2005 - Volume 1

Welcome to AgWare News!  The concept of this newsletter is to update our customers of upcoming training seminars, new releases, quick program fixes, program enhancements, and other general information.  We hope that you will enjoy receiving this valuable information and that you will be interactive with your thoughts and comments.  Please also check out our website at www.uaar.net.

Thinking Spatially―Maps and the Rural Appraiser (continued)

Map Legend and Scale:

By Bob Nielsen, Certified Professional Soil Scientist 

In July’s newsletter, I begin describing three Key map characteristics by discussing map types.  The topic for is month is the third map characteristic – map legend and scale. 

Scale. ― Map scale can be simply defined as the ratio of distance on a photograph or map to its corresponding distance on the ground.  Map or photographic scale is a ratio expressed as 1:24,000, 1:12,000, or 1:250,000 or as an equivalent expression, such as 1 inch equals 2,000 feet.   Although map scale is a fairly straight forward concept, it does constrain the amount of information depicted on the map. 

For example, map publication scale is set by the publication format and is a compromise between the information presented and the physical size of the map publication.  This compromise in turn affects the amount and precision of information depicted on the map product.  A good illustration of this point is the NRCS soil survey report.  When soil survey maps are published at a scale of 1:24,000, the smallest area of soil a soil scientist can depict is about 10 acres.  However, if the publication scale is set at 1:12,000, soil scientists can depict areas of soil as small as 2.5 acres.  In areas of high-intensity agriculture, such as the Corn Belt, the greater resolution provided by the 1:12,000 soil maps is an important planning and management resource used by farmers, farm managers, and agribusiness specialists.  Conversely, in the grazing lands of the West, ranchers and rangeland managers are equally well served by the lesser resolution 1:24,000 soil maps. 

The advent of digital maps and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) allows the user to exercise more control over map content and scale.  In this context, the rural appraisers can change or tailor the maps or map products to meet their individual needs.  Digital map scales can be changed by zooming in or out, and the result can be clipped and published in an appraisal report.  The caveat is that current digital maps are based on their published predecessors and the information’s content has not changed.  Zooming into or out of the area of interest on digital maps does not increase or decrease the accuracy or precision of the information depicted.  The information presented is most reliable at the publication scale whether in hardcopy or digital format. 

Map legend and metadata. ― The map legend provides a number of important details about the map.  Most often, the map legend of a hardcopy map includes the map name, the year published, the scale, the projection, and a distance scale.  Digital spatial data and maps also have a legend that is technically referred to as metadata (data about data).  Metadata is generally in a text file that accompanies a digital map or aerial photograph.  This text file contains a description of the digital data and information normally found in a map’s legend and along its margins.  This information becomes important when digital maps are layered in GIS or other mapping technologies to ensure that the scale and projection of each map layer are compatible. 

Summary 

Maps and map products in the appraiser’s toolbox can be an important part of the appraisal process and report.  However, the appraiser must decide what maps or map products will improve the appraisal process and/or the appraisal report.  The best map products and mapping technologies are not always obvious and will require some research and testing.  Issues to be considered in the decision process are:·       
  1. Is the map to be used as an informational source or as an analytical tool? 
  2. Is the map to be used to show the subject's location, define its boundaries, calculate its area, or represent its natural resources or agronomic capability?
  3. What is the format, digital or hardcopy? 
  4. Are two or more maps to be used simultaneously? 
Once the appraiser begins to answer these questions, the available options become more focused.  Adding maps and map products to the appraisal process or report is a process and not an all-or-nothing proposition.  As the appraisers become more familiar with mapping tools and products, they will discover more applications of the new technologies for their appraisal products. 

There are several good reference Websites that might be of assistance in considering maps and their role in the appraisal process:

  1. http://oddens.geog.uu.nl/index.html
  2. http://members.aol.com/bowermanb/maps.html
  3. http://www.maphistory.info/webtexts.html
  4. http://www.maphistory.info/edson.html#intro

AgWare Tip of the Month

Question:  The view of the DataLog when opened is always small. It has to be reset each time to a size that does not require a magnifying glass. Can you change this?

Answer:  To make this change you will have to adjust the display setting. In the DataLog: go to Edit, Preferences, Document, Display, and change the Normal Window, scale document to the % that works for your system.  You can a try different percents by hitting the apply button at the bottom of the Document Preferences box (shown below). 

If you have questions on this tip or other tips that you would like to share please e-mail us at agware@uaar.net.

Training Seminars

Special 2-Day Training Seminar in Champaign, IL

The Illinois chapter of ASFMRA is opening up this class to all UAAR users.  Please see below for details.

Uniform Agricultural Appraisal Report (175-357) 
  1. 14 Hrs CE           
  2. March 21 – 22, 2005 in Champaign IL
  3. 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
  4. Instructor: Jerry Kjerstad, ARA – SD
  5. Parkland College Noel Ag Bldg.Tuition: member $295          non-member $350
  6. Nearby lodging: Microtel Motel, I-57 Olympian Exit #238
  7. Room Rate of $37-$42 + tax.
For reservations call 217-398-4136 The following are the AgWare seminars for 2005.  Please fill out the attached registration form and fax it back to us at 605-787-6163 if you are interested in attending.  All classes will be held in Rapid City, SD. and will be two days.  The cost will be $300.00 for ASFMRA members and $400.00 for non-members (plus 6% SD tax).
  1. March 10th & 11th 2005
  2. May 12th & 13th 2005
  3. July 14th & 15th 2005
  4. September 8th & 9th 2005
**Please note additional training may be added during the year.  ASFMRA Chapters frequently request training in conjunction with their chapter meetings, which we happily do.  If there are 10 or more individuals interested in your area please contact us and we will assist you in organizing a seminar. **Continuing Education hours are between 14 and 16 hours based on your state.  For more information on our seminars please contact AgWare at 605-787-7871 or AgWare.

Comments

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AgWare, Inc.

PO Box 138

Piedmont, SD 57769

Phone: 605-787-7871 

Fax: 605-787-6163

Email: agware@uaar.net 

Website: www.uaar.net