Usage Hints: 

In addition to setting the place location (as best we can), we have pre-set the zoom level of this map to give you the closest possible view of the surroundings. Feel free to use the 'pan & zoom' control (located just below the upper left corner of the map) to move around and to change the zoom level to meet your particular needs.

• What's "Google Maps" ?
  

Google Maps is an online dynamic mapping service which is provided at no cost to the user by Google.com.  It offers several different services for location-based information for most of the world.

• Why are these usage hints important?
  

The Google Maps service is aimed at the general user, and doesn't provide any online help because it expects that all aspects of its maps are intuitive. This page which you are now reading explains what you might not find intuitive, and also explains how we use that service.  It emphasizes what controls are especially useful in this context.

• How can I get a different view of the site surroundings?

Google Maps has only a few options to customize the map to meet your particular needs.

• The most important Google Maps control is the vertical zoom slider, which enables you to zoom in and out (see a nearer or further view).  It's located just below the upper left corner of the map, and looks like a little piece of railroad track.  Each tick on the line represents a map scale; the position of the slider indicates where the current map falls in the range of possible scales. Click on the "+" button at the top end of the line or on any tick above the slider to get a map which covers a smaller area in more detail; click on the "-" button at the bottom end of the line or on any tick below the slider to see a larger area in less detail.  Regardless of which zoom level you choose, the resulting map will be exactly the same size on your screen.

• The zoom control is important because we set different sites to start at different zoom levels when you first display the site locator map.

• Click any one of the pan controls (the four arrow blocks in the upper left corner of the map) to see more of the local area in the desired direction (and less in the opposite direction).

• If you pan so far that the red marker disappears off the edge of the map, you can get it back by clicking on the box in the center of the four arrow blocks in the upper left corner of the map.

• In the top right corner of the map are three buttons reading Map, Satellite and Hybrid.  Initially you will be in Map mode, viewing a typical abstract street map.  Click the Satellite button to see instead an aerial photomosaic at the same scale.  Click the Hybrid button to see the same aerial photomosaic with a semi-transparent street map overlaid on it.

• Why might I want a different view of the site surroundings?

The amount of detail which Google Maps provides varies in different parts of the world, and even in different parts of a single country.  So if you zoom in to the closest possible level, you might be unpleasantly surprised to get, not a map or an aerial view, but the message, "We are sorry, but we don't have imagery/maps at this zoom level for this region."

• What other map controls are available?

None - Google Maps has a simple, easy-to-use interface, but that is accomplished by omitting some of the extra flexibility that other mapping services may offer.