Select Records from the Map – Boréalis Helpdesk

The map selection tool lets users identify and select features directly from the map based on their geographic location. For Borealis layers, users can open and interact with associated records, such as stakeholders, parcels, commitments, issues, and grievances etc. For external GIS layers, users can view read-only attribute information returned by the external GIS source.

Once selected, records can be opened in a list view for review. Borealis records support bulk actions, while external GIS records display read-only feature attributes.

This article covers the following:

Select Records by Drawing on the Map

You can draw directly on the map to define a selection area. Any records that fall within — or intersect — the drawn shape will be selected.

To select records by drawing:

In the map toolbar, click the Select tool.
Choose Select by layer you want to select.
📌 Note: The drop-down includes both Borealis layers and External GIS layers, but only layers that are currently visible on the map are available for selection.
Choose a drawn selection:
- Point — select records at or near a specific location
- Line — select records that intersect a drawn line
- Polygon — select records within a custom area
Draw your shape on the map, to finish your line or polygon, click on the button, at the beginning of the shape.
Add a buffer if needed by adding a number, selecting the unit and color, then click on to add the buffer to the configuration of the selection.
Borealis will highlight the records that match your spatial criteria.
Click the View list button in the action bar to view a list of the selected records.

Multiple buffers

You can define several buffers at different distances. Each buffer is exclusive: it only contains records within its own distance range, so the same record never appears in two lists.

Buffer 1 – 100 m → directly adjacent parcels
Buffer 2 – 500 m → stakeholders between 100 m and 500 m
Buffer 3 – 1 km → broader community between 500 m and 1 km

Each buffer produces its own list, letting you prioritize actions by proximity with no overlap.

Select Records from an Existing Map Object

Instead of drawing a new shape, you can use an object already visible on the map — such as a parcel boundary or a company asset — as the basis for your selection.

To select records from an existing object:

Click on the existing map object you want to use.
From the object's context action bar, choose Select element.
Choose the layer from which you want to select records in the Select by layer field.
📌 Note: The drop-down includes both Borealis layers and External GIS layers, but only layers that are currently visible on the map are available for selection.
Add a buffer if needed by adding a number, selecting the unit and color, then click on to add the buffer to the configuration of the selection.
Borealis will highlight the records that match your spatial criteria.

View and Act on Selected Records

Once your selection is complete, select View List in the action bar to open the results list.

Borealis Layers

For records from Borealis layers, you can:

Review all impacted records
Sort records by any column in ascending or descending order.
Filter records.
Reorder columns using drag-and-drop.
Resize columns as needed.
Update records in bulk (e.g., Batch update project data)
Link records to an engagement plan
Deactivate records as needed

💡Tip: This is the most efficient way to move from a geographic analysis directly into an operational workflow — without manually searching for each record.

External GIS Layers

For records from external GIS layers, you can:

View a read-only list of selected features.
Sort records by any column in ascending or descending order.
Filter records using controls appropriate for the attribute data type.
Reorder columns using drag-and-drop.
Resize columns as needed.

📌 Note: Features from external GIS layers are read-only. Attribute data can be viewed, filtered, and sorted, but cannot be edited in Borealis.

Cancel Selection Mode

To exit selection mode and return to the standard map view, click the Unselect button in the action bar. Your map will return to its previous state.