Version 3.4

While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that the contents of this publication are factually correct, the Commonwealth does not accept responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the contents, and shall not be liable for any loss or damage that may be occasioned directly or indirectly through the use of, or reliance on, the contents of this publication.

Mapping tool instructions

The following instructions will explain how to draw polygon areas (borders around a specific land area)

for a project using Google Maps. Existing polygons can also be loaded as an existing Google Earth

(KML) file.

Browser Compatibility: This mapping tool is known to work with the following browsers: - Internet Explorer version 10 and above (Internet Explorer’s Compatibility View is not supported) - Chrome version 36 and above - Firefox version 17 and above If you experience any issues please ensure that you are using the latest browser version.

Contents

1. Launch the Mapping Tool ................................................................................................... 2

2. Navigate to the general area of interest - using Search or the Zoom and Pan functions ..... 2

3. Drawing a polygon area or multiple areas ........................................................................... 3

4. Modifying polygon areas and clearing the map ................................................................... 5

5. Saving mapping .................................................................................................................. 6

6. Saving an image of your map………………………………………………………………….....8

7. Advanced Features………………………………………………………………………………...9

8. More information .......................................................................................................... …11

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1. LAUNCH THE MAPPING TOOL

The mapping tool launches from a link within your application form.

You can return to your mapping using this link at any time until you submit your application to

the Department. Please remember your unique tracking code to access the mapping link within

the application form.

You will note the map opens in the basic map view which

shows roads, creeks and property boundaries. You may prefer

to use the satellite image which can be accessed by clicking the

‘Satellite’ button at the top left side of the map. If you want to

go back to the basic map view at any time, click on the ‘Map’ button next

to the ‘Satellite’ button.

The map will automatically shade the Burdekin and Wet Tropics regions.

To turn this shading off click the ‘layers’ button in the right hand corner of

the screen.

2. NAVIGATE TO THE GENERAL AREA OF INTEREST - using Search or the Zoom and

Pan functions

Search

Type a town or location into the search box in the

upper left of the screen. The tool will suggest a list

of places based on what you type, and you can

select the closest location by clicking on the listed

place.

Zoom and pan

After the tool has taken you to the general area of your search, you can move the map in any

direction by ‘zooming’and ‘panning.’

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Navigate to your area of interest by zooming and panning on the map image.

Zoom in as close as you can to your area of interest to help ensure high accuracy in your project

mapping.

3. DRAWING A POLYGON AREA OR MULTIPLE AREAS

Select the drawing tool at top of the map window

Your mouse will now turn into a cross symbol

Place your cross at a place where you want to start drawing and click the left mouse button to

make your first point.

Continue placing points around your area until you get back to the starting point. To finish your

polygon, click back on your first point. Make sure you map your entire project area for 2017,

including any fallow. The area mapped should align with the area identified in your

Application Form and the 2017 area in your Nitrogen Management Calculator.

TIP: You can pan around the map whilst in draw mode by holding down the left mouse button

and dragging mouse, then release the mouse button to return to drawing.

Zoom by scrolling

your mouse wheel

or clicking on the

plus/minus symbols.

Pan by selecting the hand tool

and then click and hold down

the left mouse button anywhere

on the map.

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Once you have created the polygon area an

information window will appear (if you have

made a mistake at this stage, you can use the

‘Delete’ button to remove the polygon and

start again).

The information box gives you the area of the

polygon, and the perimeter length around it.

In the information window you will be asked

to add a title for the site then click the ‘OK’

button.

After clicking ‘OK’ you can add another

polygon area by following these steps again.

In the top right of the map the total area of all your polygons is shown.

Area of this polygon Combined area of all polygons

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Click the ‘Save Mapping’ button in the top right of the screen to save your work. Once saved, the

map will be automatically submitted to the Department when you submit your application form.

You can return to the mapping tool to adjust your polygon areas at any time, until you formally

submit the form.

4. MODIFYING POLYGON AREAS AND CLEARING THE MAP

If you need to modify a polygon area, use the hand tool and left mouse button to click

and drag the relevant white points. To make new points along the boundary click and

drag the semi-transparent (partly see through) points.

To undo the last point you dragged, click the back symbol. It will

appear every time you shift a point.

To edit a polygon’s Title select the hand tool and then click

inside the polygon. The information window (as described

above) will appear and you can make edits.

Once you’ve made edits, click ‘OK’ to confirm and close the

information window. Alternatively, click ‘Cancel’ if you

don’t want to keep any of the changes you just made.

If you click the ‘Delete’ button you will delete the whole

polygon. Beware – you cannot undo this action and will

have to redraw any area intended for that location.

If you move any

semi-transparent

point, automatically

more points will

appear for you to add

more detail to your

shape.

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The ‘Delete All Polygons’ button in the bottom left of the screen is used to delete all existing

polygon areas and information. Beware - you cannot undo this action.

5. SAVING MAPPING

Incomplete polygons will not be saved, so before you save, make sure you have finished drawing

and that the information window is closed by pressing ‘OK’.

After clicking ‘OK’ in the information window, click the ‘Save Mapping’ button. You can

save your mapping at any time by clicking the ‘Save Mapping’ button. You can return to

the mapping tool in the application form to adjust your maps at any time, until you

formally submit the form. Please remember your unique tracking code to access the

mapping link within the application form.

The ‘Delete All Polygons’

button deletes all mapped

polygon areas. Beware -

you cannot undo this action.

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If there is a 15% (+/-) discrepancy between the mapped area and the area identified in

the application form (cane area for 2017) a warning will appear.

If this warning appears please revise your mapping to ensure a site visit does not occur.

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6. SAVING AN IMAGE OF YOUR MAP

Using Screen Capture

An image of your map can be captured using a screen capture on your computer, this is done by

pressing ‘Ctrl’ and ‘Print Sc’ at the same time.

Then you can paste the image from memory into an image package or word document, for this

example we will use the standard Microsoft Paint application. Once Paint is open press ‘Ctrl’ and

‘V’ to paste the image. You can then save the image from the ‘File’ menu.

Using Google Earth

If you have Google Earth installed on your computer, you can use this with the downloaded KML

file from the Mapping Tool.

To do this download your map using the download

button in the Mapping Tool. If Google Earth is

installed on your system you should be able to just

click the ‘Open’ button after it downloads, and it will

automatically load into Google Earth.

Once loaded you should see your mapping open in Google Earth.

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Then to save an image go to the ‘File’ menu, select ‘Save’ and then ‘Save Image’.

7. ADVANCED FEATURES

Loading Google Earth KML files

Note: 1. This feature is only available on Firefox browser versions 13 and above, or Internet

Explorer versions 10 and above. It should also work with most other browsers if they are

up to date.

2. Please make sure KML files only contain polygon areas.

3. Take care using this feature – if you load an existing KML file it will over-ride and clear all

existing mapping you have done using the tool.

4. For more information on Google Earth KML file see

(https://support.google.com/earth/answer/148118?hl=en)

If you already have a Google Earth KML file with polygon areas for your project, you can browse

to it using the ‘Load from File (KML)’ button in the bottom left of the screen.

IMPORTANT: To avoid losing any existing mapping when you load a KML (see point 3 above) you

should always load an existing KML file first and then add any new polygons as required, rather

than the other way around. If you have multiple KMLs that you wish to merge into one, before

loading it into the tool, you can do this within Google Earth Pro, which can be freely downloaded

at https://www.google.com.au/earth/download/gep/agree.html

Browse to a KML file on your file system and click ‘Open’ to load the KML file to the map.

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Once loaded, you can use the hand tool to edit polygon areas - any existing information from your

KML file can be edited if it is not correct. REMEMBER, after loading, or editing, and pressing ‘OK’ you

should press the “Save Mapping” button for your KMLs to be attached to the application form.

Loading a Google Earth KML as text

Browsers that don’t support KML file loading will automatically provide white space below the map to

paste the contents of a KML file as text and load it.

If the ‘Load from File (KML)’ button is greyed out, this means your browser version doesn’t

support KML file loading. As an alternative method you will see a ‘Load from Text (KML)’ button,

which allows you to copy and paste KML text into the provided text area and load it to the map.

Firstly open your KML file in a text editor (e.g. notepad) and copy the full KML text and paste it

into the text box. Then click the ‘Load from File (KML)’ button to load the KML to the map.

Once loaded, use the hand tool method described earlier to click on each polygon areas and edit

the information box. You may find some existing information is loaded from your KML file into

the ‘Title’ text box, you can edit this if it is not correct. REMEMBER, after loading, or editing, and

pressing ‘OK’ you should press the “Save Mapping” button for your KMLs to be attached to the

application form.

Download your polygons as a KML file

You can click on the “download” button to save your polygon/s as a KML on your local computer for

your own personal use or to share with others if you choose to do so. Your KML will be saved to your

browser’s designated download folder.

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8. MORE INFORMATION

For more information or assistance using the mapping tool please contact your Service Provider on:

1800 899 486 (in the Wet Tropics)

1800 504 699 (in the Burdekin)

Or the Department on 1800 552 008.