Map Shape Creation & Editing

This article covers how to create and edit shapes for sending IPAWS alerts.

How to Create a Shape

From the IPAWS map View use the drawing tools on the top right corner of the map.
Select the type of shape you would like to draw.
1. Available Options:
  1. Square
  2. Circle
  3. Polygon
Draw your shape to cover your target alerting area
1. For squares and circles click on the map and then drag your mouse until the shape covers your desired area
2. For polygons:
  1. Click to add new points to your shape
  2. Outline your target area on the map
  3. Double click to close the polygon and create the shape
Click Save Shape when you are done.

Only one shape can be added at a time, if you need to add more than one shape to cover your alerting area, click the Add Shape button from the Create Public Message form to launch a new map session and create additional shapes. Geographic Area

FEMA has the following restrictions when creating alerting areas

You can have up to 100 points total
You can create up to 10 shapes
The 100 point maximum is the total number of points from all the shapes you create

More information from FEMA.

How to Edit a Shape

Moving a Shape

Click the shape on the map view to activate it.
Then click and drag your shape to cover your target alerting area.
Click Save Shape when you are done.

Adding Points to a Shape

Double click the shape on the map view to active point editing.
Hover over and click one of the white dots that are now visible on the lines of the shape
Move the new point to adjust the shape as needed.
Click Save Shape when you are done.

Moving Points on a Shape

Double click the shape on the map view to active point editing.
Hover over and click one or more of the orange dots that are now visible on the lines of the shape.
1. hold the shift key to select multiple points.
After selecting the points you want to move, drag your mouse until the points are on the desired area of the map.
Click Save Shape when you are done.

Removing Points from a Shape

Double click the shape on the map view to active point editing.
Hover over and click one or more of the orange dots that are now visible on the lines of the shape.
1. hold the shift key to select multiple points.
After selecting the points you want to delete, use the delete or backspace key to remove them from the shape.
Click Save Shape when you are done.

Simplify a Shape

Select the shape you would like to modify
Click the Shape Actions button within the shape editor menu
Select the simplify action you would like to perform
1. Simplify Shape
  1. Simplifying a shape will help reduce the overall number of points within a shape and will also remove any holes/doughnuts within the shape.
2. Remove Holes
  1. This action will remove any holes/doughnuts within the shape.
Continue to modify points within the shape if needed
Click Save Shape when you are done.

How to Delete a Shape

Click the shape on the map view to activate it.
Once the shape is selected, use the delete button in the drawing tools menu, or either the delete or backspace key to remove the shape from the map.
Draw your new shape.
Click Save Shape when you are done.