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Review and Export Layout


Refer to the Map Elements page of GeoOps and review your layout to ensure that all required elements (STANDL SGD) are present and correct.

Export the layout from the Share tab on the ribbon > Export Layout button. Export settings may vary depending on the plotter and driver used. Ensure export of georeference information and font embedding are good practice.

Review the exported layout to ensure it appears as intended, i.e., all fonts display correctly, assignment breaks and labels appear, labels do not overlap, there are no data selections in the map, etc.

If needed, reduce or optimize the size of the exported PDF. This can be done in Adobe Acrobat Pro, Foxit PDF, or with several free online tools. The smaller the file size of the PDF, the faster uploads to and downloads from FTP and/or SharePoint will be for both GISS and firefighters using the products in the Avenza Maps application.

Additional Considerations for Digital-Only Geospatial PDFs

All PDFs exported from ArcGIS are geo-enabled (unless default settings have been modified) and can be used in any software that works with 'GeoPDFs.'

However, creating a Geospatial PDF designed specifically for digital use in an application like Avenza Maps follows a different workflow than creating a traditional paper map since it is not constrained by paper sizes. The Geospatial PDF should be designed with the user's area of interest and map scale in mind first with the "page" size determined second.

Operational needs will dictate the type of Geospatial PDF to be created. Once that determination is made, decide on the base map that best suits that type of map. For example, an IAP map will require topography, while transportation will need a roads layer. Aerial imagery can also be very beneficial for some maps. In some cases, the background on the topographic map can be made transparent and the topo can be displayed on top of aerial imagery.

The appropriate map scale for use on a mobile device also needs to be determined. Typical topo maps should be at 1:24k; aerial imagery may be 1:8k-12k; and a travel map may be 1:50k-100k.

Focus on the map scale the end-user needs to do their job. Since a PDF is a single static image, not a tile cache like a web map, there will be no additional information when a user "zooms in," only what's already there but bigger. This is why the scale is important, if the features, and labels are all sized for 8k, but the map needs to be used at 24k, everything will be far too small.

The last consideration is the “page size.” Since the map is designed for digital use only and not being printed, it does not need to adhere to a standard size. Rather than the paper size, the “page size” is determined by the area of interest and ArcMap/Pro allows you to set a custom page size to cover the area that you need. There is a trade-off between page size, scale, and output file size, so be sure to keep that in mind during this process. The PDF file should be compressed/optimized for easier distribution before being loaded onto devices for use on the fireline.

The map must still have all the standard map elements (STANDL SGD), however, a few modifications are useful. The title, legend, etc. need to be legible, but they don’t have to be large enough to read at a 1:1 scale. Additionally, the amount of white space around the borders can be minimized since there is no risk of a printer cutting it off.

After exporting a map designed primarily for digital consumption, it’s best practice to test the map in the application in which it will be used.

Job Aids

 

Modified / Reviewed:

NWCG Latest Announcements

WFSTAR 2025 Core Component Module Package and 2024 Fire Year in Review Now Available

Date: March 14, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Joe Schindel at mschindel@blm.gov
 

The 2025 Core Component Module Package for RT-130, Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual Refresher (WFSTAR) and the 2024 Fire Year in Review are now available on the NWCG website. The 2025 Core Component Module Package provides all content needed to deliver RT-130.

References:

2025 Core Component Module Package

2024 Fire Year in Review Module

NEW! NWCG Wildland Urban Interface Mitigation Field Guide, PMS 053

Date: March 12, 2025
Contact: Wildland Urban Interface Mitigation Committee

The NWCG Wildland Urban Interface Mitigation Field Guide, PMS 053 provides mitigation practitioners at all experience levels with recommendations on the most effective and efficient ways to accomplish mitigation work in communities at risk to wildfire damage or destruction. The content in this guide was written in coordination with the NWCG Standards for Mitigation in the Wildland Urban Interface, PMS 052.

References:

NWCG Wildland Urban Interface Mitigation Field Guide, PMS 053 

Updated, NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Module Operations, PMS 430

Date: March 11, 2025
Contact: Fire Use Subcommittee
Wildland Fire Module Unit

The NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Module Operations, PMS 430 standardizes procedures and expectations for Wildland Fire Modules (WFMs). These standards are to be used by staff, supervisors, specialists, and technicians for planning, administering, and conducting WFM operations. These standards will also be used as a measure of WFM qualifications, capabilities, and expected performance, for both Type 1 and Type 2 WFMs.

References:

NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Module Operations, PMS 430

NEW! NWCG Standards for Airtanker Operations, PMS 514

Date: March 7, 2025
Contact: National Interagency Aviation Committee

The NWCG Standards for Airtanker Operations, PMS 514 establishes the standards for dispatching, utilizing, and coordinating airtankers on interagency wildland fires. These standards should be used in conjunction with the NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision (SAS), PMS 505, NWCG Standards for Airtanker Base Operations (SABO), PMS 508, and any applicable agency plans.

References:

NWCG Standards for Airtanker Operations, PMS 514