No one wants to build on land that might flood.
It doesn’t matter if it’s a housing project, a solar farm, or a new retail site — flood risk can slow things down, drive up insurance costs, or block the project completely. That’s why mapping flood zones is one of the first things smart teams do in early-stage site planning.
With Atlas, you can overlay flood data, draw or import your site boundary, and instantly see what parts of the land may be at risk.
You’ll get clarity, not clutter. And you’ll be able to move forward with more confidence.
Why Flood Mapping Matters in Development
Think of a flood zone as more than just a regulatory layer. It’s a real-world risk indicator.
Whether you're evaluating permits, assessing long-term costs, or showing a site to a client, having a flood map overlaid on your parcel is the easiest way to make smart calls early.
Step 1: Find Flood Risk Data for Your Area
Atlas doesn’t come with global flood data by default, but that’s okay, because most countries provide it for free.
Here’s where to look:
- US: FEMA Flood Map Service Center
- UK: Environment Agency flood map
- EU: Copernicus Emergency Management Service
- Others: Local government or national GIS portals
Once you’ve got the data, make sure it’s in a supported format — GeoTIFF, shapefile, GeoJSON, or even a WMS feed.
Upload it to Atlas with the Data Upload tool. It’ll show up immediately as a layer on your map.
Step 2: Add or Draw Your Site Boundary
Next, you’ll want to overlay your site.
If you have a boundary file — like a parcel shapefile or CSV — you can upload it directly. Don’t worry, Atlas handles most standard GIS formats.
No file? Just use the polygon tool.
Trace the area on the map, name it (e.g. “Westside Lot”), and save it as a new layer. It takes less than a minute.
Step 3: Style the Flood Zones for Clarity
Flood maps can get messy if you don’t style them right.
Open the flood layer settings in Atlas. Use a blue color range — darker blues for high risk, lighter for moderate. Set the opacity to around 60% so your base map and site boundary stay visible.
Add a legend to show what the colors mean. This is helpful when sharing the map with stakeholders.
You should now see a clean overlay showing which parts of your site, if any, intersect with the flood zones.
Step 4: Analyze the Flood Exposure
Now that your map is set up, you can start answering key questions:
- Is any part of the site inside a flood zone?
- What flood zone type is it? (e.g. 100-year, 500-year)
- How much of the site is affected?
Click around the site and check flood zone values. If you want exact numbers, the Intersect Tool can show the area (in m² or %) of the site that overlaps with the flood zone.
This data is useful for reports, risk assessments, or internal reviews.
Also read: How to Map Slope for Site Planning
Step 5: Share the Map or Export the Data
Once you're done analyzing, you can either:
- Export a map PDF to include in a report
- Download the data with overlap stats for your team
- Share a live map link for interactive viewing
No need to take screenshots or juggle emails. Just send a link, and your team sees what you see.
Common Use Cases
Flood risk mapping isn’t just for engineers. Here’s how different teams use it:
- Developers use it to screen sites early and avoid risky land
- Environmental consultants use it for compliance checks and site feasibility
- Investors want flood risk insights before committing
- Municipal planners use flood overlays to shape land use decisions
Flood maps are a simple way to add a layer of certainty to complex projects.
Tips for Better Maps
Want to get even more from your flood map?
- Add a slope layer to see how water might move through the site
- Overlay elevation data from Atlas Terrain tiles
- Use labels or comments to flag specific risks for team review
Also, remember to check the timestamp or source date of your flood data. Conditions change, and you want to be sure you’re using the latest information.
Floods can’t be predicted, but they can be planned for.
Atlas helps you see flood zones right where they matter—on your site map—so you can make smarter decisions faster.
Don’t wait for a surprise at the permit stage. Upload the data, draw your site, and start planning with clarity.
Site Search and Evaluation with Atlas
Like most GIS platforms, Atlas can help you look at maps. But when it comes to site search and evaluation, Atlas goes much further.
It’s built specifically for people who need to spot the right land, fast.
Whether you’re scouting for renewable energy projects, industrial expansions, new retail locations, or land investment opportunities—Atlas gives you the tools to compare parcels, overlay key data, and share results with your team.
This isn’t just about seeing what’s on a map. It’s about making a decision.
Let’s break down how Atlas helps you find and evaluate sites more efficiently.
Bring Your Own Data or Start From What’s Built In
Sometimes you already have a list of parcels. Other times you’re starting from scratch.
Atlas works well in both cases.
Upload a CSV with parcel data, or drop in shapefiles from your GIS team. You can also use drawing tools to sketch out potential sites manually. Each shape becomes a layer you can click, label, and filter.
But if you don’t have data, no problem.
Layer Key Data to Evaluate Site Potential
This is where Atlas stands out.
Instead of flipping between different platforms to compare slope, access, zoning, and flood risk—you just layer it all on the same map.
You can:
- Add flood zone shapefiles
- Import elevation and run Slope Analysis
- Draw buffers around power lines or roads
- Overlay wind speed rasters and compare to parcels
- Tag constraints like wetlands or protected areas
Each layer is styled visually—so you can color, label, and toggle visibility depending on what you need to see.
That means less time guessing, and more time seeing.
Also read: Find Land Near Power Lines
Style, Filter, and Compare Sites Fast
Atlas makes it easy to surface the parcels that matter.
Need to find all land within 1km of a substation and outside the flood zone and with a slope under 10%?
No problem.
You can filter by overlap, intersect layers, or use visual styling (like heatmaps or range coloring) to compare sites at a glance. This helps you narrow down dozens or hundreds of parcels into a shortlist—based on your actual criteria.
It’s the kind of analysis that would take hours in traditional GIS tools. In Atlas, it’s built in.
Save Views, Share Maps, and Move Quickly
Once you’ve identified viable sites, you don’t want to waste time copying screenshots into slides.
Just share a live map.
Atlas lets you save views with specific layers turned on, annotate them with labels or comments, and export the results as PDFs, images, or shareable links. Your team sees exactly what you see.
Clients, engineers, or investors can explore the map in real-time—without needing a login or software.
Real Teams Use It This Way Every Day
Atlas is used by solar developers, land acquisition teams, consultants, and manufacturers across industries.
They’re using it to:
- Evaluate wind and solar potential
- Compare parcels for land deals
- Screen out sites with slope, flood, or zoning issues
- Plan for infrastructure access
- Report site findings to partners and clients
In short, if your job involves picking land or comparing locations—Atlas makes it easier.
Smarter Site Search Starts with the Right Tools
You don’t need to be a GIS expert to evaluate land like one.
Atlas takes the tools that used to be hidden behind complicated software and makes them available right in the browser.
So whether you’re screening 10 parcels or 1,000, you can see the data clearly, layer what matters, and share results in minutes—not days.
Flood zones? Check. Slope? Done. Proximity to grid? Covered. Team visibility? One link.
That’s what modern site evaluation looks like in Atlas.
Boost Your Workflow with the Right Tools
If you’re evaluating land for development, don’t wait to check the flood zones.
Atlas makes it easy to overlay flood risk, visualize exposure, and take action—right from your browser. You don’t need extra software, custom code, or a GIS background.
With built-in tools for analysis, styling, and sharing, Atlas helps you go from raw data to clear answers in minutes.
You’ll make faster calls, avoid costly surprises, and keep your team aligned every step of the way.
If you’re ready to map flood risk smarter, Atlas is ready to help.
Sign up for free or book a walkthrough today.
