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PLSS in Google Earth (PLSGE)
This page describes a free application that runs in
Google Earth version 5.0 or later. Please install
Google Earth,
download
PLSGE,
and return to this page to learn more.
The principal component of PLSGE is a Google Earth implementation of the National Integrated
Land System (NILS) GeoCommunicator
map service.
It retrieves multiresolution images of the Bureau Of Land Management
(BLM)
Public Land Survey System
(PLSS).
Protracted townships west of the antimeridian are provided by the BLM, Alaska,
Spatial Data Management System
(SDMS).
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Position the area of interest (AOI) in the viewer.
-
Check the radio button beside the Townships, Meridians,
or Special Surveys network link.
-
On subsequent uses, reposition the AOI and ensure that the network link
is checked and selected.
When Refresh Mode is Automatic, the
overlay is refreshed two seconds after camera movement stops.
When Refresh Mode is Manual, choose Refresh
from the Edit menu, or right-click
and select Refresh in the context menu.
© 2010 Google -
Image © 2010 DigitalGlobe
Figure 1. Townships Overlay
Coverage includes Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho,
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri,
Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota,
Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Check the Meridians overlay to display the
coverage area. Click on the Availability folder name to test the NILS PLSS map service.
The NILS map service will not return an image for the Townships overlay if the target
resolution is greater than 1 millidegree per pixel. Service parameters are adjusted to allow
township displays at target resolutions up to 2 millidegrees per pixel with a corresponding
decrease in label size. Zoom in to display sections, aliquots, and lots where available.
PLSGE also includes a facility to draw approximate section boundaries with centrally located
information icons and an implementation of the GeoCommunicator Identify service.
SECTION GEOCODER
Point Search
The Point Search network link is a Google Earth implementation of the GeoCommunicator
Derive LD and Find LD
data services.
This feature should be used in conjunction with the Townships overlay to ensure that
the point of interest (POI) is contained within a section boundary.
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Position the POI in the center of the view. One way to
do this is to double-click an unmarked location. To precisely position the
POI in the center of the view, add a placemark at the desired location;
then edit the properties of that placemark and reset the view.
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Check the box beside the Point Search network link.
The section boundary that contains the POI will be added to the
Search Results folder.
A successful point search will also update initial values in the
TRS Search form.
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On subsequent uses, reposition the POI and ensure that the network link
is checked and selected. Then choose Refresh from the Edit menu,
or right-click and select Refresh in the context menu.
Alaska and many coastal areas, e.g. FL29 T31S R17E S004, are not currently
supported by Derive LD.
Alaska and duplicate townships, e.g. OR33 T36S R7EA, are not currently
supported by Find LD.
© 2010 Google - Image USGS
Figure 2. Section Geocoder
TRS Search
The TRS Search application is a Google Earth implementation of the GeoCommunicator
Find LD data service.
This feature should be used in conjunction with the Townships or
Special Surveys overlay to ensure that the requested township, section, or
subsection (aliquot, lot, donation land claim, exchange, homestead entry, land grant,
mineral survey, small holding claim, townsite, tract, unsurveyed parcel, or water) exists.
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Optionally, use the Point Search network link to preset initial values to
the section level.
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Click on the TRS Search folder name to open a form with input fields for state,
meridian, township, range, section, and subsection.
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Mouse-over input fields for brief instructions or other information.
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An aliquot number is a series of digits that represents a quartered subdivision with
1 = NE, 2 = SE, 3 = SW, and 4 = NW, e.g.
23 = SESW, 411 = NWNENE, etc.
Subdivision to the 1/4-1/4-1/4-1/4 level is supported where available.
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Subsection numbers may include an optional suffix preceded by a dash, e.g.
MT20 T4N R7W S031 Mineral Survey 8154-02.
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See Examples.
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Press the Search button on the input form to add the requested parcel
to the Search Results folder.
Alaska and duplicate townships, e.g. OR33 T36S R7EA, are not currently supported by Find LD.
Nor does Find LD currently support subsection numbers or suffixes that contain letters, e.g.
MT20 T26N R34W S017 Exchange 1263D.
Note: To save geocoder results from one Google Earth session to another, right-click
on Search Results and select Copy; then right-click on My Places and
select Paste.
GEOCOMMUNICATOR IDENTIFY
To review PLSS boundaries identified by the Land Survey Information System
(LSIS)
in the current view:
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Position the area of interest (AOI) in the viewer.
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Check the box beside the Identify network link.
-
On subsequent uses, reposition the AOI and ensure that the network link is
checked and selected. Then choose Refresh from the Edit menu,
or right-click and select Refresh in the context menu.
Figure 3. GeoCommunicator Identify
Click on column headings to sort records. GeoCommunicator map controls and
search features do not work in Google Earth.
All images and data are retrieved from remote servers. Data errors,
accuracy, and availability are beyond the control of this application.
PLSGE is a component of Earth Survey
© 2007-2010
Metzger & Willard, Inc.
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