woodland owners and estates

digital mapping and gis services

The benefits of digital mapping have been slow to reach estate owners, Factors and other land managers.  

I suspect that this is partly because new technologies often take time to be adopted when the benefits are not well-promoted and the costs are perceived as being too high.  

Furthermore, until recently the software has not been easy to use and there has been a steep learning curve to reach even a basic level of competency. Few busy woodland owners and managers have had the spare capacity to spend weeks becoming acquainted with poorly documented software in order to produce the most basic of maps.

However, now that the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP) is in its second incarnation, the regulatory agencies are beginning to refuse grant applications that are not supported by accurate digital maps. 

Furthermore, RPID's guidance now states clearly that agricultural businesses must keep accurate and up-to-date land records and that any maps that are submitted must comply with their standards. This is difficult to achieve using traditional methods of map production.

As a result, the need to adopt this method of working has become much more widespread. 

Fortunately, my digital mapping and land survey costs are reasonable and fixed.

I will respond to your enquiry by undertaking a free-of-charge visit to investigate the situation on the ground (or do the same from my desk if there is no need to visit) before issuing a written quote that confirms the service that I will provide and the cost of doing it.  

There is no obligation, so it is then up to you to decide whether you wish to engage me and take the matter forward.

If that is not a convincing argument for spending a little time - and money - in working-up future applications and improving the accuracy of your current land holding records and IACS maps, perhaps the following points should be considered:

• A digital compartment record for a woodland that contains crop data for planning purposes is an extremely useful planning tool that will benefit owners of woodlands both large and small.

• Recent developments in mobile data capture have resulted in accurate, low cost (often free) tools being made available for most mobile devices. Even a few years ago this functionality would cost several hundred Pounds, yet it is now available for little financial investment, with the only cost being a relatively small time commitment to learn the ropes.

• Beyond the forest environment, the digital mapping process provides a modern management tool for a farm, estate, croft, common grazing or other land-holding. Its provides accurate measurements (i.e. lengths and areas) and it assists with the planning, costing, and implementation of everyday operations such as setting-out, the production of data for your Single Farm Payment, the establishment of shelterbelts, building access tracks, greening, bracken treatments, boundary checks, crop rotation, peatland restoration projects, cultivation records and so on.

• Landowners wishing to independently develop renewable energy projects will find that an accurate digital map is essential and useful during most stages of planning and implementation.

• With very little extra work, the data can be easily adapted to other uses, such as in the production of fire plans to provide emergency responders with the information necessary to respond in the event of an emergency. This could save valuable time if the local manager or owner is absent at the time.

• An accurate record of your land holding is useful when collaborating with deer management groups, statutory agencies and neighbours.

There are many other ways in which my digital mapping service can assist landowners and land managers, so please use the details and the contact form here to let me know your specific requirements or questions.

Alternatively, follow the links below for some further suggestions as to how I might help.

It is not an exhaustive list, so kindly use the contact details here if you cannot find what you are looking for.