Tutorials

Introduction to Theme Maps (3:17)

Theme Maps show pre-selected, curated collections of data on key topics: Marine Life & Habitat, Cultural Resources, Marine Transportation, National Security, Commercial Fishing, Recreation, Energy & Infrastructure, Aquaculture, Restoration, and Water Quality. Offering basic mapping functionality, they are intended for users who want a quick and easy way to see the main datasets on select topics. This tutorial shows the basics of how to use Theme Maps.

Introduction to Data Explorer (3:49)

The Data Explorer is an interactive map that enables you to select and view any custom combination of data. Unlike Theme Maps, the Data Explorer makes it possible to display data from different themes together on one map, and it has more advanced functionality. This tutorial shows the basics of how to use the Data Explorer such as selecting and viewing data layers on the map, getting information about datasets, and changing the order of data layers.

Introduction to Marine Life and Habitat Theme Maps (2:09)

The Marine Life & Habitat theme includes data on many species of marine mammals, birds, and fish. Data are provided for individual species as well as for species groups based on ecological characteristics, management considerations, and other factors. Habitat data include physical habitat such as oceanography and seafloor sediment and biological habitats such as eelgrass and cold-water coral.

Add an Individual Species to the Data Explorer Map (2:22)

Data for each species in the Marine Life & Habitat theme, which includes marine mammals, birds, and fish, can be viewed individually on the Data Explorer map. This tutorial shows how to add an individual species onto the map by itself or in combination with other species. After adding a species, you can overlay other types of data about the ecosystem or human uses of the ocean. 

Marine Life – Fish (2:09)

This tutorial shows how to view maps of biomass for individual fish species or biomass and species richness for fish species groups (Ecological Groups, Managed Species, Stressor Groups). The fish data can be viewed on the Marine Life Theme Map or the Data Explorer, where it can be overlaid with other types of data.

Marine Transportation Theme Map – Vessel Traffic with Time Slider (1:10)

This tutorial shows how to use the Marine Transportation Theme Map to view vessel traffic data for different years and categories of vessels, how to use the time slider to see monthly data, and how to download the traffic data for use in ArcGIS and other applications.

Data Explorer – Vessel Traffic by Month (0:59)

This tutorial shows how to view monthly vessel traffic in the Data Explorer, which allows you to define and view any custom combination of data.

Measuring Distance and Area (1:00)

This tutorial shows how to use the Draw & Measure tool to measure distance and area on the Data Explorer map.

Commercial Fishing – Communities at Sea (2:09)

This tutorial shows how to use the Communities at Sea maps of commercial fishing activity. The maps make it possible to see links between fishing ports and the fishing locations that are most important to them.

Add Layer (2:41)

The “Add Layer” button makes it easy to add your own data layer, or one that you have obtained from an external source, to the Data Explorer interactive map. Layers that you add will be visible only to you.