Maps and Apps courses to be held at Alpha and Kilcummin
One-day Workshops
KILCUMMIN
1 June
9am-3pm
Kilcummin Hall,
Kilcummin-Diamond Downs Road.
Smokos and lunch provided.
ALPHA
2 June
9am-3pm
Alpha Golf Club,
Dryden Street, Alpha.
Smokos and lunch provided.
By popular demand, NQ Dry Tropics is taking its Maps and Apps workshop to Alpha and Kilcummin.
Delivered by NQ Dry Tropics grazing extension staff, the free one-day workshop will provide landholders with a comprehensive range of skills to make the most of mapping applications Queensland Globe and Avenza.
Presenter NQ Dry Tropics Grazing Field Officer Angus Hogg said workshops were structured to help landholders learn how to navigate the free online tools and produce customised maps of their property.
“It’s aimed at all levels of experience, from the beginner right through to those who want a refresher,” Mr Hogg said.
“We want participants to leave the workshop confident they can use the mapping applications and apply them to their property.”
Landholders learn how to draw fencelines and water points, measure paddocks, calculate elevations, view historical satellite imagery and access vegetation management layers. This helps to make informed decisions with up-to-date information in one place.
Workshop participants also learn how to use Avenza Maps, a mobile map app that allows users to download maps for offline use on smartphones or tablets. Users can also plot and record information about locations, import and export place marks, measure distance and area, and plot photos.
Kylie Stretton, of Red Hill, has attended the workshop twice and found it invaluable.
“To be shown where to find relevant information and how to apply it to our property has been very useful,” Ms Stretton said.
“Queensland Globe can be hard to navigate because it’s complex and hosts lots of information. Having someone there to help guide you, and to offer tips and advice with your mapping saved a lot of time and frustration.
“We also delved into The Long Paddock and Forage. Forage can generate a lot of reports, to have someone help pinpoint what was relevant for me was helpful. I found learning how to customise Indicative Land Type, Fire Scar and Erodible Soils reports useful.”
Jodie Humble, of Havilah Station, said the workshop provided the tools and information she needed to help manage property infrastructure and livestock performance.
“I thoroughly enjoyed it. A bonus was receiving a course booklet I could bring home as a resource. It’s packed with good information and has been very useful to refer back to,” Ms Humble said.
“Those who delivered the training were able to clearly explain how to use the applications and to show us mapping tips and tricks.
“Trying to navigate the applications on your own can be overwhelming so having someone step you through the process helps enormously and saves time.
“Bore water management was something I’d been trying to find for ages and the team was able to show me where that information was located. A lot of it is about knowing where to find what you’re looking for.
“It was also useful to learn how to transfer custom maps between devices”.
Workshops will be held at the Kilcummin Hall on Thursday, 1 June and at the Alpha Golf Club on Friday, 2 June.
The workshops are hosted by the Grazing Resilience and Sustainable Solutions (GRASS) program, funded through the Queensland Government Reef Water Quality Program and is delivered by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Burnett Mary Regional Group, Fitzroy Basin Association and NQ Dry Tropics.
Participants will need a laptop and a mobile device to be able to complete the exercises in the course.
Catering is provided.
Places are limited, so book early by contacting Angus Hogg (M: 0459 450 151, E: angus.hogg@nqdrytropics.com.au