GeoCommunicator offers web services that are available as tools on GeoCommunicator or as GeoRSS (Geographic Really Simple Syndication) web feed format to publish content for geographic locations. Use these services in NILS GeoCommunicator or develop your own interface within your application for these web services. See below on how to use the Derive and Find Land Description tools in GeoCommunicator.

Derive Land Description (LD)

The NILS Derive LD tool provides the capability to sketch on the map and have the land description containing state, meridian, township, range, section, and aliquot returned.

To use this tool, you must first make a sketch on the map. Zoom in on the map, select the 'Sketch tool' and draw a polygon on the map. Start in the upper left corner of your area and click the points go clockwise to draw the sketch. Make sure the sketch forms a closed polygon. It is best to draw just to the outside of the boundary as the system will return the aliquot parts that are fully contained within the polygon. You can use the PLSS layers for reference in drawing the parcels. Remember draw on the outside of the desired polygon as the query is a contains!

Figure 1: Using the Sketch Tool

Once the sketch is complete click the "Derive LD" icon on the top toolbar. The land description will be calculated automatically. It may take a few second to show the land description. The text returns the state, meridian, township, range, section and aliquot. If you need to change the sketch on the map, click the "clear" button to erase the sketch and redraw it. Click 'Refresh' on the derive land description window. The land descriptions may contain proceeding or trailing zeros. For example the Township and Range in the example below is actually T5N, R75W the trailing zero is place holder for half and quarter. Sfx stands for Survey Suffix.

Click "Select All" to highligh the text. Click "Copy to Clipboard" to copy the text. This text can be pasted into any document. The "Identify" link provides Information that is contained within the parcel, such as leases, surface management agency, rights-of-ways, etc. Click "Zoom to sketch" to zoom the sketch to full screen. "Find Description" opens the find land description window which allows you to search for a township, range and section. Use the map displays to turn on and off PLSS layers.

Figure 2: Derive LD Window

Find Land Description (LD)

The NILS Find LD tool provides the capability to enter in a land description that includes state, meridian, township, range, section, and aliquot and return the latitude and longitude of the coordinates that make up the polygon.

To use this tool, click the “Find LD” icon on the top toolbar of the map.  There are two ways to enter the land description.  The first way is to use the township search.  The second way is to copy and paste the land description into the text box.  Below provides detailed instructions on both methods.

Selecting the Parcel Description

Township Tool

In the Find Land Description window under “Township Search Criteria” select a state from the list provided.  Then select a meridian.  Enter the township number into the text area.  Select a direction and fraction using the radio buttons across from the township number.  Then enter the range number in the text area.  Select a direction and fraction using the radio buttons across from the range number.  Click “Search”. The meridian, direction, and fraction are not required.

Figure 3: Township Tool

The search results will appear below “Township Search Results”.  Click the image in the “Zoom” column to zoom the map to the township.  Click the check box in the “Shade” column to highlight the township on the map.  Click the radio button in the “Select” column to enter the land description into the text box under “Define Parcels” heading.

Click a number under “Section” to add the section to the legal land description.  Then click an aliquot (ex. NWNW) button to add the aliquot.  Adding the section and aliquot are optional.  Click “Append” to add the land description to the parcel description after each section. Another section and aliquot can be added by repeating the steps in this paragraph.

Figure 4: Defining the Section and Aliquot

 

Paste LD

Land descriptions can be added to the “Parcel Description” by pasting it from any legal document as well.  To be able to paste the land description it must be in a specific format. The Land description must be in the following order

• State Abbreviation (two letters)
• Meridian (two numbers)
• Township (three numbers, 0, and a letter for the direction)
• Meridian (three letters, 0, and a number for the direction)
• The word "SEC"
• Section number (two numbers)
• The word “ALIQ”
• Direction (four letters). 

The section and aliquot information are optional.  Each bullet must be separated by a space.  Each land description must be separated by a colon (;).  See the image below for examples. Land Description Formats

Figure 5: Parcel Description Format

Parcel Description Results

Once all the land descriptions are added to the “Parcel Description” text box, add a “Parcel Name”.  The parcel name is for your convenience to describe the search.  Click “Find Boundary”.  The latitude and longitudinal of the coordinates that make up the land descriptions will display in the text box directly above “Find Boundary”.  The “Save As” button will create a row under "List of Parcels" containing all the information from the query.

Below the “List of Parcels” heading is the results to all saved queries. These saved queries will be erased when the Find Land Description window is closed. A query can be edited by clicking the radio button in the edit column. The Land description will appear in the "Parcel Description" text box. Make any necessary changes. Click "Find Boundary". Click save to update the changes in the "List of Parcels". To zoom the map to a land description click the zoom icon in the "Map" column. To select the parcel on the map click the check box in the "Map" column. To see the Information (leases, surface management agency, rights-of-way, etc.) occurring within the parcel area click the blue Identify icon with an I in the middle of it in the "Map" column. The check boxes under map display allows you to turn on or off the PLSS layers.