Maps for Commons Agreements – Getting Started with The Land App

Why do I need a map?

Public Money for Public Goods is the new approach government will reward commoners and owners of common land for maintaining and enhancing public goods from commons. In the same way if you would like a good price for a pedigree cow you need to provide sellers with the lineage and performance if you would like to sell carbon or ecological habitats you need to be able to tell others what you have on your common.

What is The LandApp?

LandApp is a free software package (an App) that enables anyone to create maps of their land from data available on national data sets and where you can add in data that you have from your HLS / CS and any other data collected about ecology, archaeology, your hefts, bracken management, public access etc. The Land App is a Community Interest Company (not for profit).

Are there other Apps

Yes there are lots of other Apps such as ArcInfo, ProMap, Field Margins. They each have their own pluses and minuses – most of them are pay for packages. It may be that for some of your more sophisticated needs your advisors will use one of these packages but they can export the data and upload it into Land App.

What Ecological Data Coding is Used by LandApp

LandApp makes it very easy to use the UK Habitat Mapping codes. These are becoming increasingly recognised as a common standard for classifying habitats

Can I share Maps?

Yes, if you create a map or someone else does this for you these maps can be shared and easily viewed on a computer or tablet. You can give others editing or just viewing rights.

Can I upload Photos?

Yes geotagged photos as well as drone footage can be uploaded.

How do I start?

1.      Create an Account with The Land App www.thelandapp.com (Chrome browser required for imports)

2.      Create a New Map

3.      Downloading your land data from the Rural Payments – enter your Commons SBI (NB RPA are planning to include this feature – not yet available)

4.      If the SBI doesn’t deliver all the parcels email the RPA and ask for the shape files and upload them by clicking Import from file and drag and drop the data

5.      Click Create Projects  

Help!

There are excellent help videos and step by step guidance on The Land App.