Basemaps in Land Portal: Streets, Satellite, and NAIP
When analyzing land and counties inside Land Portal, you can switch between different basemaps to change how the map looks and what kind of information stands out.
Basemaps are especially useful in land investing and flipping because they let you view properties from different perspectives, from road access to aerial photography.
You can change basemaps in just a few clicks.
How to Switch Basemaps (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Login to Land Portal.
Step 2: In the bottom-right corner, click Map Filters & Views.
Step 3: At the top of the panel, choose one of the three basemaps: Streets, Satellite, or NAIP.
Step 4: The map will update instantly. You can toggle overlays like Parcel Boundaries, Owner Names, Contour Lines, FEMA Floodplain, and more while viewing any basemap.
Streets Basemap
What it is: A standard road and reference map showing roads, place names, and administrative boundaries.
Why use it for land investing:
- Identify legal road names and nearby highways.
- Confirm proximity to towns, services, and transportation.
- Best for logistics, directions, and marketing materials.
How to use it:
- Select Streets in Map Filters & Views.
- Turn on Parcel Boundaries to see lot outlines.
- Use with Owner Names or City/ZIP overlays for context on who owns what and where.
Satellite Basemap
What it is: A photographic view of the Earth’s surface captured from satellites. Shows real-world features like vegetation, buildings, and water.
Why use it for land investing:
- Spot clearings, driveways, buildings, and ponds.
- Evaluate vegetation cover and potential usability of the land.
- Visualize what’s physically on the ground before a site visit.
How to use it:
- Select Satellite in Map Filters & Views.
- Turn on Parcel Boundaries to see which features fall inside the lot.
- Use with overlays like Contour Lines or FEMA Floodplain to evaluate buildability and risk.
NAIP Basemap
What it is: The National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP) provides aerial photos captured by the USDA during the growing season (“leaf-on” imagery).
This imagery is orthorectified, meaning it’s corrected for scale so distances and measurements are accurate.
Why use it for land investing:
- Best for spotting vegetation, crop or pasture patterns, and tree cover.
- Helps identify potential wetlands or low areas based on vegetation health.
- More consistent seasonal view compared to general satellite imagery.
How to use it:
- Select NAIP in Map Filters & Views.
- Keep Parcel Boundaries visible to align the imagery with property lines.
- Use with overlays like Wetlands or Soil Type to flag environmental constraints.
Quick Comparison
- Streets: Best for access, directions, and proximity to towns and services.
- Satellite: Best for viewing structures, clearings, water features, and realistic ground conditions.
- NAIP: Best for vegetation, agriculture, and seasonal land characteristics.
Choosing the right basemap in Land Portal helps you see land from different perspectives and make smarter investment decisions.
Streets gives you clarity on access and logistics, Satellite shows what’s really on the ground, and NAIP adds seasonal vegetation and agricultural detail.
By switching between them and combining overlays like Parcel Boundaries, FEMA Floodplain, and Soil Type, you’ll get a much clearer picture of any property before you market or flip it.
Ready to explore properties with confidence?
👉 Log into Land Portal and start switching between basemaps today.
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