The Bing Map properties dialog allows you to configure the Bing Map background style, and the map coordinates around the area of interest.

To reach Bing Map Properties, select View > Backgrounds > Background Map – Bing.

• Bing Map Key – this field shows the Bing Map key. A key must be specified to make use of Bing Maps. To edit the key, use the […] to the right of the field. See Bing Map Key.
• Map Style - this choice list allows you to choose between the following three background display styles: Aerial, Aerial with Labels, and Road. The default setting is Road.
• Control Point - The control point group allows you to define the Latitude and Longitude of the map area you are interested in. Be sure to specify a Latitude/Longitude close to the project site; background map scale will be most accurate around that location.

Latitude and Longitude are specified in decimal degrees (you may need to convert from Degrees/Minutes/Seconds). When entering a value into the latitude/longitude field, separate the two values with a comma or your local list separator. The values will automatically be parsed. If a value cannot be parsed into a numeric value, that value will be set as 0.0.

The X, Y fields allow you to assign the desired drawing coordinate with the specified Latitude/Longitude.

Entering Latitude and Longitude

The latitude and longitude fields can accept different formats. These formats are automatically parsed and the latitude and longitude values extracted.

• Format 1: 45°39'54.2"N 111°03'15.7"W

  This format uses degrees, minutes and seconds. It must first be manually converted to decimal degrees. The formula for converting degrees (D), minutes (M), seconds (S) to decimal degrees is:

  Decimate degree = D + (M + S/60)/60

  40 + (39 +54.2/60)/60 = 40.665

• Format 2: 46.0038° N, 112.5348° W

  This format uses a decimal degrees with the degree unit symbol (°) and is comma delimited. If S is specified for latitude, the value is set as negative. If W is specified for longitude, the value is set as negative.

• Format 3: 46.003799, -112.534798

  This is straight decimal degrees. What you enter is what is parsed. The signs of the values is assumed to be correct.

• Invalid Format: The existing latitude and longitude is currently 46.003799, -112.534798.

  If a value entered cannot be parsed, then that portion of the coordinate is reset to the original value. For example, if you enter in the value of "46.003799, -abc" then the latitude is parsed as "46.003799" and the value of "-abc" is set as -112.534798, the previous longitude entered.

The user can choose to enter one or three points to align the map with the model coordinates. Three points will generally produce a better map alignment.

When selecting points, it is best to chose points that are uniquely identifiable from Aerial view such as a water tank or an unusual shaped intersection if using road view. The points should preferably be located far from one another when three points are selected.

If the user is creating a new model, and wants it to align with Bing maps, the user must decide the location of the point (0,0) in the drawing. The user may want to use the (0,0) point in the state plane coordinate system or arbitrarily select (0,0) at one point.

There are two overall approaches for specifying the relationship between latitude/longitude and the x,y coordinate in the model:

1. Manual: For an existing model, the user picks one or three point and for each looks up the lat/long using Bing map (right click on point) or some other map that provides latitude and longitude (e.g. Google Earth) enter that value. Then click on the same point in the model, view the x and y coordinates of the model point and enter them in the appropriate field.
2. Automatic: The user picks the lat/long field, clicks on the ellipse button and selects the point of alignment. This populates the lat/long field. The use picks the x field and clicks on the ellipse button, selects the same point as selected for the lat/long the and picks that point. This populates the x field. The user repeats this for the y field.

Bing Maps

Bing Maps is a web mapping service provided by Microsoft® Corporation. The user can add a Bing Maps background from the Background Layers docking window. Right-click, or click the New toolbar button, then choose Bing Maps.

Providers and Terms of Use

Refer to the Help > About > Legal and Patent Notices to see the terms of use for Bing Maps.