Andrea Laliberte

Depending what kind of spatial data are available for your area, the vegetation can impact the information derived from the data. For the landowner mapping products I offer, I always use freely available data to keep the cost down. Sometimes that means that the data may have lower resolution for digital elevation models and contour lines, compared to purchasing geospatial data. However, for some areas, I can obtain LiDAR data, which is a type of remote sensing data that allows for obtaining a "bare earth" elevation model, essentially stripping away the overlaying vegetation. This means you get elevation and contour data that are not affected by vegetation. It really depends what your state or county has available in terms of geospatial data.
Hope this helps, let me know if you have more questions,

Andrea

Learn how to map your land using open source software and freely available data. This self-paced, video-based course on DVD is an excellent introduction to digital mapping tools (GIS) for landowners or permaculture designers. It will allow you to visualize the terrain of the land, perform site planning based on slope, aspect, and other features, and use GIS maps with open source software and Google Earth. You will learn where to obtain freely available aerial photos, topographic data, soil maps, and other spatial layers, and how to view and manipulate the data. Details at: http://www.earthmetrics.com/courses/
For those that prefer a final product, I offer different levels of map packages that include the finest detail mapping layers available for your property. The products can be customized to your land and needs, include free visualization software, and require no specialized mapping knowledge. Details at http://www.earthmetrics.com/landowner-mapping-services/

Andrea Laliberte
Brownsville, Oregon

Learn how to map your land using open source software and freely available data. This self-paced course on DVD is all video-based to allow the student to follow the tutorials with ease. The course introduces digital mapping tools and techniques (Geographic Information Systems or GIS), and how small landowners and permaculture designers can use these tools with freely available data for site planning. The course provides an excellent introduction to GIS for any small landowner interested in visualizing terrain of the land, planning layout of buildings and gardens, and using GIS maps in Google Earth. You will learn about freely available aerial photos, topographic data, soil maps, and other spatial layers, and how to view and manipulate the data using the open source GIS software QGIS.
More details about the course at http://www.earthmetrics.com/courses/

I saw that you finished the GIS course. How did it go? I would be interested in your opinion. I also wanted to let you and others know that I am now offering this course on DVD instead of on Udemy, based on the responses and feedback I get. It seems that people prefer to have all the software, sample data and videos on a DVD instead of having to only access it online.

Thank you!
Andrea

Go beyond just looking at your property in Google Earth. GIS mapping services and products for farmers, ranchers, owners of woodlots and acreages. View and explore aerial photos, terrain, slope, aspect, and soil maps for permaculture design, planning buildings, fencing, crops, landscapes, greenhouse, gardens. Products include free mapping software. More details at http://www.earthmetrics.com/landowner-mapping-services/

Learn how to map your land using open source software and freely available data. This self-paced course on DVD is all video-based to allow the student to follow the tutorials with ease. The course introduces digital mapping tools and techniques (Geographic Information Systems or GIS), and how small landowners and permaculture designers can use these tools with freely available data for site planning. The course provides an excellent introduction to GIS for any small landowner interested in visualizing terrain of the land, planning layout of buildings and gardens, and using GIS maps in Google Earth. You will learn about freely available aerial photos, topographic data, soil maps, and other spatial layers, and how to view and manipulate the data using the open source GIS software QGIS.
More details about the course at http://www.earthmetrics.com/courses/

Learn how to map your land using open source software and freely available data. Previously offered on CD, this new online version of the course is all video-based to allow the student to follow the tutorials with ease. The course introduces digital mapping tools and techniques (Geographic Information Systems or GIS), and how small landowners and permaculture designers can use these tools with freely available data for site planning. The course provides an excellent introduction to GIS for any small landowner interested in visualizing terrain of the land, planning layout of buildings and gardens, and using GIS maps in Google Earth. You will learn about freely available aerial photos, topographic data, soil maps, and other spatial layers, and how to view and manipulate the data using the open source GIS software Quantum GIS.
More details about the course at http://www.earthmetrics.com/courses/

Hi Burra,

Thanks for your great feedback. I will take you up on your offer to take the course and write a review for this forum. I am emailing you to your gmail account a coupon to take the course for free.
I am also planning a follow-up course that will have more in-depth info on applying GIS to Permaculture design. Any feedback from the community would be great.

Looking forward to your comments or anybody else's comments as well.

Thanks,
Andrea

Learn how to map your land using open source software and freely available data. Previously offered on CD, this new online version of the course is all video-based to allow the student to follow the tutorials with ease. The course introduces digital mapping tools and techniques (Geographic Information Systems or GIS), and how small landowners and permaculture designers can use these tools with freely available data for site planning. The course provides an excellent introduction to GIS for any small landowner interested in visualizing terrain of the land, planning layout of buildings and gardens, and using GIS maps in Google Earth. You will learn about freely available aerial photos, topographic data, soil maps, and other spatial layers, and how to view and manipulate the data using the open source GIS software Quantum GIS.
More details about the course at course page

Andrea Laliberte
Brownsville, Oregon

Rufus,

I developed the course and gave it as a workshop last year through Beaver State Permaculture at Oregon State University, where 14 people took the course. I have since developed this self-paced CD-based course and have sold about 15 of those and received good feedback. You can look at the course website for more information.

Andrea