WELCOME to the Arizona State University Decision Center for a Desert City's Southwest Water Information Project (SWIP).

SWIP is an online database of water-related information designed to satisfy the water information needs of the public, professional water managers, public policy analysts, and elected officials.

The Decision Center for a Desert City (DCDC) is funded by the National Science Foundation, and SWIP is the partial fulfillment of DCDC's mission.


Help Topics


THE SWIP HOME PAGE

From the SWIP homepage, users can access five categories of informative maps:

By mousing over a category, users can view the maps available under that heading.

Clicking on any map title will open it in a new window.





SECTIONS OF THE MAP PAGE

Use the terms below to understand the navigation instructions which follow.




Map title bar - Displays the full map title, including data year(s).

Orientation / overview map - A map delineating all of Maricopa County. The dashed red rectangle indicates the area displayed in the primary data map, while the solid blue rectangle indicates the area displayed in the satellite map (when applicable).

Synchronize buttons - [ ] Buttons allowing the user to align the primary data map (red with dashed lines) with the satellite map (blue), both in scale and in location. The left button changes the display of the primary data map; the right button changes the display of the satellite map.

Primary data map - A visual representation of a data set, which uses different colors to represent specific numeric ranges or levels. Use the map legend to interpret the map.

Description - A brief summary of the data represented on the map, background information on the topic, and implications related to the data. SWIP users will also find here a list of maps whose data complement the data shown on the current map. This feature will help users to develop well-informed conclusions about the data represented on these maps.

Satellite image - An image corresponding with the primary data map. Use the synchronize buttons to align the satellite image with the primary data map. Powered by Google™, the satellite reference window can be displayed as a satellite image, street map, or hybrid image using the buttons in the upper right of the reference window.

Map legend - A table of the colors and symbols appearing on the map, with an explanation of what each represents.

Reference selection buttons - Buttons allowing navigation between the description, the satellite image, or no reference window. Clicking the "Description" or "Satellite" selection buttons will display a split-screen view, with the primary data map at left and the selected window at right. Clicking the "None" selection button will display the primary data map across the full screen.

Zoom to a locality - A drop-down menu which allows users to select any of a list of localities. Choosing any of the listed cities displays that city on the primary data map.

Zoom in or out - Buttons allowing the user to attain a more detailed (zoomed in) or less detailed (zoomed out) view of the primary data map. To zoom in or out on the satellite image or street map, use the plus (+) or minus (-) buttons on the reference window.

Pan in any direction - View areas of the map which are currently off the screen. To pan, click anywhere on the map and drag the map to the desired position. The screen will automatically refresh.

Select a data year - A drop-down menu which allows users to view the primary data map for a specific data year. This feature is only available for maps based on data over a range of years.

Play slideshow - A feature which automatically cycles through maps for each data year. This feature is only available for maps based on data over a range of years.



NAVIGATING THE MAP PAGE: THE REFERENCE WINDOW

By default, the map page will open with a display of the primary data map and description in the reference window. The description includes a brief summary of the data represented on the map, background information on the topic, and implications related to the data. In addition, users will find a list of maps whose data complements the data shown on the current map. This feature will help users to develop well-informed conclusions about the data represented on these maps.

By clicking the "Satellite" reference selection button, a satellite image replaces the description, as shown below. The satellite image, powered by Google™, can be displayed as a satellite, map, or hybrid image using the buttons in the upper right of the reference window.

Note that in the orientation / overview map, the dashed red rectangle indicates the area displayed in the primary data map, while the solid blue rectangle indicates the area displayed in the satellite map. Using the synchronize buttons [ ] will align the maps to one another, both in scale and location. The left button changes the display of the primary data map; the right button changes the display of the satellite map.

Clicking the "None" reference selection button will display only the primary data map, as shown below.





NAVIGATING THE MAP PAGE: PAN & ZOOM

To navigate the primary data map, users will need to be able to pan and zoom. To pan in any direction, click anywhere on the map and drag it to the desired position. The screen will automatically refresh. To zoom, use the zoom in or zoom out buttons.

Users can utilize the drop-down menu to zoom to a locality. Selecting any of the listed cities displays that city on the primary data map, as shown below.



NAVIGATING THE MAP PAGE: MULTIPLE YEARS

For maps based on data over a range of years, users can view the map for a specific year using the drop-down menu to select a data year.

Alternatively, users can click to play a slideshow, which cycles through maps for each data year. Slideshow buttons include Play, Stop, Previous, and Next.

Maps based on data for only one year will not have the functionality to select a data year or play a slideshow.



VIEWING MAP SOURCE DATA

Click in any shaded area for map source data. Data will be displayed in chart format at the bottom of the screen (as shown below), and will be relevant to the map data year and census tract selected.