The TimeSlider is an interactive tool in EarthRanger Web that helps visualize how data changes over a specific period. Whether you're monitoring wildlife movement, patrol activity, or incident trends, this tool lets you "replay" the past to uncover patterns and timelines that may not be visible at a glance.
Where to Find the TimeSlider
- Navigate to the Map Tools section in the bottom-right corner of the Map View.
- Click the TimeSlider icon to launch the tool.
How It Works
Once activated, the TimeSlider will appear across the bottom of your screen:
- Start and End Date Fields: Use these to define the exact time window you want to explore.
- Slider Bar: Drag the thumb along the timeline to move through your selected period.
- Live Date Display: As you move the slider, the active date will update, and the map will dynamically refresh to show the corresponding data.
Quick Date Presets
To speed up your workflow, EarthRanger includes predefined date ranges such as:
- Today
- Yesterday
- Last 7 Days
- Last 30 Days
- Last 3 Months
You can select one of these or manually input a custom time range for full control.
Using the TimeSlider, you can:
- See how tracked subjects moved across the landscape over time.
- Watch HeatMap intensities evolve across hours, days, or weeks.
- Analyze how incidents and events unfold within a chosen window.
This is particularly valuable for temporal analysis, such as reviewing poaching activity during a specific patrol, or comparing subject patterns before and after an event.
Pro Tips for Deeper Insights
Combine TimeSlider with Filters: Filter by event type or tracked subject before using the slider for more targeted analysis.
Use with HeatMaps: Observe intensity changes over time to locate hotspots or areas of repeated activity.
Pause & Observe: Stop at critical timestamps to explore data more deeply in combination with the Event Feed or Patrols View.
Next in this series: Visualize Activity with HeatMaps in EarthRanger Web