We provide knowledge to farmers about their farm that allows them to manage their property more effectively by providing accurate and affordable farm maps using LIDAR.
The benefits of Farm Maps
All farms have a level of natural variability that impacts with their production. This variability is in the soil, moisture levels and microclimate due to landscape features. Without the methods of observing or reacting to this variation, the default option is to treat it as “noise” and manage the farm as though it is uniform. By recognising the variations there is an opportunity to modify management practices to address limitations to production. This approach is likely to deliver benefits to growers in terms of more efficient use of production inputs and natural resources and reduced risk of on-farm and off-farm degradation.
The benefits of LIDAR
LIDAR is a powerful tool that provides high resolution, three dimensional, spatial information about the land. It can be used to identify areas for differential management from the generation of:-
Other, more general benefits of farm maps are listed below.
Infrastructure location
Natural resource management
Crop or herd management
Finances, Environment and Compliance
All farms have a level of natural variability that impacts with their production. This variability is in the soil, moisture levels and microclimate due to landscape features. Without the methods of observing or reacting to this variation, the default option is to treat it as “noise” and manage the farm as though it is uniform. By recognising the variations there is an opportunity to modify management practices to address limitations to production. This approach is likely to deliver benefits to growers in terms of more efficient use of production inputs and natural resources and reduced risk of on-farm and off-farm degradation.
The benefits of LIDAR
LIDAR is a powerful tool that provides high resolution, three dimensional, spatial information about the land. It can be used to identify areas for differential management from the generation of:-
- digital elevation models (image and map slope, elevation & aspect)
- vegetation models (map location, image canopy height)
- erosion control (map water flow, water catchments, simulate Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation)
Other, more general benefits of farm maps are listed below.
Infrastructure location
- Record the location of essential farm infrastructure such as buildings, sheds, silos, tanks, bores, troughs, pumps, power lines, contour banks etc.
- Calculate areas and plot names of all paddocks, as well as the location of dams, gates, roads, access tracks, and other features.
Natural resource management
- Record the location of natural assets such as watercourses, ridgelines, bushland, shelterbelts and revegetation sites
- Define the area and extent of land capability classes and soil types
- Match production to soil types
- Whole farm contour map is essential for designing farm layouts and managing surface water.
Crop or herd management
- Accurate knowledge of the area of your paddocks allows you to make accurate estimates of the quantities of required inputs such as fertilizer, seed, sprays etc.
- Accurately estimate stocking rates, feed availability, water requirements etc.
- Used for planning purposes, such as irrigation development and farm conversions.
- Making seasonal assessments on how much land to shut up for hay or silage in the summer.
- For tree crops, the location, variety of each tree can be colour-coded and labelled.
- The area of each variety or irrigation area can be calculated and displayed on the map.
- Record crop and stock rotations over time.
- Detail the location and extent of pest infestations such as invasive weeds or rabbit warrens or degraded sites such as erosion gullies, saline areas or landslips.
Finances, Environment and Compliance
- Assess properties for purchase, lease or sale.
- legislative compliance maps (e.g. land and water management plans, vegetation management plans, OH&S, and environmental plans).
- Provide a tool for planning new developments including development applications to council.
- Providing information to your rural banker, farm adviser etc.
- Highlight hazards such as old boreholes or abandoned implements.
- Assists with whole farm plan, farm map and record keeping system needed to become a certified organic producer.
