Draw features

You can draw features, such as buildings, water lines, tanks, pits and tracks on your farm map. To make sure the map isn't too cluttered you can display just the features you need for the job at hand.   

Each different type of feature is managed in its own feature group.  

Watch this video for an overview of how to draw features on the FarmIQ map:


Click here for a PDF transcript

Information

Drawing features in the Freshwater farm plan

Use the Freshwater farm plan tool to draw and edit features that are specific to your plan. There are preset feature groups for features you might need to map, and you can also draw or edit other map features.

Some feature groups in the FWFP tool work differently to other map features. There are:

  • shape feature groups that use snapping to remove overlaps when you save
  • groups where, for each feature, you can choose draw a dot, a line or a shape.

Feature groups

In FarmIQ, features are managed in feature groups. You can add groups for each different type of feature you need or use the default feature groups. 

For example, if you want to mark all your troughs on the map, you can add a feature group and name it Troughs then, in that feature group, draw your troughs as individual features on the map.

All features in the same group are drawn the same way. This could be as dots, lines or shapes: 

Some default features have their own shapes. These are described below.

Feature groups can be added at Organisation level or Farm level.

Information When you add feature groups at:
  • Organisation level, they can be used on all farms in the organisation but can only be edited at Organisation level.
  • On a farm, they can be used and edited on that farm only.

Default feature groups

There are some default feature groups at Farm level.  As well as having a map location, these features can used for recording information in other parts of the system.

The feature groups you see will depend on your FarmIQ subscription.

For some, you enter extra information when you add them to the map. There are specific instructions for irrigators, weather stations and assessment sites.

Feature type
Used for...
Map shape Colour Example
Effluent runs
recording effluent spreading in a paddock against the specific land around a run
A line with two points, inside a single paddock
Colour cannot be changed
on the map, a red-brown line connecting two dots

Irrigators
You can only draw pivot irrigators

recording irrigation 
against the irrigator, for the paddocks it covers

Disc
Each pivot can be a different colour
a highlighted disk area formed by rotating a line through most of a circle, so a section of the disk is not highlighted
Weather stations
Dot
Colour cannot be changed
an orange dot
Bird assessment sites
recording biodiversity observations for your Environment plan
Dot
Colour cannot be changed a red dot
Vegetation assessment sites
a green dot, in a scrub area
Water assessment sites
a blue dot, on a river bank

Adding and editing feature groups and features

Information
  • Feature names are automatically generated from the Feature group name. You can change the feature name. 
  • If you are drawing a line feature and related dot feature, for example a water line and troughs, draw the dots first. Then, when you draw the line, you will find that the line "snaps" to the dot when your cursor is close to it. 
  • You can position features on the map by eye or enter the exact GPS co-ordinates. If you are drawing by eye, zoom in on the map so that the area you are working on is easy to see.
  • Switching to the Topo map background before you start may help you follow terrain features as you draw.

Add a new feature group and draw features

If there is not already a feature group for a feature you want to draw, add a new feature group or sub-group. You will draw features as part of the process.

Feature sub-groups can only be created for feature groups created at Organisation level

To add a new feature group and draw features  click here     
To add a new feature group and draw features: 
Information
  • When drawing on the mapzoom in for a closer view of what you're doing.
  • Switching to the Topo map background before you begin may help you see some land features as you draw.
  1. Open the Features editing panel:

    • Click Draw & edit in the bottom bar of the Farm map.
    • In the side panel, click Features to expand it.
  2. Click Add feature group.
    • To add a sub-group, for feature groups that have them, click + beside the group in the feature group list. 
  3. Enter the details for the feature group.
    • Enter the Feature group name.
    • Select how you want the features to look. You can select Dot, Line or Shape.
    • Pick a colour.                   
  4. Click Next.
  5. Draw features, by clicking on the map to place points, then Save them.

    To draw dot features click here

    To draw dot features:

    1. Click on the map where you want to place the features.
      • Features are named automatically based on you selection under Choose your naming convention. You can edit the names.
        • Select Numeric to name features using the feature group name and a number.
        • Select Paddock name to use the paddock name, then the feature group name and a number. 
      • You can place as many features as you like.
      • Click and drag points on the map to move them.
      • Click the edit pencil edit pencil icon in the side panel to:
        • edit the name of a feature
        • edit its map co-ordinates.
      • Click the dustbin in the side panel dustbin icon to remove points.
    2. Click Save.
      • If you have removed any features, the system will ask for confirmation. This includes features you have just drawn and then removed. 

    To draw line features click here

    To draw line features:

    1. If required, change the feature's Name.
    2. Click on the map to place a point where you want the line to start. 
    3. Place further points wherever the line changes direction. 
      • To move points on the map, click and drag them.
      • To add a new point on an existing line, click the line.
      • To delete a point, click the dustbin in the side panel.
        A table with, for each Point number, a Distances, Longitude, Latitude, edit pencil button, and dustbin icon. The mouse pointer hovers over a dustbin icon which has the pop-up label 'Remove'
      • To edit the coordinates of a point, click the edit pencil Edit pencil in the side panel.
        • To save the coordinates, click the tick Save tick mark. Click the back arrow Cancel back arrow to cancel.
      • To start again, click Back.
    4. Place a final point where the line ends.
    5. Click Save.
      • If you want to draw another of these features, click Save & draw another instead.

    To draw shape features click here

    To draw shape features:

    1. ​If required, change the feature's Name
    2. Click on the map to place a point where you want the boundary of the shape to start.
    3. Place further points wherever the boundary changes direction.
      • To move points on the map, click and drag them.
      • To add a new point on an existing line, click the line.
      • To delete a point, click the dustbin in the side panel.
        A table with, for each Point number, a Distances, Longitude, Latitude, edit pencil button, and dustbin icon. The mouse pointer hovers over a dustbin icon which has the pop-up label 'Remove'
      • To edit the coordinates of a point, click the edit pencil Edit pencil in the side panel.
        • To save the coordinates, click the tick Save tick mark. Click the back arrow Cancel back arrow to cancel.
      • To start again, click Back.
    4. Close the shape by clicking on the first point.
    5. Click Save.
      • If you want to draw another of these features, click Save & draw another instead. 

Draw features in an existing feature group

To start drawing a feature in an existing feature group, click Draw & edit, then Features, then click the name of the feature group and follow the instructions on screen.

There are specific instructions for adding pivot irrigators, weather stations and biodiversity assessment sites below.

To draw features in an existing feature group  click here     
To draw features in an existing feature group:     
Information
  • When drawing on the mapzoom in for a closer view of what you're doing.
  • Switching to the Topo map background before you begin may help you see some land features as you draw.
  1. Open the Features editing panel:

    • Click Draw & edit in the bottom bar of the Farm map.
    • In the side panel, click Features to expand it.
  2. Click the name of the feature group.
    • If the selected feature group has sub-groups, click the feature group to expand it, then click the name of the sub-group.
  3. Click the Draw button for the feature group.
  4. Draw features, by clicking on the map to place points, then Save them.

    To draw dot features click here

    To draw dot features:

    1. Click on the map where you want to place the features.
      • Features are named automatically based on you selection under Choose your naming convention. You can edit the names.
        • Select Numeric to name features using the feature group name and a number.
        • Select Paddock name to use the paddock name, then the feature group name and a number. 
      • You can place as many features as you like.
      • Click and drag points on the map to move them.
      • Click the edit pencil edit pencil icon in the side panel to:
        • edit the name of a feature
        • edit its map co-ordinates.
      • Click the dustbin in the side panel dustbin icon to remove points.
    2. Click Save.
      • If you have removed any features, the system will ask for confirmation. This includes features you have just drawn and then removed. 

    To draw line features click here

    To draw line features:

    1. If required, change the feature's Name.
    2. Click on the map to place a point where you want the line to start. 
    3. Place further points wherever the line changes direction. 
      • To move points on the map, click and drag them.
      • To add a new point on an existing line, click the line.
      • To delete a point, click the dustbin in the side panel.
        A table with, for each Point number, a Distances, Longitude, Latitude, edit pencil button, and dustbin icon. The mouse pointer hovers over a dustbin icon which has the pop-up label 'Remove'
      • To edit the coordinates of a point, click the edit pencil Edit pencil in the side panel.
        • To save the coordinates, click the tick Save tick mark. Click the back arrow Cancel back arrow to cancel.
      • To start again, click Back.
    4. Place a final point where the line ends.
    5. Click Save.
      • If you want to draw another of these features, click Save & draw another instead.

    To draw shape features click here

    To draw shape features:

    1. ​If required, change the feature's Name
    2. Click on the map to place a point where you want the boundary of the shape to start.
    3. Place further points wherever the boundary changes direction.
      • To move points on the map, click and drag them.
      • To add a new point on an existing line, click the line.
      • To delete a point, click the dustbin in the side panel.
        A table with, for each Point number, a Distances, Longitude, Latitude, edit pencil button, and dustbin icon. The mouse pointer hovers over a dustbin icon which has the pop-up label 'Remove'
      • To edit the coordinates of a point, click the edit pencil Edit pencil in the side panel.
        • To save the coordinates, click the tick Save tick mark. Click the back arrow Cancel back arrow to cancel.
      • To start again, click Back.
    4. Close the shape by clicking on the first point.
    5. Click Save.
      • If you want to draw another of these features, click Save & draw another instead. 

Pivot irrigators

If you are recording irrigation for pivot irrigators, you can draw the irrigator on the farm map.

To add an irrigator  click here           
To add an irrigator:  
  1. Open the Features editing panel:

    • Click Draw & edit in the bottom bar of the Farm map.
    • In the side panel, click Features to expand it.
  2. Click Irrigators.
  3. Click Draw irrigators.
  4. If required, enter or change the irrigator's Name.
  5. Enter or select the remaining Irrigator details:
    • Serial number (optional)
    • degrees of Rotation
    • Colour for the irrigator on the map.
  6. Draw the irrigator's radius as a line on the map:
    • Click on the map to place the centre point of the irrigator.
    • Click again to place a point on the outside of the irrigator, where the rotation begins.
      • You can drag the start and end points to make sure the radius is the correct length and that the rotation starts in the right place.
      • You can edit the co-ordinates of the points by clicking the edit pencil Edit pencil in the side panel.
      • The length in metres is shown in the side panel.
  7. Click Save.
    • If you want to draw another irrigator, click Save & draw another instead.

Weather stations

You can add your weather stations to:

See Weather stations to find out how to draw and edit your stations on the Farm map.

Biodiversity assessment sites

You can add assessment sites for birds, vegetation or water from the map or from your Environment plan in the Biodiversity section.

Once they are added, you can use them, in the Environment plan tool or by clicking them on the map, to monitor changes in the natural life around your farm.

To add a Bird assessment site from the Farm map click here

To add a Bird assessment site from the Farm map:

  1. Open the Features editing panel:

    • Click Draw & edit in the bottom bar of the Farm map.
    • In the side panel, click Features to expand it.
  2. Click Bird assessment site.
  3. Click Draw Bird assessment sites.
  4. Click on the map where you want to place the site.
    • You can move the point by clicking and dragging it.
    • You can edit the co-ordinates of the point by clicking the edit pencil Edit pencil in the side panel. 
  5. Enter the site details in the left panel:
    • Check or edit the Name.
    • Enter a Location description and Vegetation description.
  6. Click Save.


To add a Vegetation assessment site from the Farm map click here

To add a Vegetation assessment site from the Farm map:

  1. Open the Features editing panel:

    • Click Draw & edit in the bottom bar of the Farm map.
    • In the side panel, click Features to expand it.
  2. Click Vegetation assessment site.
  3. Click Draw Vegetation assessment sites.
  4. Click on the map where you want to place the site.
    • You can move the point by clicking and dragging it.
    • You can edit the co-ordinates of the point by clicking the edit pencil Edit pencil in the side panel. 
  5. Enter the site details in the left panel:
    • Check or edit the Name.
    • Enter a Location description.
  6. Click Save.


To add a Water assessment site from the Farm map click here

To add a Water assessment site from the Farm map:

  1. Open the Features editing panel:

    • Click Draw & edit in the bottom bar of the Farm map.
    • In the side panel, click Features to expand it.
  2. Click Water assessment site.
  3. Click Draw Water assessment sites.
  4. Click on the map where you want to place the site.
    • You can move the point by clicking and dragging it.
    • You can edit the co-ordinates of the point by clicking the edit pencil Edit pencil in the side panel. 
  5. Enter the site details in the left panel:
    • Check or edit the Name.
    • Enter a Location description and Vegetation description.
  6. Click Save.


Edit and delete feature groups

At Farm level, you can edit or delete custom feature groups, that you have made from the Farm map. You cannot change the settings for default feature groups. Features made at Organisation level can only be managed at organisation level.

You can edit a custom feature group's name and colour. You cannot change the type of shape.

To edit a feature group, click Draw & edit, then open Features and click the name of the group. Make your changes, then click Save.

To delete a feature group, delete all the features in the group. See To delete a feature, below, for how to do this.

Edit and delete features

You can edit and delete features you have drawn.

When you edit a feature you can change its name and position.

To edit a feature  click here
To edit a feature:
  1. Open the Features editing panel:

    • Click Draw & edit in the bottom bar of the Farm map.
    • In the side panel, click Features to expand it.
  2. Click the feature group name for the feature you want to edit.
  3. Click the edit pencil for the feature you want to edit.
  4. Make the changes needed. You can:
  1. If there is a Next button, click it and make any further changes.
  2. Click Save.

To delete features  click here
To delete features:
  1. Open the Features editing panel:

    • Click Draw & edit in the bottom bar of the Farm map.
    • In the side panel, click Features to expand it.
  2. Click the name of the feature group you want to edit.
  3. Click the dustbin dustbin icon for any features you want to delete.
  4. Click Save.
    • The system will ask you to confirm the removal of the features.
  5. Click Confirm.

See a list of the features you have drawn on your farm

You can use Draw & edit to see a list of all the features in each feature group.

To see a list of features on your farm  click here
To see a list of features on your farm:
  1. Open the Features editing panel:

    • Click Draw & edit in the bottom bar of the Farm map.
    • In the side panel, click Features to expand it.
  2. Click the name of the feature group you want a list of features for.
    • All the features in the group are listed a table in the side panel and shown on the map.
    • Hover your mouse over the table listing to highlight the feature on the map. Hover over the feature on the map to highlight the table listing.

Find out more