Create vector maps

With Land, you can create your own vector maps, allowing you to generate a map of your area with as much detail and precision as you want. In a vector map, you can categorize trails, mark tracks, technical sections, POIs, and even highlight restricted areas or fields you should not enter.

The possibilities are vast, and it all depends on the level of detail you want to add to your map, as well as the ability to update it gradually. You can also add network information and make the map routable, allowing you to use tools like FastTrack, which enables you to automatically create routes and navigate them on your GPS or TwoNav App.

Note: This feature is available with the Pro subscription and the Land license.

Getting Started

To create a map, we must first have some element open, such as a map, a track, or a waypoint file, so that Land can georeference the data. Since our map will be based on another map, we will open an online orthophoto map.

1 - The first thing we need to do is create the map from the main menu option "File > New > New vector map"

2 - We name our map and save it.

Once the map is created (still empty), the vector map editor will open with the following tools:

From left to right, these are the tools and their functionality:

	Add points at the end: Adds points to the polyline from the last point of the polyline.
	Add intermediate points: Adds intermediate points between two points.
	Delete points: Removes the selected point.
	Freehand: Allows freehand drawing of the polyline, automatically creating points.
	Delete polyline: Removes the selected polyline.
	Edit point: Removes the selected point.
	Cut polyline: Cuts the polyline at the selected point.
	Join lines: Creates a polyline between two selected points.
	Center point: If this option is enabled, it centers the map on the newly created point.
	Invert polyline: Reverses the direction of the polyline.
	Move polyline to active layer: Moves the polyline to the layer defined as "active."
	Create network information: Creates network information between polylines.
	Create polygon: Creates a new polygon.
	Create polyline: Creates a new polyline.

Creating the first elements

To create our first vector map, we will create polygons for different fields and polylines for the paths.

Create Polygons

Click on the 'Create polygon' button to start a new polygon and trace the entire perimeter of the field.

Select the polygon in the data tree, and its properties will be displayed in the properties window. Modify some properties such as border color, fill, description, font, etc.

Note: The description text will appear inside the polygon.

It is important to modify the "Transparency" field, as by default it is set to 100% transparency. Repeat these steps to add all the fields you need to the map.

Create Polylines

Click on the "Create polyline" button to start a new polyline and use the different tools to draw it. In the properties window, you can change the appearance and other properties:

Create Points

"Points" within a map can be used to mark points of interest or as waypoints. To mark a new point on the map, right-click on the location where you want to place the point:

Modify the point properties from the properties window:

I have created different polygons for the fields, others for the buildings, polylines to mark the road and a trail, and a point to mark a point of interest.

Layer organization

A vector map is organized by layers to, for example, separate element categories. We will organize the elements of our map into different layers to structure all the information within the map.

Create a layer in the vector map

To create a new layer, we will do it from the "Layers" contextual menu in the map's data tree.

1 - Right-click on "Layers" and select the option "Create New Layer".

2 - Give the layer a name and confirm.

We now have our new layer.

Move elements to the layer

We will move the field polygons to this new layer, so all "fields" are in a single layer. We can move them using the "Cut > Paste" method from the element's contextual menu:

Or, from the element's properties. Change the "Layer" property and specify which layer you want the element to be in:

Note: You can select multiple elements and change the Layer property to modify them at the same time.

This is how the layers of the vector map are organized:

Layer properties

The properties of elements are inherited properties, meaning that if we leave the property as "By Layer," it will inherit the properties defined in that layer.

If we assign a specific value to an element, it will ignore the layer properties it belongs to. We can modify the properties of all elements within the layer so that they all have the same appearance or any other property. I will modify the "Buildings" layer so that all these elements have the same appearance on the map.

1 - Select the layer in the data tree.

2 - Modify the properties in the "Properties" window.

Now all elements within this layer have the same appearance.

Finish editing the vector map

Once we have entered all the information into our map, we can exit the editing mode by clicking the "Finish Editing" button and save the map from the map's contextual menu in the data tree:

Edit vector map

To add more information to our map, we just need to open the vector map editor from the map's contextual menu in the data tree by selecting "Edit > Edit Vector Map":

Use your tracks to create a routable vector map

Here is an article explaining how to use your tracks to create a routable vector map: Create a Routable Map from Tracks