This policy describes WhereToDetect, a web app at wheretodetect.com. It is provided by the operator of wheretodetect.com (“we”, “us”).
We collect nothing. There is no account system, no login, no analytics package, no advertising network, no cookies set by us, and no server of ours that receives your data. The app is a static web page; the only thing our host serves is the page itself and its data files.
The app saves your work locally so it survives closing the tab. This data stays in your browser’s storage on your device, under your control:
wtd) - photos attached to your finds, and archived walk tracks.You can erase all of it at any time: use the clear/delete controls in the app’s More tab, or clear site data in your browser settings. Uninstalling the app or clearing site data deletes it permanently. We hold no copy and cannot recover it for you.
The app asks for your location only when you use a feature that needs it (the locate button, walk tracking). Your coordinates are used in your browser to centre the map and record your track. Your location is not sent to us - we have no server to send it to. Note that when you tap a spot, your browser contacts the third-party data services listed below directly, and those requests necessarily include the coordinates being looked up. Your browser also reveals its IP address to those services, exactly as it would if you visited their websites. You can deny or revoke the location permission at any time in your browser settings; the app still works, you just have to pan the map yourself.
WhereToDetect is a client for public map and records services. When you use it, your browser requests data from these providers directly. We do not proxy or log those requests. Each provider has its own privacy practices:
| Provider | Used for | What it receives |
|---|---|---|
| USGS / The National Map (USDA NAIP, USGS Topo) | Default aerial & topo basemaps, historical topo maps | Map tile / image coordinates, your IP |
| US Bureau of Land Management | Public-land verdict and shading | The coordinates you tapped, your IP |
| State & county GIS services | Parcel records, historical aerial photography | The coordinates you tapped, your IP |
| Esri (optional basemap, satellite years, hillshade) | Sharper satellite basemap if you select it, satellite time-series, terrain shading | Map tile coordinates, your IP |
| OpenStreetMap / Nominatim | Streets basemap; place search; town/county name for the history feature | Search terms or coordinates, your IP |
| NOAA / National Weather Service & CO-OPS | Surf and coastal-flood alerts, tide predictions | Your IP (alerts are fetched nationally, not per-location) |
| Wikipedia / Wikidata | Town history, park establishment dates | Place names, your IP |
| Library of Congress | Historical newspaper search | Search terms, your IP |
| unpkg / jsDelivr | Map libraries (Leaflet, proj4, geotiff) | Your IP when the files load |
Deciding which US state a point is in is done entirely offline on your device, so ordinary map taps do not send your coordinates to a geocoding service.
Owner names and mailing addresses are never displayed automatically. When you tap land that is not mapped as federal public land, the app outlines the parcel and shows the property’s own street address. The owner’s name and mailing address are shown only if you deliberately tap “Show owner record”.
That information comes from public records published by your state and county government. Each lookup goes straight from your browser to that government service - we do not hold, store, compile, index or receive it, and we have no database of owners. WhereToDetect is a viewer for records the government already publishes, in the same way the county’s own website is.
Parcel records, including any redactions, are published and maintained by the county or state agency that holds them. WhereToDetect does not hold a copy and cannot change what that agency publishes. Requests to correct, redact or suppress a property record must go to that agency, which is also the only way to remove it from the public record itself.
If you allow notifications, the app can remind you about follow-ups you scheduled and storm windows you asked to watch. These are generated on your device by the app itself. There is no push server and we send you nothing.
WhereToDetect is a general-audience hobby tool and is not directed at children under 13. We collect no personal information from anyone, including children.
Rights such as access, deletion and portability normally require the operator to hold data about you. We hold none. You can exercise the practical equivalents yourself at any time: export your data as a JSON backup, or delete it with the app’s clear controls or your browser’s “clear site data”. Because nothing is transmitted to us, there is no account to close and no copy for us to delete.
If this policy changes materially, the “last updated” date above will change. The app is a static site with no mailing list, so please check back rather than expecting a notification.
WhereToDetect is a research aid, not legal authority. Land status, park rules and property records change constantly, government datasets contain errors and gaps, and no map can tell you what a particular land manager will permit today. Nothing in this app is legal advice.
Always confirm before you dig. Verify land status and permission with the landowner or the managing agency. Get permission in writing on private land.
Federal law. The Archaeological Resources Protection Act and related laws make it a crime to disturb archaeological resources on federal and tribal land. Artifacts over 100 years old are protected. Never disturb protected sites, human remains, or historic structures. Penalties are severe and are yours alone.
The app is provided “as is” and “as available”, without warranties of any kind, express or implied, including any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, accuracy, or non-infringement, to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Specific things you should not rely on:
To the fullest extent permitted by law, the operator of wheretodetect.com will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential or punitive damages, or for any loss of data, profits, or property, arising out of or relating to your use of this app - including fines, citations, prosecution, denial of access, or injury resulting from reliance on information shown here. Some jurisdictions do not allow certain limitations, so parts of this section may not apply to you.
WhereToDetect is built on public data. Sources include: USGS (GNIS place names, historical topographic maps, The National Map orthoimagery and topo basemaps), USDA (NAIP imagery), the Bureau of Land Management (Surface Management Agency), NOAA/NWS (alerts and tide predictions), state and county GIS programs (parcel records and historical aerial photography), the Library of Congress (Chronicling America), Wikipedia and Wikidata, and © OpenStreetMap contributors (maps and geocoding, ODbL). Optional Esri basemap, satellite time-series and hillshade layers are © Esri and its data providers. Wikipedia text is used under CC BY-SA. Mapping libraries: Leaflet, Leaflet.markercluster, proj4js and geotiff.js, each under their own open-source licences.
US Government works are in the public domain. Nothing here implies endorsement or affiliation by USGS, USDA, BLM, NOAA, the National Weather Service, the Library of Congress or any state or federal agency.
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