Question 1

What is Phaseview?

Accepted Answer

Phaseview is an environmental data and mapping platform for Alberta. It provides access to thousands of environmental assessment reports, geospatial analysis tools, and interactive mapping with 30+ data layers covering environmental, geological, hydrological, wildlife, and infrastructure datasets.

Question 2

Do I need an account to use Phaseview?

Accepted Answer

You can browse the map and view report locations without an account. Creating an account unlocks additional features like downloading reports, participating in community discussions, and accessing chemistry and coordinate data.

Question 3

How do I create an account?

Accepted Answer

To create an account: Click "Sign In / Register" on the homepage or in the navigation Select "Create Account" or switch to the registration form Enter your email address and choose a secure password Create a unique username Verify your email address (check your inbox)

Question 4

Is Phaseview free?

Accepted Answer

Phaseview is currently free to use. We plan to introduce premium features in the future.

Question 5

How do I search for environmental reports?

Accepted Answer

Phaseview offers a powerful search system with multiple methods: LLD  Search:  Enter a Legal Land Description (e.g., "14-23-045-12 W4M" or "14-23-45-12") Company Search:  Search by client company or consultant name Report Type Filter:  Filter by Phase I, Phase II, Remediation, Groundwater, and more Date Range:  Filter reports by submission date Smart Search:  Combine multiple filters with AND/OR logic using filter bubbles

Question 6

What is an LLD and how do I format it?

Accepted Answer

LLD (Legal Land Description)  is the  Alberta Township System  for describing land locations. Format: LSD-Section-Township-Range Meridian (e.g., '14-23-045-12 W4M'). Phaseview accepts flexible formats - you can type '14-23-45-12' and it will be recognized. LSD  (1-16) identifies the legal subdivision Section  (1-36) Township  (1-126) Range  (1-30) Meridian  (W4M, W5M, or W6M)

Question 7

Why can't I find reports for a specific location?

Accepted Answer

Environmental reports only exist where assessments have been conducted, typically for oil and gas sites, industrial facilities, or property transactions. If no marker appears at your location, no reports have been submitted to the AER for that LLD. Try checking nearby locations or expanding your search area.

Question 8

How do I download reports?

Accepted Answer

Click on any map marker to open the details panel showing all reports for that location. Each report card displays the report type, date, and company information. Click the download button on any report to access the PDF file.

Question 9

How do I use the interactive map?

Accepted Answer

The map provides intuitive navigation: Pan:  Click and drag to move around Alberta Zoom:  Use mouse wheel, pinch gesture, or +/- buttons Click markers:  Open the details panel with all reports for that LLD Sidebar:  Access filters, layer controls, and data source information Historical Imagery:  Toggle between current and historical satellite imagery

Question 10

What do the different colored markers mean?

Accepted Answer

Marker colors indicate report types: Blue:  Phase I Environmental Site Assessments Emerald:  Phase II Environmental Site Assessments Red:  Remediation reports Cyan:  Groundwater studies Purple:  ROSC (Record of Site Condition) Orange:  RAP (Remedial Action Plan) Locations with multiple report types show a clustered marker. Click to see all reports.

Question 11

What data layers are available?

Accepted Answer

Toggle 30+ data layers in the sidebar's Layers tab, organized by category: Administrative:  ATS grid, municipal boundaries, Crown land, First Nations reserves, protected areas Environmental Reports:  Phase I, Phase II, remediation, and other report types Energy & Infrastructure:  Oil & gas wells, pipelines, facilities, power lines, gas lines, roads Contamination & Liability:  AER spills, landfills, dormant site inventory Geology & Soils:  Bedrock geology, surficial geology, drift thickness, AGRASID soils Hydrogeology:  Water wells, aquifer vulnerability Water & Land:  Water bodies, natural subregions, land cover, elevation Wildlife:  Species ranges, aquatic species at risk, historical resources

Question 12

Can I view historical satellite imagery?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Use the Historical Imagery toggle at the top of the map to switch between current Mapbox satellite imagery and ArcGIS Wayback historical imagery. When Historical is selected, a date picker appears allowing you to view imagery from specific dates going back several years.

Question 13

What analysis tools are available?

Accepted Answer

Phaseview includes 11 analysis tools accessible from the toolbar on the map: Unified Analysis:  Combined environmental assessment covering water, wells, and buildings in one click Reconnaissance:  Query wildlife, geological, and environmental sensitivity layers Site Location Map:  Generate three-panel site maps with UTM coordinates Water Bodies Distance:  Calculate distances to nearest water features with flow direction Water Wells Distance:  Analyse proximity to water wells with filtering options Buildings Distance:  Measure distances to nearby structures Infrastructure Distance:  Analyse proximity to power lines, pipelines, and wells Measurement Tool:  Draw polylines and polygons to measure distances and areas Drawing Tool:  Create annotations, shapes, and text boxes Custom Map Export:  Export the current map view as PDF or PNG Citation Generator:  Generate academic citations for map imagery

Question 14

How do I generate a Site Location Map?

Accepted Answer

The Site Location Map tool creates maps formatted for regulatory submissions: Click the Site Location Map tool in the toolbar Click on the map to set your site location Choose panel presets (Quarter Section, Section, Township, etc.) Optionally draw a lease boundary or extent box Customise colours and styling Generate and download your PDF map

Question 15

How does the Distance Calculator work?

Accepted Answer

Select Water Bodies, Water Wells, or Buildings from the toolbar, then click anywhere on the map. The tool calculates distances to the nearest features within your specified search radius (adjustable from 1-500km) and displays results with directional visualization. You can filter by data source, feature type, and export results to PDF.

Question 16

Can I save my drawings and measurements?

Accepted Answer

Drawings and measurements persist for your browser session. You can export drawings to GeoJSON, KML, KMZ, or Shapefile format for use in other GIS applications. The Drawing Tool also supports importing GeoJSON, KML, and Shapefile files to load previously saved work.

Question 17

What is chemistry data?

Accepted Answer

Many reports include laboratory analytical results for soil and groundwater samples. When available, chemistry data shows contaminant concentrations, sample locations, and comparison to regulatory guidelines. Look for the 'Chemistry Data' indicator in the details panel.

Question 18

What is coordinate data?

Accepted Answer

Coordinate data includes precise UTM locations of boreholes, monitoring wells, and sample points extracted from reports. This is useful for creating site maps or importing locations into GIS software.

Question 19

How current is the data?

Accepted Answer

The database contains reports spanning several decades, with new reports added as they become available. Each report shows its submission date. The Data Sources tab in the sidebar provides information about each dataset's source and currency.

Question 20

How do I post in the community forum?

Accepted Answer

The Community Support forum lets you connect with other users: Navigate to the  Support page Click "New Post" (requires login) Choose a category: Bug Report, Feature Request, Question, or Discussion Write a descriptive title and detailed content Add optional tags to help others find your post Submit your post

Question 21

How does voting work?

Accepted Answer

Use the upvote/downvote arrows on posts and comments to indicate helpfulness. Posts are sorted by score (Hot), date (New), or total votes (Top). This helps surface the most useful content and feature requests.

Question 22

What are the post categories?

Accepted Answer

Bug Report:  Report issues or unexpected behavior Feature Request:  Suggest new features or improvements Question:  Ask how to use features or get help Discussion:  General topics and conversation

Question 23

What if I prefer private support?

Accepted Answer

For confidential issues, account problems, or sensitive questions, email us directly at support@phaseview.ca. We typically respond within 24 hours on business days.

Question 24

How do I reset my password?

Accepted Answer

To reset your password: Go to the login page Click "Forgot Password?" Enter your email address Check your email for reset instructions Follow the link to create a new password

Question 25

How do I manage my account?

Accepted Answer

Visit your Profile page to update your username, email, or password.

Question 26

Is my data secure?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We use industry-standard security including HTTPS encryption, secure password hashing (Argon2id), and regular security audits. Your personal information is never shared with third parties. See our Privacy Policy for details.

Question 27

How do I delete my account?

Accepted Answer

Account deletion can be requested by emailing support@phaseview.ca. We'll permanently remove your personal data within 30 days in compliance with privacy regulations.

Question 28

The website isn't loading properly. What should I do?

Accepted Answer

Try these troubleshooting steps: Refresh the page (Ctrl+F5 or Cmd+Shift+R for hard refresh) Clear your browser cache and cookies Try a different browser or incognito/private mode Check your internet connection Disable browser extensions temporarily Contact support if issues persist

Question 29

Which browsers are supported?

Accepted Answer

Phaseview works best on modern browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. We recommend keeping your browser updated. The map features require WebGL support, which is available in all modern browsers.

Question 30

Can I use Phaseview on mobile devices?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Phaseview is responsive and works on tablets and phones. The interface adapts to smaller screens. For the best experience with complex analysis tools, we recommend using a desktop or tablet in landscape mode.

Question 31

Why is the map loading slowly?

Accepted Answer

Dense urban areas with many reports can take longer to load. Try zooming in to reduce the number of visible markers, use filters to narrow results, or toggle off data layers you don't need. Ensure you have a stable internet connection.

Question 32

What types of environmental reports are available on Phaseview?

Accepted Answer

Phaseview hosts 14 categories of reports submitted to the Alberta Energy Regulator, including: Phase I ESAs  (desktop reviews and site reconnaissance) Phase II ESAs  (field investigations with sampling) Remediation  reports, Groundwater studies, and Risk Assessments Records of Site Condition (RoSC)  and  Reclamation Certificates Remedial Action Plans (RAP), Risk Management Plans, and Decommissioning reports Learn more in our  guide to Alberta environmental report types .

Question 33

What is the difference between a Phase I and Phase II ESA?

Accepted Answer

A  Phase I ESA  is a desktop and site walkover study that identifies  potential  contamination through historical records, aerial photographs, and interviews. It does not involve sampling. A  Phase II ESA  follows when the Phase I identifies areas of potential concern. It involves drilling boreholes, collecting soil and groundwater samples, and comparing laboratory results to  Alberta Tier 1/Tier 2 guidelines .

Question 34

What is a Reclamation Certificate (RecCert)?

Accepted Answer

A  Reclamation Certificate  is issued by Alberta Environment confirming that a well site has been fully reclaimed -- infrastructure removed, soil restored, and vegetation re-established. It is the final step in the  well closure  process. Alberta faces a significant  reclamation gap , with thousands of abandoned wells awaiting certification.

Question 35

What is a Record of Site Condition (RoSC)?

Accepted Answer

A  Record of Site Condition  formally documents the environmental status of a site. It may confirm that contamination has been remediated to meet guidelines, or that residual contamination is being managed through a risk management plan.

Question 36

How current is the report data on Phaseview?

Accepted Answer

Phaseview syncs with the AER's public submission database regularly. The database contains submissions spanning several decades, with new reports added as they become available.

Question 37

Can I download environmental reports from Phaseview?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can download the original PDF reports directly from the details panel. Click any map marker to open the details panel, then click the download button on the report you need. An account is required to download PDFs.

Question 38

What is a Legal Land Description (LLD)?

Accepted Answer

A  Legal Land Description  is Alberta's system for identifying parcels of land. It consists of four parts:  LSD  (1-16), Section (1-36),  Township  (1-126), and  Range  (1-30), plus a  Meridian  reference. For example, "14-23-045-12 W4M" means LSD 14, Section 23, Township 45, Range 12, West of the 4th Meridian. Read our  detailed guide to LLDs .

Question 39

How do I search by LLD/LSD on Phaseview?

Accepted Answer

Type an LLD in the search bar on the  map page . Phaseview accepts flexible formats: Full format: "14-23-045-12 W4M" Short format: "14-23-45-12" (meridian defaults to W4M) Quarter section: "NE 23-045-12 W4M" The map will zoom to that location and display all environmental reports submitted for that LSD.

Question 40

What is the Alberta Township System (ATS)?

Accepted Answer

The  Alberta Township System  is the survey grid that divides the province into townships, sections, and legal subdivisions. It is the foundation for land titles, well licensing, and environmental reporting across Alberta. You can toggle the ATS grid overlay on the  interactive map  to see section and LSD boundaries. Learn more about the  ATS grid layer .

Question 41

What are Road Allowances and why do they matter?

Accepted Answer

Road allowances  are strips of land (20-30m wide) reserved for roads along survey grid lines. They affect precise coordinate calculations because the actual ground distances between LSD centres include road allowance widths. Phaseview accounts for road allowances when converting LLDs to GPS coordinates, ensuring accurate mapping of well sites and report locations.

Question 42

How does Phaseview convert between LLD and GPS coordinates?

Accepted Answer

Phaseview uses the official ATS survey data (v4.1) to compute the geographic centre of each LSD, accounting for road allowances, meridian convergence, and survey irregularities. This produces latitude/longitude coordinates accurate to within a few metres of the true LSD centre.

Question 43

How many wells are there in Alberta?

Accepted Answer

Alberta has over 400,000 well sites, making it one of the most extensively drilled regions in the world. These include active producers,  suspended  wells,  abandoned  wells, and  reclaimed  sites. Explore well locations on the  interactive map  using the  Oil & Gas Wells layer .

Question 44

What does it mean when a well is "abandoned" vs "reclaimed"?

Accepted Answer

Abandonment  means the wellbore has been permanently sealed with cement to prevent fluid migration. The well can no longer produce, but the surface site may still have infrastructure, contamination, or disturbed land. Reclamation  goes further: all infrastructure is removed, contamination is remediated, the land is recontoured, topsoil is replaced, and vegetation is re-established. A  Reclamation Certificate  is issued once complete.

Question 45

What is the Dormant Site Inventory (DSI)?

Accepted Answer

The  Dormant Site Inventory  is the AER's registry of wells and facilities that have been inactive beyond regulatory timeframes. Licensees are required to undertake environmental assessment and closure on a mandated schedule. Phaseview maps DSI sites as a dedicated layer -- see the  Contamination & Liability  category.

Question 46

What is the Orphan Well Association (OWA)?

Accepted Answer

The  Orphan Well Association  is a not-for-profit organization that manages wells and facilities whose operators are defunct or unable to meet environmental obligations. The OWA is funded by an industry levy and manages thousands of  orphan sites  across Alberta.

Question 47

Where does Phaseview get its well data?

Accepted Answer

Oil and gas well data comes from the  Alberta Energy Regulator's  public ST37 well location dataset. Water well data comes from Alberta's Water Well Information Database (WWID). For full details on data sources, see our  Energy & Infrastructure  and  Hydrogeology  layer documentation.

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