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Using the Map

PastVu webapp allows users to explore historical images and their corresponding locations on an interactive map. It makes possible to see where particular image took place and to allow users to discover new historical images and information.

Map

You can use the zoom and pan features to navigate the map and explore different regions of the world. At the low zoom levels you will see clusters of the images on the map, clicking on the cluster zooms in the map and shows smaller clusters or individual images depending on zoom level.

You can point to the image marker to view a thumbnail popup of the corresponding historical image. Click on the thumbnail to open the the full image and read more information.

"Home" button"Home" button repositions the map to the home location, which can be configured in user settings.
"My location" button"My location" button positions the map by geolocation data available in the browser. On the first use, browser will ask permission to use this location data. If user denied use of geolocation data, the button will be inactive and non-functional.
info

Geolocation information about user is not stored in PastVu and used solely to reposition the map.

tip

If user denied use of geolocation data accidentally, re-enabling is possible in the site settings in the browser (click "View this site information" icon located to the left of address line in Chrome or Firefox for example).

Controls​

In the top right-hand corner of the map there are several control elements:

Image type selectorthese buttons allow you to change the type of images displayed (photos or pictures/paintings).
Image opening method buttonif this button is active, clicking on the markers (thumbnails) on the map will open each new page with an image in separate tab.
Map URL copy buttonthis button can be used to copy URL to the current map position; accessing this URL will open the map exactly as you see it at that moment.
Map layer selectordrop-down menu to select the map layer to be displayed. The name of the current layer is displayed as a button title.

At the bottom of the map there is a 'time slider' to help limit the number of image markers shown on the map, leaving only those that fall within a given time range.

tip

The colour scale on the 'time slider' also has meaning - these colours correspond to the colours of the markers on the map that relate to a particular time period.

Embedded Map​

The embedded map on the Pastvu image page functions similarly to the main map on the Pastvu website, but with the added feature of highlighting the location of the image. This makes it easier for users to see where the photo was taken and get a better understanding of its context.

Embedded Map

Copy coordinates button"Copy coordinates" button allows to copy image coordinates in the format Lat,Lng. If image does not have coordinates, the button will be inactive.

Edit mode​

In the image edit mode, current photo location marker becomes a pin, which can be moved to change the location. You can use map navigation tools such as zoom and panning to set location more accurately.

If image did not have coordinates, clicking on the map sets photo location pin and fills in coordinates field. Location pin can be moved to achieve required accuracy.

Image Editing Map

It is also possible to paste coordinates to the field if they are known, this will position the map to required location and set a pin at new point.

tip

Coordinates field supports a variety of formats. For example, you can insert coordinates notation used in wikipedia, "51° 30′ 26″ N, 0° 7′ 39″ W", which will be parsed to Lat,Lng format and set correctly in the map.

Clicking "Reset the coordinates" button removes image location, this is usually used when location was set incorrectly and exact location is not known.