A new and improved PortlandMaps.com is coming soon

In this article

A new version of PortlandMaps.com will soon help the community research properties within city limits. This update reflects several years of planning and modernization across the City's mapping and data systems. Besides the fresh look, important changes on the back end of PortlandMaps will make researching property in the city easier than before.

Why we're updating PortlandMaps

The current version of PortlandMaps was released in 2016. Since then, the design framework and mapping software it relies on have been retired, requiring a full rewrite of the site. In addition, the City's mapping software partner, ESRI, has developed a modern design system that the City adopted to streamline work and maintain long-term support.

Moving PortlandMaps onto this updated framework ensures continued reliability and provides a more accessible, adaptable, and efficient tool for the community. These changes will allow for an easy and efficient research experience across the 200,000-plus page views that PortlandMaps sees every month.

What's improving

The upgrade is largely a "lift-and-shift," bringing the existing site onto a more modern platform while introducing several quality-of-life improvements:

• Faster performance
  Pages and maps load more quickly, improving the user experience and making it easier to find information.
• Dynamic styling and modern basemaps
  The new system uses images that stay crisp when zooming.
• Better accessibility
  The new PortlandMaps is using ESRI's Calcite design system. Moving to this platform helps PortlandMaps meet the new Department of Justice accessibility requirements and improves the experience for all users. You can learn more about GIS Web Map Accessibility on Portland.gov.
• Improved integration with other City tools
  The update supports better connections to City data and applications, helping staff maintain accurate and consistent information.
• More efficient development and release cycles
  The new foundation allows City staff to make adjustments more easily, respond to community needs, and roll out improvements faster.

What to expect next

We will retire and remove the current site from public access on June 24th after 8 p.m. Sub-applications (those under the "Advanced" tab) will release over time with the same functionality and new features.

Curious to try it out? You can preview the updated PortlandMaps here.

Have feedback to share? Would you mind taking a brief survey? We welcome ideas for features and improvements.

Need to contact the GeoSpatial team? Email us at [email protected]