<aside> 🏔️ Layers refer to landscape features that can be added to your map. To learn more about each layer type and see layers in action, visit our Design Basics article.

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Contents:

Creating Layers

Layers function differently than sections, in that individual layers contain a set of files with similar attributes (e.g. polygons, lines, points). Some layers (e.g. headlands, access) add value by providing specific customization tools, whereby certain settings (e.g. width) can be adjusted. In general, layers can either be drawn or uploaded to your map.

To add a layer:

1. Click New layer in your Design Toolbar.
2. Select a layer type from the dropdown.

1. Click either a) Draw or b) Import KML
   • The Draw option allows you to manually build your layer within Overyield.
   • The Import KML option allows you to upload a KML file, which contains polygons reflecting different layers types. You can visit our Importing Geospatial Data article to learn more about importing geospatial files into Overyield.
2. Edit your layer feature’s specifications, including attributes like width and layer name.

Creating different layer types:

Custom Layers

Custom layers enables the addition of unlimited point, line, or polygon features to your map. To add a custom layer:

• In the toolbar, click New Layer → Custom to create a new custom layer.
  • Click Draw and then one of the draw mode buttons to select layer format (points, line, or polygon, or keyboard shortcuts 1, 2, and 3). Begin marking up your map to add features to the layer.
  • Double click the layer name in the left panel to rename it.
  • Click the layer color in the right panel to change it
  • Clicking Drop pin lets you add your precise geotagged location to the map.

CLU Boundaries

CLU refers to Common Land Unit, a farm parcel identification system used by the US Farm Service Agency. CLU’s have a permanent, contiguous boundary, common land cover and land management, a common owner, and/or a common producer association. Loading CLU boundaries into your map can help you quickly distinguish where farm parcels begin and end, as well as identify CLU #’s for government subsidy applications.

To add a CLU layer:

• First, adjust your zoom and map center such that the map view reflects the area whose CLU’s you’d like to fetch via API.
• Select New Layer → CLU Boundaries → Load for Current View in your Design Toolbar.
• The layer will auto-generate CLU boundaries and CLU #’s (accessible as layer feature names in your expandable CLU layer menu).
• You can erase all CLU’s by selecting CLU boundaries in the lefthand layers panel, then flicking Delete All in the Design Toolbar. Likewise, you can delete individual CLU’s by expanding the CLU menu, selecting a specific CLU, then clicking Delete in the toolbar.

Suitability

The Suitability layer is built into your map, but can be activated or hidden at any time [Click here to learn more about the layer and how we calculate suitability].

To view your suitability layer:

• Click the Suitability layer via the Layers Panel (on the left).
• In the Crops panel (on the right), select a crop from the dropdown menu.
  • The suitability of this crop will automatically appear on the map.
• Any constituent attribute that informs suitability can likewise be examined.
  • Navigate to the Soil & Climate panel.
  • Select an attribute via the dropdown menu.
• You can easily activate or hide Suitability via the lefthand layers menu. Activating Suitability prior to PDF export will layer this data in your export.

Basemaps

The built-in Basemaps layer functions as the backdrop for your farm design, allowing users to toggle between satellite imagery, selecting the optimal birdseye view, as well as layer in contour data and turn off map features.

To adjust Basemaps:

• Click Basemaps via the lefthand Layers Panel.
• In the righthand Base Map Panel, select 1 of 3 imagery options:
  • NAIP US Satellite - optimal for agricultural areas
  • Mapbox Global Satellite - optimal for urban and international contexts
  • No Satellite - allows for greater visibility of other layers + sections (the darken background option also enables better visibility)
• To turn on 10m contour lines, click the show contour linescheckbox. Simply uncheck the box to turn contours off.
• Roads can also be removed or added to the map by unchecking or checking the show roads checkbox.

Contour ****

Note: You CANNOT draw contour maps. While every other layer type can be drawn in the app, contour maps must be imported as KML files.

• Click the Import KML button to upload a KML of your DEM (Digital Elevation Model) file to create contours on the map.
  • Learn How To Create Contour Maps in QGIS

Headlands ****

Headlands can be drawn or imported. Headlands refer to unplanted field margins, drawn to account for tractor turnarounds, adjacent forest shade, etc.

To draw a Headland:

• Select Headland → Draw via the Design Toolbar.
• Drop points on the map to draw a polygon, indicating your field’s perimeter.
• Press Enter to finalize the polygon.
• Set a headland width in the Design Panel.
  • 30 ft is a good standard headland width, but you may adjust depending on your machinery requirements and landscape.
• Select Done

Headlands can also be auto-generated from a CLU boundary or pre-drawn Section.

• To create a headland from a CLU: First you’ll need to fetch CLU boundaries and data via the CLU layer. Then, in the lefthand CLU menu, select the field to which you’d like to apply the headland. In the design toolbar, Create Headland — and voila!
• To create a headland from a Section: First, draw your Section. Make sure it is selected in the lefthand fields menu; then click Create Headland in the design toolbar.

Access ****

The Access layer refers to roads, paths, or other areas reserved for driving. Roads can be drawn in any configuration at any width, which is offset from the center of the road.

To draw an Access layer:

• Select Access → Draw via the Design Toolbar
• Click on the map to draw a line, indicating a planned or existing road.
• Press Enter to finalize the road.
  • You can draw multiple roads on your map.
• Set a road width in the Design Panel.
• Select Done

Ridges & Valleys ****

Ridges and Valleys are used to highlight key features such as dry and wet areas across your farm.

To draw a Ridge or Valley:

• Select Ridge or Valley → Draw via the Design Toolbar.
• Click the map to draw a line.
• Press Enter to finalize.
  • Continue clicking the map to draw additional ridges/valleys.
  • There are no additional attributes for ridges/valleys.
• Select Done

Buildings

The Buildings layer allows you to indicate planned or existing structures on the map.

To draw a Building:

• Select Buildings → Draw via the Design Toolbar.
• Click the map to draw a polygon.
• Press Enter to finalize.
  • Continue drawing polygons to indicate multiple structures.
• Select Done
  • The app will compute square footage for you, visible via the Inspect panel.

Ponds

The Ponds layer indicates water features across your map.

To draw a Pond:

• Select Ponds → Draw via the Design Toolbar.
• Click the map to draw a polygon
• Press Enter to finalize.
  • You can continue drawing polygons to represent multiple water features.
• Select Done
  • The app will compute total pond area for you, visible via the Inspect panel.

Fences

The Fences layer allows you to place fences on the map.

To draw Fences: