Technical Support: (989) 732-7188 Advanced GPS Concepts A.Offsets B.Feature Files C.Log At D.Basemaps E.Grids F.Navigating G.Freehand Redlining H.Sticky

Technical Support: (989) 732-7188

Advanced GPS ConceptsA. OffsetsB. Feature FilesC. Log AtD. BasemapsE. GridsF. NavigatingG. Freehand RedliningH. Sticky Log I. ShapefilesJ. Log by LaserK. BuffersL. Split PolygonsM. Merge PolygonsN. RTI


A. Offsetting GPS Points

To Offset a Point,

1. Check the Prompt for Offset Box on either tab of the Static Point logging screen.

2. When you have enough points logged and the Deviation is acceptable, click Log Now.

3. Next enter the correct Azimuth (from your compass) and Distance on the Point Offset Screen and then press OK.

One of the strengths of Solo Forest is the ability to easily offset any point that you are collecting. This comes in handy when it is difficult to physically get to a corner because it is grown up or on the other side of a huge ditch. Also, if your corner is a large tree, it is faster and more accurate to stand 5-10 feet from that tree and offset a point instead of collecting multipath data.


Offsetting Lines and AreasYou can also Offset Lines and Areas in Solo Forest. This feature allows you to map a stand boundary without having to walk exactly on the boundary. It is much faster and more accurate GPS-wise, to walk in a fire lane, pasture, road, clearcut, etc. instead of on the exact boundary.

To Offset a Line or Area,

1. Select Log > Log Offset / Interval > Log by Interval / Offset…

2. Select which side of you the line or area will be offset (ie. You are the line).

3. Double click then enter the Offset distance and press OK.

4. Lastly, either go to the feature list under All and start a new line or area, or select the correct feature on the In Progress screen and start logging in the Log Dynamically screen


Using the Measuring Toolto Calculate Bearings

Then after selecting the Measure tool, the bearings will be calculated as you select points. This tool will also work if you have your Stylus set for Manual XY.

The measure tool will allow you to measure distances or bearings between points just as we measured distance. This can be done by selecting Tool > Measure Tool > Bearings.


B. Editing the Feature FileIt is very easy to Edit or Add features to the feature file in Solo Forest.

To do this, select File > Feature Codes.

You can change the order of the features by highlighting one and clicking the Up or Down arrows,

You can see the Attributes under a feature by double clicking the feature, clicking the + sign beside it.

To Add a new Feature,

1. click New


Editing the Feature File2. Enter the Feature name and select the

type.

3. Click Display to edit the display settings of the new feature. Click OK.

4. To Add an attribute to your new feature, click Add. (Note: you have to have at least one attribute)


Editing the Feature File

5. Enter the Attribute name and Type. Don’t forget the Attribute asks the question. We will create a dropdown menu here. Click Next.

6. Click Add Menu Item… to create the Value that answers the Attribute question. Enter the Value name (Inactive) and click Add.

7. Repeat this process to enter all of the values and even subvalues for this attribute. Click Finish.


Editing the Feature File

8. Click Add again to add another Attribute to your new feature, or click OK if you only want one.

9. Note that the new feature is added to your list and will be available to select from on the All screen when you Log data.

10. You may need to reorganize your features using the Up and Down arrows.

11. Save the new feature list by clicking Save, or in some cases, Save As.


C. The “Log At” FeatureSolo Forest allows you to connect a node of one line or area to a node of another line or area. This is handy when you are mapping roads and want to tie them together with no under or overlap, or you are want to join the boundary of your SMZ to your Timber Stand with no slivers.

To connect a subroad to a main road:

1. When you are mapping the main road, slow down anytime you come to a connecting road so that you have nodes to tie to.

2. Select the node on the main road that you wish to join the subroad to.

3. Select Log > Log at…


The “Log At” Feature for Lines

4. Solo Forest shows you the point you selected. Click OK.

5. Go to the All Tab and select the Road Feature.

6. Enter the correct attributes for the new Road and click OK

7. The new point is logged.

8. To continue logging the new road, select Flag with a Stopwatch and select the newest road in the In Progress tab.


What Kinds of Basemaps Can I Use in Solo Forest?• Vector Data (Point/Line/Area) = ArcView Shapefiles, AutoCAD DXF files,

MapInfo MIF files, and Solo Forest UDF files.

• Raster Data (Topos and Photos) = – DOQQ’s - orthorectified aerial photos in which distortions and displacements

are removed.

– DRG’s - scanned images of USGS Quadrangle maps (topo maps)

– Other raster images in .tif, .jpg, .doq, JPEG2000, ECW, or .sif format.

– Note: MrSID images are not supported but can be converted to geotiff format by using TatukGIS Viewer, or a .sif format in Solo Forest Office.

D. Basemaps


Creating a Geotiff using TatukGIS ViewerStep #1 – Load the Program

Your first step is get the TatukGIS Viewer program running on your computer by either installing it from your customer CD or downloading it from the LandMark website under Support > Software Updates.


Creating a Geotiff using TatukGIS Viewer Step #2 – Open the Program

Once you finish downloading the program, install it and open it. Then select New Project.


Creating a Geotiff using TatukGIS Viewer Step #3 – Open your Photo or Topo

Next, click the Add Layer button and navigate to your Basemaps folder and Open one your DRG or DOQQ files that you downloaded and unzipped. The file type can be .sid, .tif, .img, or .jp2.


Creating a Geotiff using TatukGIS Viewer Step #4 – Zoom to Stand Boundary

Next, click the Zoom Window button and draw a box around the area you want to export.

NOTE: the smaller the area, the more efficiently you will be able to zoom in and out in Solo Forest.


Creating a Geotiff using TatukGIS Viewer Step #5 – Export the Image

Next, click File > Export to Image and then select the directory (if different), name the file, and select “Tag Image File Format (*.tif)” as the type and Save it.


Creating a Geotiff using TatukGIS Viewer Step #6 – Save the Image

Lastly, Select the Visible extent and then make sure the file size is < 20 MG so that it will be usable in Solo Forest. When you select Save, you will have created 3 files; a .tab, a .tif, and a .tfw. You will need to transfer the .tif and the .tfw to your handheld for use in Solo Forest.


Loading a Photo or TopoStep #1 – Transfer the Basemap

a. Check the Image size and make sure you have storage space for it. Aerial photos can be very large. SoloOffice, a companion program to Solo Forest will allow you to compress .tif files 10x with no quality loss. Remember that you can use a compact flash card in your handheld if necessary.

b. Copy the image file along with any accompanying world files (ie. .tfw file) to your handheld. You can put them on a separate compact flash card that will be labeled Storage Card, or you can save them in the default Basemaps folder that will be in one of the following locations:

Pocket PC – Built-in Storage\My Documents\Basemaps

Windows Mobile – My Documents\Basemaps


Loading a Photo or TopoStep #2 – Match your Zone Settings to the Basemap

To check your Zone settings in Solo Forest, go to the Zone tab of the Settings Screen and look at the following:

Coordinate System : usually UTM

Horizontal Datum : usually NAD 83

Zone : Check Map on next page

You can display a custom coordinate system like the MSTM used in MS by checking this box and selecting the appropriate file.

NOTE: the Position Display and Distance Units on the General Tab of the Settings Screen do not have any effect on the basemap lining up in the correct place. They simply control whether or not you will see LLA or Northing Easting, and feet or meters in the field. When you export your data, however, you must pay close attention as detailed earlier in this manual under exporting shapefiles.


UTM Zones

• The Earth is divided into 60 UTM Zones following lines of Longitude. The continental US is covered by Zones 10 – 19 with each zone representing 6 degrees of longitude.


Loading a Photo or TopoStep #3 – Load the Basemap

To add a basemap to your project select View > Map Layers.

Next, you will see the Basemap Layer Control screen. Select the + Layer button to add a basemap layer.


Loading a Photo or TopoStep #4 – Select the Basemap File

At this screen, you need to do the following:a. Navigate to the Basemaps folder where you

stored your basemap. Use the icon to go up a level.

b. Select the correct basemap type here. Usually this will be a .tif or .sif.

c. Next select the basemap from your Images folder.

For this example we’ll choose the Home Neighborhood.SIF image and click OK. Note : This is an image that has been cropped in SoloOffice and converted to a Solo Image File (.SIF). This format compresses the image without sacrificing image quality.


Loading a Photo or TopoStep #5 – Modify the Image Layer if Necessary

Back at the Map Layers screen , you can double click the basemap layer to find out information about the layer or change the Linear Units if necessary (Solo assumes photos are in meters).


Loading a Photo or TopoStep #6 – Save the Basemap Configuration File

Once you are finished adding and editing the photo or topo, select OK, and then Click Yes and then OK when prompted to save the Basemap Configuration File. This will automatically load all of the basemap layers associated with this project the next time you load this .udf file.


Loading a Photo or TopoStep #7 – Zoom to Everything

Lastly, if you have your GPS going and are in the proximity of the basemap, it will automatically load underneath you. If, however, you do not have GPS going, you will see a blank screen and so you’ll need to use the Zoom to Everything button to display the basemap layer.


E. Digitizing Using Freehand Redlining

Digitizing can be done 2 ways in Solo Forest. The first is Freehand redlining. With this feature you can draw on top of basemaps, images, or logged data. You can also make notes on your map.

Step #1 – Set your stylus to Stylus Does Freehand Redlining

Step #2 - Now draw a polygon on top of the basemap without lifting your stylus. Do not try to close the polygon.


Digitizing Using Freehand Redlining

Step #4 - To convert it to a UDF feature go to the Edit menu and select Copy to UDF feature. Solo will show you what the feature will look like. Select OK.

Step #3 - Change the Stylus Use back to Select Logged Data and Select the Redlined Area. The redlined area will appear as a double line when selected



Step #6 – Select OK when it shows you what the new feature is going to look like..

Step #5 – Select Yes to the question about continuing.



Step #8 – The last step is to get rid of the redline so we can better see the points that have been manually logged in the conversion. To do this, select Edit > Delete and then Yes while making sure that the redlined feature is still selected.

Step #7 - Now you’ll be prompted to select the feature to log. For this example we’ll make the polygon a Water Area. You can then enter attribute info for that feature.


Digitizing Using Freehand RedliningStep #9 – Be aware that if you have your stylus set to Freehand Redlining, you can simply Tap the screen and get options like Drop a Note (Eagle Nest), and Stylus Draws a Circle to draw a buffers around objects on the screen around it.

You can then use your GPS to flag and map the buffer.


F. Digitizing Using Sticky LogSticky Log is another logging technique that allows you to digitize by selecting existing data and/or by clicking on the screen with your stylus. If your stylus is set to Stylus Selects Logged Data you can select nodes on the screen.

Here a few uses of Sticky Log with Logged Data:1. Subset a stand into a smaller stand2. Fix GPS mistakes like making a big polygon out of 2 smaller ones3. In the case where you have 2 stands that share a common side, you can use Sticky Log to re-log a portion of the common boundary to keep from having to reGPS something you just GPSed.

Here is how to Sticky Log with Logged Data:Step #1 - Make sure your Stylus Use is set to Select Logged Data

Step #2 - Select Log > Sticky Log Mode.


Digitizing Using Sticky LogStep #3 – Use your stylus to click on the node where you want to start your feature and then you will be prompted to select the feature to log. We’ll choose a Timber_Stand for this example. You will only be prompted for this info on the first point.

Step #4 – Continue to click around the existing polygon until you reach the end.

Step#5 – Select Log > Sticky Log to turn Sticky Log mode off.


Digitizing Using Sticky Log

Step #5 – Select either Single Flag or Flag with a Stopwatch to finish the 2nd stand with static points and/or dynamic lines.


Digitizing Using Sticky LogAnother great use of Sticky Logging is to use it to digitize around a stand or feature on an aerial photo.

Here is how to Sticky Log on a Photo: Step #1 - Set your stylus to Stylus Selects Manual X,Y Location.

Step #2 – Select Log > Sticky Log Mode

Step #3 – Click on the photo where you want to begin your feature.

Step #4 - Choose the feature that you want to begin in the All tab or add data to on the In Progress tab.

Step #5 – Continue to click around the feature.

Step #6 – Select Log > Sticky Log Mode to get out of Sticky Logging.


G. Generating a Grid

Solo Forest can generate a grid inside a selected area feature or shapefile polygon and store the grid points as a waypoint file.

Here is how to do it:

Step #1 – With your stylus set to Stylus selects Logged Data, click on the polygon

Step #2 - select Tool > Generate Grid.


Generating a GridStep #3 – Select Change Settings

Step #4 – Set your Grid ParametersYou have several options for your grid. For this example we’ll use a square cell shape with a 5 x 2 chain spacing on a 0 degree orientation.


Generating a GridOther Cell Parameters Options- Solo Forest allows you to specify a given # of cells for a specific stand and it will uniformly distribute them across the stand. Use the with Waypoints option to ensure that the correct number of waypoints are created.

- You can also decide if you want the entire grid cells to be contained within the area – thus eliminating grid points from falling on the edge of the stand, or have the grid cells simply intersect the grid area like they did in SoloField. The second method will place as many grid points in the polygon as it can, with some usually falling near the edges.


Generating a GridStep #4 – Set your Alignment Point (Optional)

Most foresters are used to having their grid start at a known corner and then go ½ the distance up and over to place the first grid point. All of the rest are then spaced on the 2 x5 pattern after that. To do this in Solo Forest, press AlignmentPoint and then go to the Map Tab > then Menu > and lastly, Zoom Logged Data.

With your Stylus set to Stylus Selects Logged Data, you can now select the Alignment point or locking node.

Lastly, select OK 2 Times.


Generating a GridStep#5 – Once you are back in the main Grid Parameters screen, Uncheck Output Gridlines.

Step #6 – Change the Waypoint Icon (Optional)

If you do not like the look of the default waypoint icon , you can easily change it by clicking on the icon.


Generating a GridNext, you need to click on the Symbol button…

and then select a new icon, like #19, off of the list and click OK 2 times.


Generating a GridStep #7 – Auto-stratifying Plots from Solo Forest. If you know the Stratum or Stand # of the polygon in which you are creating the grid, then you can have Solo PUSH that ID to TCruise when you start using RTI. To do this, simply type in the Stratum or Stand # in the Waypoint Label Box, followed by a ;.

Examples: PP;

PlantedPine;

Stand 14;


Generating a GridStep #8 – Save a Waypoint Setup File

When you get back to the Grid Parameters screen, select Save setup to file to save the Waypoint Settings and Icon you just selected.

Next, name your Waypoint Setup file something like 5by2.wgr and save it in the Solo folder by selecting OK. You must include the .wgr file extension.

Note: The next time you want to create that grid type select Load setup from file.


Generating a GridStep #9 – Generate Grid

When you get back to the Grid Parameters screen, select Generate Grid.

Step #10 – Select Labeling Order, Starting Index, and any Labeling Prefix

You can use the defaults or specify a different grid order, starting number, or prefix like “st1-”. In this case the first plot will be labeled “jt-1”. The second will be “jt-2”, etc.

Notice the Add to Existing File box. If you select that box then you can add more waypoints into an existing waypoint file. This is extremely helpful if you want to cruise 2 different stands with different intensities. Be sure and have the starting index of the second grid be one more than the last grid point on the first stand.

Select OK.


Generating a Grid

Step #10 – Name the Grid

You now have to specify a name a file location for the waypoint file you are about to create. Normally it it best to use the default file name and save it in the Solo folder. If, however, you are creating multiple grids for the same project, you will want to specify names.

Select OK.


Generating a Grid

Our grid is now displayed.

Note: If you want to load grids that were previously created for the polygons in your project, you can go to File > Settings > Files Tab and then Browse for the correct Waypoint file. You can also use the Clear button to clear the grid off of the screen.


Generating a Grid

NOTE – Solo Forest allows multiple grid layers to be loaded via the Basemap Layer screen. This allows you to cruise stands with different cruise intensities at the same time using RTI.

Make sure that each waypoint has a unique plot id when you create the grid.


H. Navigating to Points

Step #3 – Select a Tab, a point, and click OK

Point – Navigate to a logged GPS location

Waypoint – Navigate to a specific waypoint

Location – Enter and then navigate to a specific Lat-Long

Map – Allows you to select a waypoint off of the map

Step #1 – Make sure your stylus is set to Stylus Selects Logged Data

Step #2 – Select the Navigate Button -


Navigating to PointsThe next screen we see will show us in relation to the grid point, as well as, how far away we are, what the bearing to the point is, and in what direction to start walking.

When we start walking, 2 arrows will appear. You need to align the black on in the gray on and you are walking in the correct direction.


I. Working with ShapefilesStep #1 - Loading the Shapefile Layer

When you load a shapefile layer in Solo Forest, you need to repeat the exact same steps that you did for the photo or topo layer except that you change your file type to Arc Shapefile in Step #4.


Working with ShapefilesStep #2 – Modify the Shapefile Layer if Necessary

Once the shapefile is displayed in the Map Layers sceen, you can double click on that layer and change its display and projection properties (among other things).

On the Display Tab, you can change the color or linewidth of the layer.


Working with ShapefilesStep #2 – Modify the Shapefile Layer if Necessary

The Zone Tab lets you do 3 things:

1. You can (but usually do not have to) set the Layer Zone to Match the Project Zone.

2. If your shapefile was in Lat-Long (or Geographic Projection), you can check the Decimal Lat-Long box.

3. You can change your distance units from feet to meters.

Unfortunately, there many ways to project shapefiles. Solo gives you lots of options to help you line your GIS data up with your GPS data.

One of these 3 should allow you to correctly project your shapefiles.


Working with ShapefilesStep #3 – Basemap Configuration and Legends

When you exit the Map Layer screen, you will see the following dialogue. If you want a legend displayed, you must turn on a theme and make the legend visible. Normally you would simply click Skip here.

If you have not already saved a Basemap Configuration file, you will be asked to do so. Click Yes and Ok and OK and then you will be back to the main screen in Solo.

If you are not in the same location as your shapefile, select Zoom to Everything and it will be displayed.


Working with ShapefilesStep #4 – Setting Stylus and Active Layer

Before you can actually select your shapefile and create a grid in it, you must do the following 2 things:

1. Make Stylus Selects Basemap Feature

2. Set the Active shapefile layer by going to View > Set Active Layer and then selecting the correct shapefile Layer (if there are more than one) to be selected when you click on the screen. Also you can select an Attribute column in the dbf file to be displayed when the shapefile is selected.


Working with ShapefilesStep #5 – Searching for a Specific Stand

Many Forestry Management companies have extensive GIS databases that are organized by Ownerships, Regions, Compartments, Tracts, Stands, etc. It is very easy to transfer a Stand level shapefile (with thousands of stands) to a handheld and then load that shapefile and then search for a specific stand that you want to cruise. Here’s how:

1. Select Edit > Find Feature

2. Select the shapefile in Search Feature

3. Select some kind of Attribute that has unique names for the stand you are searching for

4. Enter the exact stand name in Find What

5. Select Find and then wait while it searches the dbf part of the shapefile

6. Select the correct stand you want to go to

7. Select Go To and Solo will Zoom to the Stand


Working with ShapefilesStep #6 – Creating a Cruise Grid in Shapefile

Once you have located the shapefile you want to cruise either by zooming into it with zoom tools or by using the Find Feature tool, then you can create a create a cruise grid in it as follows:

1. With your stylus set to Stylus Selects Basemap Feature, click on the polygon.

2. Select Tool Generate Grid

3. Follow the same Directions given earlier in this section for generating grids.

Note: If your shapefile is built so that multiple polygons have the same attributes, Solo Forest will select and create grids across all polygons that are simultaneously selected. If your shapefile is built 1 polygon at a time, you can use the Freehand Redlining technique described later in this section to create a dummy Tract around multiple stands and then create a grid in the Tract.


Working with ShapefilesStep #7 - Editing the dbf table

Once you have set your stylus and the Active Layer correctly, you can click anywhere on or in the shapefile and the value for the Attribute you selected should be displayed. If you click on that box, the other values for the other attributes of that shapefile will be displayed. You can then double click on those values and edit them if necessary.


Working with ShapefilesStep #8 - Editing the Spatial data

If you want to edit the spatial position of the shapefile or the individual nodes in that shapefile, set your Stylus to Edit Basemap Feature.

Next you will need to select the shapefile and then double click on a node. The following screen will appear. You can adjust the settings if you go to the Settings menu.


Working with ShapefilesStep #8 - Editing the Spatial data

In the Settings menu, you can choose whether you want to Move the entire shapefile or simply Move an individual vertices.

Lastly, you need to decide whether you want to Snap the shape or vertex to your GPS location, a logged point, a basemap point or to somewhere on a map grid.

Once this is set up, you can select the move the shape or vertices accordingly.


J. Log a Point with LaserOne tool in Solo Forest that is particularly useful is the ability to enter a property description ands have it drawn on the screen for you. The best ways to do this is to use the Log with Laser function, but not really use a laser. In this example we will create a square 40 while standing at 1 corner.

Step #1 - Log a GPS Point at a known Corner. Follow the directions for Logging a Static Point. Make the feature type be a Tract area.

Step #2 - Change the Log with function to Log with Laser.

Step #3 – Select Single Flag to add the next corner.


Log a Point with Laser

Step #4 - Double click the Tract Feature in the In Progress tab.

Step #5 - Click OK on the Attributes Screen.


Log a Point with LaserStep #6 - Select the GPS point that you just logged as your Reference Point and then press Continue.

Step #7 - Enter the Horizontal Distance and Azimuth to the next point. In this case it is 1320 ft and 0 degrees (Due North). Then press Log.


Log a Point with LaserThe offset point will show up on the screen and will be connected to the first point.

Step #8 - Select Single Flag and then follow Steps 3-7 to select the last logged point (blue diamond) as the Reference Point, input the correct Horizontal Distance and Azimuth to the next corner, and finally to Log that point.

Step #9 – Repeat Step #8 one more time and your square 40 should look like this.


Moving a Point in Solo ForestSince a square 40 is never square, you need to be able to move points from where you projected them with the Log by Laser technique to where they actually are. To do this, you need to navigate to the projected corner and then find the actual corner. Next, with your Stylus set to Select Logged Data, select the corner to move. Then select Edit > Move.

Next, click OK when Solo Forest identifies the point you selected, and then Click OK, or Log, at the Relocate Point Screen when you are satisfied with the Deviation of that point.


K. Creating Buffer Areas

Step #1 – Log a Point or Line Feature

Step #2 – Select the feature

Step #3 – Select Tool > Buffer Feature


Creating Buffer Areas

Step #4 – Assign the correct Buffer Width and then choose if you want to buffer the left side, right side, or both sides for a line feature or inside, outside, or both for a polygon feature.

NOTE: The buffer feature is always going to be a polygon feature.

Step #5 – Select Create Buffer and then OK.


Creating Buffer AreasStep #6 – The Buffer area you just created will be called a Buffer feature, but you now need to select an existing area feature to assign the buffer’s attributes.

Step # 7 – Assign the correct Attributes.


Creating Buffer AreasYou now have a new feature called Buffer with an assigned set of attributes that is physically located around, attached to, inside, outside or both inside and outside your mapped line or area feature.


L. Split Polygons

Step #1 – Log a Point or Line Feature

Step #2 – Select the feature

Step #3 – Select Tool > Polygons > Split


Split Polygons

Step #4 – Choose to split the polygon based on:

1. an existing feature that bisects the selected feature,

2. a redline drawing, or

3. by selecting 2 vertices on the selected feature.

Step #5 – Check whether or not you want to keep the Original feature or delete it off.


Split Polygons

Step #5 – Select Split and OK.

You now have 2 new polygons in place of the original one.


M. Merge Polygons

Step #1 – Make your stylus = Stylus selects Whole Feature or Logged Data

Step #2 - Select Tool > Polygons > Merge


Merge Polygons

Step #3 - Select the first polygon to merge and select Set First Feature.

Step #4 – Select the second polygon to merge and select Set Second Feature.

Step #5 – Decide if you want to keep the original polygons or delete them off.

Step # 6 – Select Merge and OK.


Merge Polygons

Step #7 – Choose which kind of area feature the new Merged Polygon will be and select OK.

Step #8 – Assign the attributes for the new feature and select OK.


Merge Polygons

You now have a new feature that consists of the 2 merged polygons.


N. RealTime Inventory Overview

LandMark Systems premier product is RTI, or RealTime Inventory. In a nutshell, RTI is the integration between a field inventory software, TCruise, and a GPS data collection/verification software, Solo Forest. It is the only forestry solution that allows you to do both GPS and inventory work on the same data collector and have the data from both programs linked to each other. It is a patented process, so there won’t be anything else like it for a long time. Here‘s how RTI works.

Step 1: Create a Stand Boundary—This can be done in the office or field by digitizing on a photo, or by using our GPS systems to traverse the stand in question.


RealTime Inventory Overview

Step 2: Create a Cruise Grid—In the office or field, you can specify the grid spacing and orientation and even begin the grid 1/2 the distance over and up from a known corner.

Step 3: Navigate to a Plot—Select which plot you want to go to and use GPS to navigate there. When you get within a specified distance from plot center, Solo Forest will automatically alert you that you are near plot center and ask you if you want to collect data with TCruise.


RealTime Inventory OverviewStep 4: Enter Plot Data—If you answer “YES”, a link will be established between Solo Forest and TCruise, the plot ID and Lat./Long. will be sent to TCruise, and you will be automatically “switched” to TCruise. You can then enter Plot Info and then go to the data entry screen.

Step 5: Enter Tree Data—The last step is to tally the trees and save the plot in TCruise. You can enter trees in a tally card or spreadsheet format, both of which have your species, products, and merchandizing specs built in to them. Your products will be automatically assigned by dbh unless you override and assign them manually.

Step 6: Do It Again—When you finish the first plot, you simply go back to Solo Forest, select the next plot and keep going. All cruised plots are marked in Solo Forest as “Visited”.