City Viewer – Help

On the right side of the map window, there is a +/- button that you can use to zoom in and out of the map (also see the "zoom" section in the toolbar guide). Below that is a button with a picture of a house. By clicking this button, the map will reset to the starting point. Below that is another button that will zoom in on your location. This functionality can only be used when the City Viewer is viewed on a smartphone or tablet and the device's GPS location is activated.

Open selection window

When you click on "Opna valglugga" [open selection window], a window pops up with all the data themes available at that time. These themes are organized into 14 categories. You can activate themes by selecting a category and checking the themes you want to appear. Once a theme is checked, it appears immediately on the map. You might need to zoom in on the map to see the data. To turn off themes, click on "Slökkva á þemum" [deactivate themes]. At the top of the window is a coverage search. You can enter keywords there, and the search engine will suggest themes that match the keyword. When you select a theme, it appears on the map.

Description of individual themes in the selection window

City division

This category contains various territorial divisions of the city, which are quite numerous. Primary school districts display the areas each school covers, along with information about population and age distribution within each district. City districts present the official division of the city into 10 neighborhoods. Population and age distribution are also shown according to this division. Other themes include Neighborhood Sections, showing the division into smaller neighborhoods based on endings of street names like Skjól, Rimar, and Fell, or place names like Selás and Skerjafjörður.

Streets and paths

This category, as the name suggests, includes various elements related to the city's streets and paths. Midlines of all streets and paths, ownership information, and blueprints are included. Details about snow removal for streets and paths, prioritization, the locations of heated streets and paths, and more are also provided.

Houses and lots

This category specifically addresses various aspects related to houses and lots.

Piping

This section includes information on piping, boreholes, etc., for which Reykjavík City or the energy company Orkuveitan is responsible, along with piping by Míla ehf (formerly Síminn). Please be aware that it is not permitted to start developments based solely on information from the City Viewer. Relevant institutions or companies need to be contacted.

Demography and real estate

This category presents various statistical information by area.

Cultural heritage

The Cultural Heritage category holds a wealth of information about the preservation and protection of buildings and streets, as well as details about archaeological remains and historic houses. Additionally, information about public art in the city, place names, and more can be found here.

Visual content

Here, you'll find orthophotos, which are georeferenced images created from aerial photos. Low-altitude aerial images of the city have been taken annually since 2004. A medium-altitude aerial photo of the entire capital area from 2012 is also available, along with other images.

Survey points

This category includes the city's benchmarks and elevation markers used for land surveying.

Natural features

This category features a theme known as the base map. It holds various additional information not found elsewhere, such as data on fences, ditches, and conditions within lots. There are also 1-meter contour lines, details on the capital area's water protection zones, and other protected areas.

Sports

This category provides information about sports facilities in the city, including swimming pools, gymnasiums, fields, and similar amenities.

History and development

This section shows farms (lögbýli) from 1703 in what is now city land, excluding Kjalarnes (primarily based on the book "Reykjavík, Sögustaður við Sund," published by Örn og Örlygur hf in 1989). Additionally, there is an opaque map from the Danish General Staff of Reykjavík based on a 1902 survey, published in 1903, a map of Reykjavík from 1947, and an aerial photograph of the city's western part from 1954. The 1902 map is also available in a transparent version titled "Samanburður við 1902" [Comparison with 1902], allowing for a comparison between the old and current settlements. Additionally, "Strönd 1900, 2024" illustrates the coastline from the 1902 map alongside the projected 2024 coastline according to the current municipal plan. Finally, a map depicts the development of the city's jurisdiction since the establishment of Reykjavík as a town in 1786.

Traffic

This category includes various data related to traffic. It includes data such as one-way streets, priority lanes, parking structures, speed limits, bus stops, bus routes, and more

Service

This category contains information about a variety of city services. It includes the locations of benches, water fountains, waste containers, neighborhood stations, primary schools, and more.

Population centers

There are two population centers identified. One is for the capital area, and the other is for Reykjavík. The centers are calculated annually in early April, based on the geographical coordinates of homes in the city, considering each household member. The population center is the average of the coordinates of all residents.

Aerial photo / Map

You can switch between viewing the City Viewer with either a traditional map or an aerial photo in the background. By default, the most recent low-altitude aerial photos are displayed, taken in late summer each year.

Urban Planning Viewer

When this button, located at the top left of the screen, is clicked, the Urban Planning Viewer opens in a new window. The Urban Planning Viewer looks almost the same as the City Viewer and functions in the same way. When it opens, a theme displaying the land-use plan for Reykjavík is activated. Using the "Skipulagsupplýsingar" [planning information] button, you can click on an area and view the land-use plan for that block. On the left side of the screen, you can switch between the land-use plan and the municipal plan.

Buttons on the tool bar

At the top right of the screen is a toolbar with 17 buttons. If the City Viewer is viewed on a small screen, such as a smartphone, the toolbar is placed under a single overview button in the right corner, revealed when clicked. Below is a description of the functionality of the buttons on the toolbar.

Shift

Allows you to move the map in the map window using the arrow cross.

Search

Finds the selected address on the map. The user enters an address in the window that opens. When you start typing a street name, suggestions for several addresses appear, but if the correct address is not among them, finish entering it completely. Once this is completed, the map automatically zooms in with the selected address in the center and a red dot marking the corresponding lot.

Zoom

This tool allows you to zoom in on a specific area. Use the cursor to draw a box around the area you want to zoom into. You can also use the mouse scroll wheel to zoom in and out. Then position the cursor over the area you want to zoom into. On the right edge of the screen are +/- buttons, which can also be used to zoom in and out.

Measure

Allows you to measure distances, areas, and find coordinates. When the tool is selected, a choice window opens where you can select one of these three options.

Draw

Clicking "Teikna" [draw] opens a window where you can choose between various shapes to draw, as well as adjust the color, size, and transparency. To clear the map again, press "Hreinsa" [clear].

Print

Once a map is assembled, it can be saved for printing. When "Prenta" [print] is pressed, a settings window opens. You can choose different page sizes and document types. You can also add a title to the map.

More

This tool is essential for viewing the information contained in the City Viewer. Once you've selected the themes to view in the selection window, you can choose "Meira" [more] and then click on something on the map for more information. The selected item will turn yellow with a red outline, and a window will pop up with more detailed information about that item on the map.

Attribute search

Clicking this button opens a search window. Start by selecting a theme in the drop-down menu. Once that's done, another drop-down menu opens where an attribute is selected. When selected, a window opens with all possible values for that attribute. You can select a value there or search for a value. When everything has been selected, the map zooms to the search results.

Link

Once themes and a location are selected for viewing, you can click this tool to get a link to the map. This way, it can be shared with others.

Drawings

This tool lets you download drawings for the location clicked on.

GPS

This tool lets you upload a GPX coordinate file from a GPS device and display the data in the City Viewer.

Profile

This tool allows you to draw a line on the map and view an elevation profile along the line (height against length).

Explanations

Pressing this button opens explanations for the selected themes.

Time machine

This tool lets you compare data from different times. You can view the base map's development in the City Viewer from 1999 through today (from 2004 through today if the aerial photo is selected). Clicking the button opens a timeline where you can select different years. When "Samanburður" [comparison] is clicked, a vertical bar appears over the map that can be dragged to the side, allowing comparison of different years. You then set the timeline to the years you want to compare and can drag the bar across the screen to see the differences.

Street view

Opens a new window showing the street view from já.is of the street clicked on.

Clear

This button clears the map window and removes everything drawn on the map.

Help

Opens this page.

Population centers

There are two population centers: one for the capital area and one for Reykjavík. These centers are calculated annually at the beginning of April, based on the geographical coordinates of residences in the city, considering each household member. The population center is the average of the coordinates of all residents.

• Learn more about population centers