Software

Q: I've installed the program, but I do not know where it is located.
A: Under the Start Menu (Start Button), look for a folder called CU Precision Ag

Q: The description says that I need a NMEA capable GPS receiver. What is that?
A: NMEA is an acronym for the National Marine Electronics Association, who was responsible for standardizing a form global positioning system (GPS) communication via serial port. Many computers today do not have DB9 serial connections, but there are GPS receivers available that can set up a virtual serial connection via your USB port. GPS receivers compatible with this software can be obtained for a wide range of prices, depending on accuracy, but starting at around $30. Try searching "USB GPS receiver NMEA". You will find compatible receivers available from Garmin, GlobalSat, and many others.

Q: Other than being compatible with my device (tablet/laptop), are there other specific requirements of this software for the GPS receiver?
A: Yes. Be sure that the GPS receiver is capable of outputting the following NMEA sentences via serial communication: GPGGA and GPVTG. Other sentences that it may output are acceptable, but will be ignored. Be sure it is configurable to output position data at a frequency of 1 Hz, which is how often this software pulls position data. Serial baud rate in the software can be configured to match the baud rate of your GPS receiver, from 2400 to 115200 bits per second. For accuracy, we recommend (but do not require) a receiver capable of some form of DGPS, such as WAAS. If you have an RTK-capable receiver that can communicate with your tablet/laptop via serial NMEA, Boundary Mapper should be able to read its position data if configured properly.

Q: I have a GPS receiver with serial output but it uses a 9 pin plug. Is there a way for me to use this with my tablet/laptop if it does not have the same 9 pin plug?
A: Probably. Nine pin plugs with two rows of pins (one row with 5 pins and one row with 4 pins, in the general shape of a trapezoid) are known as DB9 connectors, or serial connectors. There are many suppliers that offer "USB to Serial" adapters, which allow you to adapt the 9 pin output of the GPS receiver to a USB connection for connecting to your laptop or tablet. When sourcing a USB to Serial adapter, we recommend that you only purchase one from a supplier who also offers downloadable drivers to support their adapter. The receiver you use must still be capable of the requirements stated in the previous FAQ. We have successfully tested this software using Trimble AgGPS and NavController outputs connected to a laptop through a USB to DB9 serial adapter.

Q: Can you recommend a receiver for me to purchase?
A: We cannot endorse any one product or manufacturer over another. We can say that we have tested the GlobalSat BU353-S4 receiver successfully with this software. If users wish to communicate to us other receivers that work with this software, we will list them here as well.

Q: The software is telling me that I do not have any available COM ports on my machine. What does this mean?
A: Boundary Mapper only communicates with GPS receivers via serial (COM port) communication. If you are receiving this message, then one of the following explanations may apply.
(1) You do not have a compatible GPS receiver connected to your laptop or tablet via serial communication.
(2) Your compatible GPS receiver was connected AFTER starting the software. The software checks for COM ports at launch and will not recognize devices connected after it is loaded. Connect GPS receiver prior to starting program; close and re-open the software to see COM port devices connected.
(3) Your compatible GPS receiver may not have the proper driver files installed. See if you can obtain them from the supplier.
(4) Your compatible GPS receiver does not have a power supply. While some compatible GPS receivers are powered solely from the USB port, others require an external power supply. Consult manufacturer documentation for your GPS receiver.

Q: Can I make multiple polygons for one field with this software?
A: Strictly speaking, no. This software currently only supports creation of one polygon per shapefile. However, multiple shapefiles can be merged using our Polygon Merge Tool, so that you would have the ability to build shapefiles with multiple polygons. If a negative area polygon or "inner boundary" is to be cut from a positive area polygon or "outer boundary", then both the outer boundary and inner boundary could be mapped with Boundary Mapper and then other GIS software would need to be used to cut the inner boundary from the outer boundary.

Q: I cannot see the satellite imagery, what might be the problem?
A: There is a button in the software to toggle satellite imagery. Viewing satellite imagery requires an (initial) internet connection. As you pan and zoom over a given area (pan over the map by using right click + hold/pan and zoom using buttons on map or mousewheel over map) the viewed image tiles are cached by Boundary Mapper, so that if your internet connection is lost, the images will still be viewable. In this way, you could pre-load and cache background imagery for a given area where you will not have internet service. For example, you can cache images for the field you intend to map, but while physically sitting in your office. Note: Image resolution is dependent on zoom level; it is best to cache images for a similar zoom level you intend to use when offline.

Q: Is there a way to test the software and its features without actually going to the field?
A: Yes, there is a test mode where GPS speed and GPS heading can be manually set, to simulate movement. The testing mode of the software uses map center position as an initial GPS position. To enter test mode, after opening the software, press CTRL+T and a speed/heading control group box will appear in the top left corner of the map. Pressing CTRL+T again takes the software out of test mode.

Q: Can I use the boundary files created with this software to generate grid or zone maps?
A: Yes. If you export the boundaries as shapefiles, most GIS software capable of generating grids and zones will be able to import the shapefile so that you may use their built-in tools for dividing the polygon into grids or zones. While we do not generally believe that using SSURGO (USDA-NRCS soil survey) data is the best method for making agricultural management zones (that was never its purpose), we recognize that many individuals still wish to use SSURGO data for their zone maps. The shapefiles output by Boundary Mapper can be uploaded to USDA's Web Soil Survey portal for exporting soil survey maps to be used for zone management.

Q: I've installed the program, but I do not know where it is located.
A: Under the Start Menu (Start Button), look for a folder called CU Precision Ag

Q: Are there any inexpensive and easy to use tools available for viewing and managing the shapefiles that the software outputs?
A: Yes. There are several tools available. We cannot endorse one product over another, but some examples, depending on your needs are listed here. Google Earth Pro is a simple tool for general map viewing and GIS layer management, which allows for importing shapefiles. QGIS is a free tool for GIS data management for advanced users. Most map-based farm management software applications allow for importing shapefiles.

Q: How do you pan and zoom the map?
A: Panning on the map is accomplished by right-clicking: after right-clicking, hold the right mouse button down and move the mouse around to move the map. Zooming the map is accomplished using the mouse scroll wheel, pinching the mouse pad, or pinching the map on a touch screen display.

Q: The satellite image for one of my pivots is old and does not show an existing pivot. How can I use this software to draw that system?
A: If the aerial imagery shown is not current enough to show a pivot that you have recently installed, or if the resolution is insufficient to adequately locate positions, try obtaining the GPS positions from another source and manually pasting them into the Latitude and Longitude text boxes in the software. An example is explained here. If you right-click the map, for instance, roughly where the pivot center should be, you can copy mouse position coordinates to the clipboard. Then you can go to another program with more updated imagery, such as Google Earth, and paste this position into the search bar. In this 'other' mapping software, you can add and position a map marker for a more precise location of the component in question, then copy and paste the latitude and longitude coordinates of this marker into Center Pivot Mapper. Click 'Add to Map' to position the particular component (center position, end position, forward stop, or reverse stop).

Q: I've installed the program, but I do not know where it is located.
A: Under the Start Menu (Start Button), look for a folder called CU Precision Ag

Q: I don't have any shapefiles, can I use this software for other GIS file types?
A: No. The current version of this software only supports ESRI shapefiles.

Q: Can I use this software to merge yield data?
A: Generally speaking, no. This software is only able to merge polygon datasets. Most yield data consists of point datasets.

Q: I have some fields that I sample in grids and some that I sample in zones. Can I use this software to merge those together?
A: Yes, as long as the files for all sets to be merged are for polygon types.

Q: The shapefiles that I wish to merge do not have the same attributes specified. How is this handled?
A: All attributes are brought into the merged file. The result for the case here will be that some attributes will have values assigned for some, but not all polygons. However, any information attached to a given record is retained. A unifying attribute, ObjID_Merge is also created for the merged shapefile, which simply numbers the records (polygons) in the order that they are processed (alphabetical by filename).

Q: How does this software handle holes in polygons?
A: Any given record is brought into the merged shapefile as it was in the original shapefile. So, if there were one or more parts of a record specifying holes (negative area polygons) in the original record, the record in the merged shapefile will be the same.

Q: I've installed the program, but I do not know where it is located.
A: Under the Start Menu (Start Button), look for a folder called CU Precision Ag

Q: Is there a way to test the program without a compatible GPS?
A: Yes, simply change the GPS Source dropdown to "Mouse (Demo)". This will simulate GPS coordinates from the mouse position over the map. Pressing CTRL + SPACE will simulate collection of a sample.

Q: I uploaded a shapefile but nothing happened.
A: When a shapefile is loaded into view, the software will automatically zoom and center the map on the polygons present in the shapefile. However, if the shapefile has more than one attribute, the user must select the attribute they wish to view (e.g. "Zone ID") from the dropdown beneath the "OPEN FILE..." button. Once the correct attribute is selected, click the "Set Attrib" button and the shapefile polygons should come into view.

Q: Is there a way to make a crumb trail, showing everywhere that I have traveled?
A: Yes, clicking F2 toggles the crumb trail mode. Clicking F2 a second time will turn off marking of the crumb trail. To remove the crumb trail, click the "Clear Markers" button on the left side of the map. This will also clear all other markers present, including sampling locations, but these can be recovered by clicking the "Load Markers" button. The crumb trail is displayed on the map in the current version but it is not logged.