You’ve done the research. You’ve gathered a list of potential sites. Now it’s time to get clear on what’s actually viable.
You need a shortlist.
Not a spreadsheet. Not a report. A map.
A map that shows your top sites, with context. Where they are, what’s around them, and how they compare.
With Atlas, you can go from raw land data to a clean, visual shortlist—all in one browser map.
Why a Map-Based Shortlist?
Because your project isn’t static. It’s spatial.
It’s not just about what’s best—it’s about what works.
Step 1: Upload Your List of Candidate Sites
Start by getting your list into Atlas.
You can upload:
- A CSV with site coordinates or geometry
- A shapefile or GeoJSON with site polygons
- Or draw directly using the Polygon Tool or Point Tool
Each site becomes a clickable, editable map layer.
Make sure each one has a name or ID so you can track it easily.
Step 2: Style Your Sites for Clarity
Use color and labels to make your sites pop.
Try:
- Green for initial candidates
- Yellow for sites under review
- Red for disqualified
- Add labels for site names or IDs
This way, your map becomes a visual tracker of where each site stands.
Step 3: Overlay Key Constraint Layers
Now it’s time to check what’s around each site.
Add layers like:
- Flood zones
- Wetlands or protected areas
- Transmission lines and substations
- Road access
- Slope (via Raster Tools)
Each layer adds context to your shortlist. You’ll see right away which sites are strong—and which are better left out.
Also read: Overlay Multiple Environmental Layers for Site Checks
Step 4: Use Filters or Tags to Narrow the List
Now begin narrowing your list:
- Use Intersect Tool to find sites overlapping with constraints
- Add Tags like “Viable” or “Needs review”
- Use the Measurement Tool to check site size or proximity
- Filter your layer to show only strong candidates
As you filter and tag, your map becomes your shortlist.
Step 5: Make a Map of the Final Shortlist
Once you’ve got a clear view:
- Turn off clutter layers
- Keep just the parcel outlines, relevant infrastructure, and maybe a base map
This is your clean shortlist view—perfect for sharing.
Step 6: Share or Export
Now it’s time to show others.
You can:
- Share a live map link (no login required)
- Export as PDF or image for reports
- Download a filtered CSV or shapefile with just your top sites
Your shortlist is now ready for the next step—site visits, engineering checks, or stakeholder review.
Use Cases
Teams use Atlas to shortlist sites for:
- Solar or wind projects
- Battery and storage sites
- New manufacturing or industrial builds
- Logistics hubs
- Government or nonprofit land reviews
Whether you’re picking 3 sites from 30—or 10 from 200—Atlas helps you cut through the noise.
Tips
- Use group layers to keep original candidates and shortlist separate
- Add comments for internal notes or review flags
- Create multiple views (e.g. Top 10 by grid access, Top 5 by slope)
- Export both map and data for a full, documented shortlist
The shortlist isn’t just a selection—it’s a decision point. Make it visual. Make it clear.
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: Best Way to Map Flood Risk for Development
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
Site planning moves fast. Whether you're checking slope, flood zones, proximity to power lines, or wind potential—speed and clarity matter.
Atlas gives you both.
In this article, we covered how to create a shortlist of candidate sites, but that’s just one of many things you can do with Atlas.
From overlaying data to running analysis, styling layers, and sharing maps with your team, Atlas makes complex site evaluation tasks simple and visual. All from your browser. No GIS experience needed.
So whether you're screening parcels, comparing risk, or narrowing down locations, Atlas helps you move from "just looking" to "let’s go" faster.
Sign up for free or book a walkthrough today.
