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Frequently Asked Questions
The following frequently asked
questions are provided to assist you with the day to day
understanding and functionality of all workshops provided by
AgForward. Click on a question to read its answer.
FAQs are available for:
Workshops
GPS
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Computer Mapping
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Vegetation Management
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AgForests
- For all information and
answers go to the
AgForests website.
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Who can attend
AgForward workshops?
AgForward workshops are open to all
Queensland primary producers and land owners. Our GPS
Essentials workshop is open to all.
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Where does AgForward run workshops?
Throughout the State of
Queensland. Check the Workshop Calendar
to check locations of upcoming workshops or
Contact AgForward to express
interest in a workshop to be held in your area.
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How much do workshops
costs?
-
GPS - $50 per enterprise
-
Computer Mapping - $100
per enterprise
-
Vegetation Management -
$100 per enterprise
-
AgForests Field Days -
Free
-
Attended previously /
Past participant - Free
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How do I register for
workshops?
Download and complete the
registration form available on the
Workshop Calender page, and return it to the Brisbane
office.
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There are no workshops in my area, how can I express my
interest?
Download and complete the
Expression of Interest form available on the
Workshop Calender page, and return it
to the Brisbane office.
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We have a local group of producers who are interested in
attending a workshop, can we get you to run a workshop for us?
Yes. Download and
complete the Expression of Interest form available on the
Workshop Calender page, and return it
to the Brisbane office.
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Are the
workshops nationally accredited?
Yes. All workshops are
now nationally accredited through the AgEssentials program.
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I attended a workshop some time ago, can I attend again as a
refresher?
Yes, register by completing
the workshop registration form on the
Workshop Calender page, and return it to the Brisbane
office. Cost is free if previously attended.
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What additional support is available for producers who have
attended AgForward workshops?
AgForward is here to assist
any time, regardless if you have attended a workshop.
Services available are listed on the
Products and Services
page.
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Which handheld GPS unit does
AgForward recommend?
AgForward
has no alliance with any GPS manufacturer. We do use
Garmin's map60 and 76 handheld models to demonstrate this
capability. Tools are provided during the workshop to
assist you to determine what make/model suites your property.
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What does an average handheld
GPS unit cost?
The cost of
any handheld GPS unit is dependent upon the features required to
map your property. A basic mapping handheld model costs
around $120, the top of the line handhelds costs around $600.
Be aware of discontinued models, their prices are generally
higher.
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How accurate is a location
measured by a handheld GPS?
The
manufacturers state that the positional accuracy of a hand held
unit is +/- 10 to 15 meters (95% confidence). This can
improve based the type of GPS you are using, how many satellites
you are locked to and the surrounding environment.
Tools
are provided during the workshop to assist you on how you can
improve the accuracy. Generally speaking, with the right
unit and conditions, the accuracy can be better than
+/- 5
metres.
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What datum should I set my
GPS to before use?
What datum
you set your
GPS to will depend on where you are using your
GPS and if you are referring it back to any maps or computer
mapping programs.
For the
purposes of the digital data provided for the computer mapping
workshop or if you are doing GPS points for the Department of
Natural Resources and Water, the datum you are to use is GDA94
(which will appear as GDA in a Garmin GPS).
If you are
trying to reference points from an old topographic map, you will
need to ensure that you find out what datum the map is and set
your GPS up to reflect this.
If you have an
older GPS unit and don’t have GDA, then you should use WGS84.
There is approximate difference of one metre between these two
datum. Be aware that the newer Garmin handheld models
(Colorado and Oregon) do not list GDA.
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What do I need to know to get
my GPS into correct operation?
The three
main areas are Time, Units and Location.
Time should
be set so it is +10 hours of Universal Time, when is Queensland.
Units
should be set to metres.
Location
should be set to GDA (WGS if GDA is not available), and either
UTM UPS (metric coordinate system) or geographicals (degrees,
minutes, seconds).
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Do all
handheld GPS models have the GDA datum?
No. The
three main datum that should be used within Australia is GDA
(first preference), WGS (second preference) and AGD (only if
your map's datum is AGD).
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What
is the difference between WGS and GDA?
Approximately 1 metre. To read more on this difference and
how it might affect your coordinates refer to the
ICSM fact sheet.
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Why do my GPS points vary
about 200 metres to locations on the map?
Your GPS
could be set to either GDA/WGS or AGD datum and then using the
alternate datum from another source. The approximate
difference between the AGD and GDA datum
can vary by as
much as 200 meters in the north easting direction.
GDA
replaced the Australian Geodetic Datum (AGD) which has been in
place since 1966.
Ensure your
GPS receiver is set to the correct horizontal datum GDA or
WGS84.
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What does the term UTM mean?
UTM is the
acronym for Universal Transverse Mercator, a plane coordinate
grid system named for the map projection on which it is based
(Transverse Mercator). The UTM system consists of 60 zones, each
6-degrees of longitude in width. The zones are numbered 1-60,
beginning at 180-degrees longitude and increasing to the east.
Queensland is covered by zones 54, 55 and 56.
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Which is the best or more
accurate coordinate system, UTM or latitude/longitude?
One system
is no more or less accurate than the other. They are just two
different ways of positioning a point. Many experienced users
prefer UTM over latitude/longitude when using ground maps.
Ocean going sailors and other marine users almost always use
latitude/longitude because navigation charts are optimized for
this method.
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Can a handheld GPS measure
the area of my paddock? What about the length of my new
fenceline?
Yes, all
good GPS units can record area and length values, some can also
store this information for later access.
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Can a GPS measure altitude so
I can determine slope for running polypipe?
GPS heights
are based on an ellipsoid (a mathematical representation of the
earth’s shape), while map and ground elevations are based on a
vertical datum tied to the geoid (or what we commonly call mean
sea level). Basically they are two different systems, although
they have a relationship which has been modelled. The main
source of error has to do with the arrangement of the satellite
configurations during fix determinations. The earth blocks out
satellites needed to get a good quality vertical measurement.
Once the vertical datum is taken into account, the accuracy
permitted by geometry considerations remains less than that of
horizontal positions. It is not uncommon for satellite heights
to be off from map elevations by +/- 100m. Use these values
with caution when navigating. GPS units do not replace basic
map and compass skills!
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How do I get the waypoints,
tracks and routes from my GPS onto the computer?
Check that
your GPS has connectivity to a computer, be it by a cable or
wireless methods. You can then use GPS data management
application or a property mapping application to download and
upload your GPS data.
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My permit application
requires my waypoints to be in “UTM / UPS” format? How do I
do this?
The GPS
location settings should be set to GDA or WGS and UTM UPS.
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Can I
contact AgForward after the GPS workshop to seek assistance?
Yes.
Contact either of the
presenters
who attended the workshop or the any of our
Queensland offices.
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What is the best mapping
program for me?
There are
over 40 mapping programs that are suited to property management.
A report was commissioned early 2008 to review these
applications. There are tools available in this report
that could assist you in determining which program may suit your
property. AgForward provides two demonstration licenced
packages as part of your property data package. The
applications are FarmKeeper and PhoenixFarms-Mapping.
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Does it matter what mapping
program I use?
Yes.
The AgForward Computer Mapping workshop provides you with tools
to assist you in making this decision. There are programs
that are purely mapping, some that allow you to record paddock
management and some that will link to a financials package.
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What
mapping program does AgForward conduct this workshop with?
AgForward
now offers you a choice. When completing your registration
form you can indicate which program you would like to use on the
day. Majority rules, the program selected as the majority
indicated will be used on the day.
However,
AgForward does two demonstration licenced packages as part of
your property data package. The applications are
FarmKeeper and PhoenixFarms-Mapping. This will allow you
to use both programs to gain an understanding of their
differences and what will work for you.
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What
mapping data do I receive at this workshop?
You will
receive an number of property mapping layers as part of your
property package. This includes as a minimum:
-
Landsat imagery for the years 1988, 1995, 2001, 2003, 2005
and 2007.
- SPOT5
(2.5m) imagery if your property falls within the Fitzroy
Basin, Burnett Mary, Condamine Alliance and SEQ Catchment
Natural Resources Management regions.
-
Mapping data that includes:
-
Regional Ecosystem V5
-
PreClear V5
-
Wetlands (if available for your property)
-
Watercourses
-
Property Boundary
All data is
provided under a licence agreement with certain State Government
departments and Regional Groups. There are certain
conditions when using the supplied data which is explained at
the Computer Mapping workshop.
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If I don’t attend a workshop
can I still access the data you provide to workshop
attendees?
Yes.
Go to the
Products and Services page, download the Spatial Data
request form and send to the Brisbane office.
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What is Landsat imagery?
The Landsat
Program is a series of Earth-observing satellite missions
collecting information about Earth from space since 1972.
Landsat satellites have taken specialised digital photographs of
the Earth’s continents enabling people to study many aspects of
our planet to evaluate changes caused by both natural processes
and human practices. This imagery is used to determine the
regional ecosystem boundaries.
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What is the pixel size of
Landsat Images?
The pixel
sixe, or Ground Sample Distance (GSD), for the Landsat imagery
provided to you through AgForward is 25 x 25 metres.
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What is SPOT5 imagery?
SPOT5 is
the 5th SPOT satellite launched by the SPOT Image Company.
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What is the pixel size of
SPOT5 imagery?
SPOT5 has
two resolutions available to you; 10 x 10 metre and 2.5 x 2.5
metre.
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How do I get access to SPOT5
imagery?
Natural
Resources Management (NRM) Groups throughout Queensland are the
main contact for SPOT imagery; some regional groups have
distributional rights to 2.5meter imagery while others have
distributional rights to 10meter imagery. The date of this
imagery is between early 2005 and mid 2006. Go to the
Links page to contact your local NRM group to request your SPOT5
image.
AgForward
does have a licence agreement to supply SPOT5 (2.5m) imagery if
your property falls within the Fitzroy Basin, Burnett Mary,
Condamine Alliance and SEQ Catchment Natural Resources
Management regions.
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How can a producer have
access to 2.5 meter imagery if the NRM regional group has
distributional rights to 10meter imagery?
Producers
can access a purchase order form for 2.5 metre from their local
NRM regional group. Formats provided are GeoTiff (if less than 2
Gigabyte); ecw; jpeg2000.
Costs are:
- Large
areas: $1.65 (incl. GST) per sq km for minimum of 1000 sq km
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Smaller areas: $3.00 (incl. GST) per sq km; Minimum area per
polygon 10 sq km
- Min
order of $110
-
Shipping and handling; $25 per CD/DVD
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How do I access better
quality data?
A Good
start is to contact your local NRM regional group to request
data through them. Other sources of data are Federal,
State and some local Governments plus local consultants.
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How do I access satellite
images for related Ballot clearing PMAV application?
If the
clearing was completed before September 2006, AgForward may have
suitable Landsat imagery for your property, please
contract AgForward to determine what the latest imagery is
available for your property.
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What happens if my ballot
clearing was completed after September 2006, how do I access
the latest imagery?
Producers
have two possible options; contact AgForward to request the
Landsat 2007 imagery or source another image form another
supplier which could cost about $500.
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Can I
contact AgForward after the Computer Mapping workshop to
seek assistance?
Yes.
Contact either of the
presenters
who attended the workshop or the any of our
Queensland offices.
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