Exporting Map Figures
TerraSitu can generate print-ready map figures in PNG or PDF format — suitable for inclusion in reports, permit applications, environmental impact statements, and client presentations. Maps are rendered server-side at your chosen resolution.
Opening the Export Dialog
Click Export Map (the download icon) in the map toolbar. If you don't see the button, check that your plan includes the map export feature.
Step 1: Choose a Template
Select the page format that matches your document requirements:
| Template | Dimensions | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| A4 Landscape | 297 × 210 mm | Standard report figures |
| A4 Portrait | 210 × 297 mm | Narrow area maps, site locality plans |
| A3 Landscape | 420 × 297 mm | Larger study areas, complex maps |
| A3 Portrait | 297 × 420 mm | Elongated corridor studies |
| Letter Landscape | 279 × 216 mm | US/North American format |
| Field Card | 148 × 105 mm | Compact field reference cards |
Step 2: Select Content
Choose what to include in the export:
Basemap:
- OpenStreetMap — Road network, place names, topography
- Satellite — Aerial imagery
- None — No basemap, useful if your GIS layers are self-sufficient
GIS Layers: Check or uncheck each imported GIS layer. Only visible layers are pre-checked.
Overlays:
- Annotations — Pins, drawn lines, polygons, and notes from the map
- Measurements — Distance and area measurements added to the map
Step 3: Configure Layout Elements
Customise the cartographic elements that appear on the exported map:
- Map Title — Text displayed in the title block (e.g., "Fauna Survey Area — Lot 47 Proposed Development")
- Scale Bar — A graphical scale indicator
- North Arrow — Orientation indicator. Choose style: Simple, Compass, or Minimal
- Legend — An automatically generated legend for included GIS layers
- Coordinate Grid — Overlays a coordinate grid (requires Professional or Enterprise plan). Options:
- DD — Decimal degrees (e.g., 151.2093°E)
- DMS — Degrees, minutes, seconds (e.g., 151°12'33"E)
- UTM — Universal Transverse Mercator grid
- Company Logo — Your organisation's logo in the margin (requires Enterprise plan). Upload your logo under Settings > Organisation.
A live preview on the right shows the approximate layout of the elements as you toggle them on and off.
Step 4: Output Settings
Format:
- PNG — Lossless raster image, suitable for digital reports and online delivery
- PDF — Vector-compatible; best for printing and archiving (requires Professional or Enterprise plan)
- JPEG — Smaller file size, slight compression; useful for web delivery (requires Professional or Enterprise plan)
Resolution (DPI):
- 150 DPI — Screen resolution; suitable for digital/web reports
- 300 DPI — Print resolution; recommended for most printed reports and regulatory submissions (requires Professional or Enterprise plan)
- 600 DPI — Publication quality; for peer-reviewed publications and high-resolution printing (requires Enterprise plan)
An estimated file size is shown based on your current settings.
Generating and Downloading
Click Generate Map to start the export. A progress dialog shows the rendering status.
- Typical exports complete in 5–20 seconds depending on layer complexity and resolution
- When ready, a Download Map button appears — click it to download the file
- The download link is available for 15 minutes; after that, generate the export again if needed
Tips
- Use A3 Landscape for regional-scale maps where site context is important
- Set a descriptive map title using the project name, site, and survey type — this is usually the figure caption in reports
- For reports with strict DPI requirements, verify with your editor before selecting 150 DPI
- If you need to include the map in a Word document, PNG at 150 DPI is simplest
- For high-resolution PDF submission to a government agency, use 300 DPI PDF