens the Query dialogue in the side panel. Select a layer to perform the query on from available layers in the Layer dropdown menu. Form your query using the dropdowns for FIELD, OPERATOR, and VALUE boxes. Click the 'Add Another Condition' to add more conditions to your query. Set the Spatial Filter to 'None' (default) or 'Current Extent' (limit selections to features currently within the map frame). Click 'Search' to apply the query. Query Results appear in the side panel.

Filter: Opens the Filter dialogue in the side panel. Select a layer to apply the filter to from available layers in the Layer dropdown menu. Form your filter using the dropdowns for FIELD, OPERATOR, and VALUE boxes. Click the 'Add Another Condition' to add more conditions to your filter. Set the Spatial Filter to 'None' (default) or 'Current Extent' (limit selections to features currently within the map frame). Click 'Filter' to apply your filter. Use the layer dropdown to filter another layer. Filters remain applied to a layer until they are cleared from that layer.

Additional Data Tools

layer catalog button
Layer Catalog

Add layers from a layer catalog

 upload data button
Upload Data

Upload layers from your device

 add layers button
Add Layers

Add layers from a map service

Layer Catalog: The Layer Catalog is a place to hold other layers that may be of interest (without cluttering up the layer list for most users). Currently, only the local Soils Classifications layer is available. Soil types are somewhat randomly color-coded. They can be selected with query tools, but not filtered.

Upload Data: Local data from your computer can be temporarily uploaded into the map viewer. Note that uploading a single shapefile will only provide the graphic elements, and no attributes. If you upload a zipped set of files associated with shapefile set, then attributes will be brought along. Uploaded data cannot be used with Filter and Query tools. Data with unknown map projects may not appear.

Add Layers: Users can search for external map layers from ArcGIS Online using a keyword, or can enter a complete URL if known.

An example:

The new layer will be at the top of the layer stack. It can be made semi-transparent with the slider.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Nothing happened when I made a selection or clicked on a link in the viewer. What happened?
A. In order to use certain features, including links to the County's Property Database MyPlace and making a printable map, you must enable pop-up windows for the viewer in your browser. Since each browser functions a bit differently, please consult your browser's documentation for instructions on enabling pop-ups (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari).

Q2. Why can't I see the layer(s) that I have turned on?
A. There are several reasons. The most common cause is because you are zoomed out too far (or zoomed in too close). Several layers, like parcels, will not show up until you zoom in to a reasonable scale. Another reason may be that the layer's parent group is turned off. For instance, the Municipalities layer will not show if the POLITICAL group is turned off.

Q3. The colors on the map don't match the colors in the legend. Why?
A. Many of the layers are semi-transparent (e.g., Open Space by Type or Watersheds), so you may be seeing a combination of one color from a lower layer viewed through another color of a semi-transparent higher layer. Try turning off layers that may be conflicting with the one in question. Also, there is a transparency slider control to the right of some layers. Try moving the slider to the right (less transparent) or to the left (more transparent).

Q4. I've selected a feature with one of the query tools, and it's highlighted in yellow. How do I unselect it in order to remove the highlighting?
A. Click the left-facing arrow in the side panel to the left of the Identify Results, or click the query tool where there are no features to make a new selection, such as in the road right-of-way.

Q5. How can I get current Fiscal Office data for a given parcel?
A. When clicking on a parcel with the Identify tool (or other tools), you may see: "For more information regarding this parcel, please visit MyPlace." Click the hyperlink for MyPlace, and a new browser tab will open up for the Fiscal Office MyPlace page for that parcel. Each subsequent selection of a MyPlace hyperlink will open an additional browser tab. If you are interested in exploring a specific area, it may be worthwhile to continue in one MyPlace tab, rather than having the Greenprint Viewer generate multiple tabs.

Q6. Can I copy my query results to a spreadsheet?
A. Yes. You can do this for all query results from the Identify Results panel, or for a certain group of results by expanding that results group (right arrow next to group name). Then, use the context sensitive menu button (top right of panel menu icon). From here you have two options. The most direct is to select "Export to XLXS or CSV. These will take all the data and export it to a new spreadsheet. An alternative is to and select "Switch to Table. From the table view at the bottom of the page, pick the layer's results that you are interested in from the tabs. Then select the text in the table, using either your left mouse button or shift+right arrow keys to select the text. Copy the selection and paste to Excel or other spreadsheet application.

Q7. When printing a map, what "Map Scale" should I pick?
A. Since your screen layout will not likely match exactly with the paper size chosen for your output, you will have to decide if it's more important to preserve the map scale as-is (current scale) or whether the outer extent of the map is more important (current extent). There are other preset scale options as well, which are all expressed in a "proportional scale", For example: 1:1,000 = 1 inch to 1,000 inches.

Below are some standard scales:

Proportion Feet/inch
1:24,000 2,000
1:12,000 1,000
1:6,000 500
1:3,000 250
1:1,200 100
1:600 50

The printer-friendly map will have a graphic scale bar in the lower left corner and proportionate scale text in the lower right corner. Note that the scale text will be incorrect if the print is enlarged or reduced in any way.

Q8. Can I use the viewer on my smartphone or tablet?
A. Yes. The application can be viewed through any HTML5 compatible browser, and uses responsive design, whereby the map and its controls will be adjusted for a smaller mobile or tablet screen layout. Not all application features are available on all devices. While all the layers will be available, typically the handheld version of the viewer will have fewer tools available. Also, the cross-hair button in the upper left of the map will provide geolocation options that can employ your device's GPS.

Q9. How do I get back to the view I was looking at before?
A. Click the tool icon at the top right to bring up the tool tabs, and select the Navigation tab. Click the button labeled "Previous Extent". You may also use the context sensitive menu button (menu icon) in the side panel. You can go back through several previous extents and forward through "Next Extents" in your recently viewed areas.

Q10. Can I use Greenprint layers in my own mapping application?
A. Yes. Most layers are available for download from the Cuyahoga County Enterprise GIS Department. Various web map services are also available. See the County's Open Data page. For more information, please visit https://gis.cuyahogacounty.us.

Q11. Can I save my query results for use at a later time?
A. Saved results are only available in the current browser session. Refreshing the page or navigating away will clear all saved results.

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