Advanced GPS Concepts

1
Advanced GPS Concepts

• Offsets
• Feature Files
• Log At
• Basemaps
• Grids
• Navigating
• Freehand Redlining
• Sticky Log
• Shapefiles
• Log by Laser
• Buffers
• Split Polygons
• Merge Polygons
• RTI

2
A. Offsetting GPS Points
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.

• 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.

3
Offsetting Lines and Areas
You 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,
• Select Log gt Log Offset / Interval gt Log by
  Interval / Offset
• Select which side of you the line or area will be
  offset (ie. You are the line).
• Double click then enter the Offset distance and
  press OK.
• 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

4
Using the Measuring Toolto Calculate Bearings
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 gt Measure Tool gt 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.
5
B. Editing the Feature File
It is very easy to Edit or Add features to the
feature file in Solo Forest. To do this, select
File gt 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
6
Editing the Feature File

• Enter the Feature name and select the type.
• Click Display to edit the display settings of the
  new feature. Click OK.
• To Add an attribute to your new feature, click
  Add. (Note you have to have at least one
  attribute)

7
Editing the Feature File

• Enter the Attribute name and Type. Dont forget
  the Attribute asks the question. We will create
  a dropdown menu here. Click Next.
• Click Add Menu Item to create the Value that
  answers the Attribute question. Enter the
  Value name (Inactive) and click Add.
• Repeat this process to enter all of the values
  and even subvalues for this attribute. Click
  Finish.

8
Editing the Feature File

• Click Add again to add another Attribute to your
  new feature, or click OK if you only want one.
• 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.
• You may need to reorganize your features using
  the Up and Down arrows.
• Save the new feature list by clicking Save, or in
  some cases, Save As.

9
C. The Log At Feature
Solo 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
• When you are mapping the main road, slow down
  anytime you come to a connecting road so that you
  have nodes to tie to.
• Select the node on the main road that you wish to
  join the subroad to.
• Select Log gt Log at

10
The Log At Feature for Lines

• Solo Forest shows you the point you selected.
  Click OK.
• Go to the All Tab and select the Road Feature.
• Enter the correct attributes for the new Road and
  click OK
• The new point is logged.
• To continue logging the new road, select Flag
  with a Stopwatch and select the newest road in
  the In Progress tab.

11
D. Basemaps
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)
• DOQQs - orthorectified aerial photos in which
  distortions and displacements are removed.
• DRGs - 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.

12
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 gt Software Updates.
13
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.
14
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.
15
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.
16
Creating a Geotiff using TatukGIS Viewer Step 5
Export the Image
Next, click File gt 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.
17
Creating a Geotiff using TatukGIS Viewer Step 6
Save the Image
Lastly, Select the Visible extent and then make
sure the file size is lt 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.
18
Loading a Photo or TopoStep 1 Transfer the
Basemap

• 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

19
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.
20
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.

21
Loading a Photo or TopoStep 3 Load the Basemap

• To add a basemap to your project select View gt
  Map Layers.
• Next, you will see the Basemap Layer Control
  screen. Select the Layer button to add a
  basemap layer.

22
Loading a Photo or TopoStep 4 Select the
Basemap File

• At this screen, you need to do the following
• Navigate to the Basemaps folder where you stored
  your basemap. Use the icon to go up a
  level.
• Select the correct basemap type here. Usually
  this will be a .tif or .sif.
• Next select the basemap from your Images folder.
  
• For this example well 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.

23
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).
24
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.
25
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 youll need to use the Zoom to
  Everything button to display the basemap layer.

26
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.
27
Digitizing Using Freehand Redlining
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 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.
28
Digitizing Using Freehand Redlining
Step 5 Select Yes to the question about
continuing.
Step 6 Select OK when it shows you what the
new feature is going to look like..
29
Digitizing Using Freehand Redlining
Step 7 - Now youll be prompted to select the
feature to log. For this example well make the
polygon a Water Area. You can then enter
attribute info for that feature.
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 gt Delete and then Yes while
making sure that the redlined feature is still
selected.
30
Digitizing Using Freehand Redlining
Step 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.
31
F. Digitizing Using Sticky Log
Sticky 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 stand 2.
Fix GPS mistakes like making a big polygon out of
2 smaller ones 3. 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 gt Sticky Log
Mode.
32
Digitizing Using Sticky Log
Step 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.
Well 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. Step5
Select Log gt Sticky Log to turn Sticky Log mode
off.
33
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.
34
Digitizing Using Sticky Log
Another 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 gt 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 gt Sticky Log Mode
to get out of Sticky Logging.
35
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 gt Generate Grid.

36
Generating a Grid

• Step 3 Select Change Settings

Step 4 Set your Grid Parameters You have
several options for your grid. For this example
well use a square cell shape with a 5 x 2 chain
spacing on a 0 degree orientation.
37
Generating a Grid
Other 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.
38
Generating a Grid

• Step 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 gt then Menu gt 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.
39
Generating a Grid
Step5 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.
40
Generating a Grid
Next, 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.
41
Generating a Grid
Step 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
42
Generating a Grid
Step 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.
43
Generating a Grid
Step 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.
44
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.
45
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 gt Settings gt 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.
46
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.
47
H. Navigating to Points
Step 1 Make sure your stylus is set to Stylus
Selects Logged Data Step 2 Select the Navigate
Button -
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
48
Navigating to Points
The 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.
49
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.
50
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.
51
Working with ShapefilesStep 2 Modify the
Shapefile Layer if Necessary
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.

• The Zone Tab lets you do 3 things
• You can (but usually do not have to) set the
  Layer Zone to Match the Project Zone.
• If your shapefile was in Lat-Long (or Geographic
  Projection), you can check the Decimal Lat-Long
  box.
• You can change your distance units from feet to
  meters.

One of these 3 should allow you to correctly
project your shapefiles.
52
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.
53
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 gt 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.
54
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. Heres
  how
• Select Edit gt Find Feature
• Select the shapefile in Search Feature
• Select some kind of Attribute that has unique
  names for the stand you are searching for
• Enter the exact stand name in Find What
• Select Find and then wait while it searches the
  dbf part of the shapefile
• Select the correct stand you want to go to

7. Select Go To and Solo will Zoom
to the Stand
55
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.
56
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.
57
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.
58
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.
59
J. Log a Point with Laser
One 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.
60
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.
61
Log a Point with Laser
Step 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.
62
Log a Point with Laser
The 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.
63
Moving a Point in Solo Forest
Since 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 gt 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.
64
K. Creating Buffer Areas
Step 1 Log a Point or Line Feature Step 2
Select the feature Step 3 Select Tool gt
Buffer Feature
65
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.
66
Creating Buffer Areas
Step 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
buffers attributes. Step 7 Assign the
correct Attributes.
67
Creating Buffer Areas
You 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.
68
L. Split Polygons
Step 1 Log a Point or Line Feature Step 2
Select the feature Step 3 Select Tool gt
Polygons gt Split
69
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.
70
Split Polygons
Step 5 Select Split and OK. You now have 2
new polygons in place of the original one.
71
M. Merge Polygons
Step 1 Make your stylus Stylus selects Whole
Feature or Logged Data Step 2 - Select Tool gt
Polygons gt Merge
72
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.
73
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.
74
Merge Polygons
You now have a new feature that consists of the 2
merged polygons.
75
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 wont
be anything else like it for a long time. Heres
how RTI works.  
Step 1 Create a Stand BoundaryThis 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.  
76
RealTime Inventory Overview
Step 2 Create a Cruise GridIn 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 PlotSelect 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.  
77
RealTime Inventory Overview
Step 4 Enter Plot DataIf 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 DataThe 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 AgainWhen 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.
•