Map Search Help
- Maps are organized in sets by type: land surveys, cadastral maps, site plans, etc.
- Sets are kept together. Each has a unique number, located on the bottom right-hand corner of the hard copy. The number indicates the type of map, the related set (if applicable), and the sequential number within the category.
To search for maps, select any of the following:
Keywords
- In the Keywords box, type as many words as you like from the title of the map or set.
- Use a comma or space to separate words.
- Searches are not case-sensitive.
- Choose whether you want to search the map title, the map set, or both. When both Title and Set are chosen, the keyword(s) may occur in either the Title or Set. For example, if you are looking for a plan of Memorial Drive that is part of a set of tunnel drawings, you can type in "Memorial Drive tunnel", and then make sure Title and Set are selected (this is the default). The results will include any map that contains the words "memorial" or "drive" or "tunnel" in either its title or set name.
- Next, choose an option in the Search For box:
- Any word will return every drawing that matches any of the keywords. This search returns the most matches. Using this option with "Memorial Drive tunnel", will find every map where any of the words appears in either the Title or Set name, but you will also get matches on "driveway" and "Memorial Hall".
- All words will find only drawings matching all of the keywords. Use this option to narrow your search to a specific set of keywords. Entering "Memorial Drive tunnel" will find only those maps that contain at least a partial match for each of the words (though not necessarily in the same order). So the title "Tunnel under Memorial Hall driveway" will match, but "Memorial Hall Tunnel" will not because the title does not contain any match for "drive". When both Title and Set are selected, all of the keywords must appear in either the title or set name. The title "Memorial Drive" in the set called "Steam tunnels" will not match because neither title nor set contains all 3 words.
- Exact phrase will search for the exact combination of words. In this case any spaces or commas are interpreted as part of the phrase. So "Memorial Drive tunnel" will not match a drawing entitled "Tunnel under Memorial Drive", and an exact match for "Memorial Drive, Tunnel" would have to have a comma in the title or setname.
Building
- To find maps or surveys relating to a particular building, enter one or more building names (or partial names) in the "Building name" field.
- Separate building names with a comma. Or, if you know the University's building number (for example, 100 for Holyoke Center), enter it in the "Building number" field.
Area
- In the "grid" field, enter the number or numbers, separated by commas, of the grid tiles in which you are interested. For a map showing the grid, click here.
- You can restrict your search to a specific city by choosing one in the "geographic subject" field. This is particularly helpful if you are looking for maps outside of Cambridge. For instance, if you want information on the Case Estates, select Weston, MA. Or, if you want to see maps of the Business School but only in a certain area, you can select tile F8 in the "grid" field and Allston, MA in the "geographic subject" area. By using both criteria, you can eliminate viewing those maps that cover grid F8, but are on the Cambridge side of the river.
Map subject
- From the pull down list, select the type of map in which you are interested.
- Be as specific as possible. To find electrical information, for example, select "electric utilities maps".
- If you do not retrieve what you are looking for, modify your search to be more general. In the example above, for instance, change "electric utilities maps" to "utilities maps".
Search type
- Select from "all criteria" or "any criteria".
- "All criteria" will retrieve only those items that match all the criteria specified in the "Keywords", "Building", "Area", and "Map Subject" fields.
- "Any criteria" will retrieve any items that match at least one of the criteria specified.