Mapping facilities to enter, view and query data

Further Key Features of Recorder 6>>>

The built-in mapping facilities enable the user to either draw polygons or import layers into the map window in Recorder and associate individual polygons with existing locations. The functionality of this facility enables both smaller organisations or individuals that do not have access to a dedicated Geographical Information System (GI) to map and report effectively as well as linking successfully with dedicated GI units external to Recorder. The main beneficial aspects of this key feature include:

• Quickly plot the distribution of one, or more combinations of species, habitats or sample points within a survey - You can simply drag the species, habitat or survey (or a combination of several) onto the map to see an instant and accurate visual display of your data.

• Define polygons on the map - Polygons can be easily associated (linked) to existing locations or administrative areas within Recorder 6.

• Interrogate points on the map - Simple functionality enables the user to interrogate the data points on the map and drill down to the information held within the database through the filtered observation hiearchy.

• Indicate the detail of the data - Flexibility of symbol size, shape and colour can be used to effectively indicate presence before or after a certain year as well as occurrence in different sized grid squares (eg 1km or 10km squares).

• Create a report detailing all the data for a given geographic area  - There is a range of flexible functionality which enables effective reporting on both polygons and bounding boxes in Recorder 6.

• Access to Ordnance Survey maps - Recorder users contributing data to the NBN can request access to the 1:50 000 OS data to provide a visual context to their records.

• Ability to add your own polygon layers - Additional polygon layers can be added for importing external data or for drawing new polygons.

• Import polygon layers  -  This facility enables the importing of external datasets into Recorder for mapping onto OS maps or in conjunction with vice county boundaries or species records held in the database.

• Use of multiple separate maps - Within Recorder 6 it is possible to create and use entirely separate maps, with their own background layers, polygon layers, display options etc. This is particularly useful for people who have data from both the Great British Grid System and the Irish Grid system.

• Recent improvements to this area have attempted to make its use more intuitive and in line with GI systems: 1) the ability to easily change the order of polygon layers 2) ability to link polygons with locations on import from a GI system 3) to store information from an externally held GI file within Recorder against a location and 4) polygon layer exports now include file attributes as well as a projection file.