Understanding Physical Space in Kora

Every animal exists somewhere. Every observation happens somewhere. Biosecurity zones protect somewhere. The foundation of effective animal management is understanding where.

Kora organises physical space using a three-tier hierarchy. This works consistently across all contexts. You might manage a cattle ranch, coordinate a wildlife reserve, run a zoo, or operate an aquaculture facility. The same structure applies.

The Three Tiers: Location → Subdivision → Features

Tier 1: Locations (The Property Level)

A Location is the primary property or facility where you work. It is the top-level container for everything else.

For different contexts, this might be:

• Farm: Your farm property with all its land
• Zoo: The zoo facility including all exhibits and support areas
• Wildlife Reserve: The protected area or conservation zone
• Aquarium: The aquarium facility with all tanks and exhibits
• Veterinary Clinic: The clinic building and grounds
• Research Station: The research facility and surrounding study area

What a Location includes:

• Physical address (street, city, state, postal code)
• GPS coordinates (latitude, longitude, elevation)
• Total area (in hectares, acres, or square metres)
• Boundary definition (precise property boundaries using GeoJSON)
• Location type (categorises the primary use)

Example - Dairy Farm:

Location: Valley View Farm
Address: 1234 Rural Route 5, Cooperstown, NY 13326
GPS: 42.7011°N, 74.9242°W
Area: 150 hectares
Type: Pasture

Example - Wildlife Reserve:

Location: Maasai Mara Conservancy - North Block
Address: Narok County, Kenya
GPS: -1.4061°S, 35.1440°E
Area: 5,200 hectares
Type: Protected Area

Example - Marine Facility:

Location: Coastal Aquarium Research Centre
Address: 789 Harbor Drive, Monterey, CA 93940
GPS: 36.6180°N, 121.9018°W
Area: 2.3 hectares
Type: Marine Habitat

Tier 2: Subdivisions (Internal Divisions)

Subdivisions are the internal divisions within a location. They represent how you have organised the property into manageable sections.

The terminology changes by context, but the concept is universal:

On a farm, subdivisions are:

• Paddocks (fenced grazing areas)
• Pens (enclosed animal spaces)
• Corrals (working areas)
• Feeding areas
• Quarantine zones

In a zoo, subdivisions are:

• Exhibits (public-facing animal displays)
• Enclosures (animal living spaces)
• Holding areas (behind-the-scenes spaces)
• Quarantine sections
• Treatment areas

In a wildlife reserve, subdivisions are:

• Territories (geographic zones)
• Habitat sections (grassland, forest, wetland areas)
• Monitoring zones
• Protected core areas
• Buffer zones

In an aquarium, subdivisions are:

• Main tanks (primary exhibits)
• Holding tanks (quarantine/acclimation)
• Deep water zones
• Shallow water zones
• Touch pool areas
• Medical bays

What a Subdivision includes:

• Name (Paddock 3, Lion Exhibit, North Territory, Main Reef Tank)
• Type (from context-specific options)
• Size (area in appropriate units)
• Boundaries (precise GeoJSON polygon defining the subdivision)
• Usage notes (current purpose, capacity, restrictions)
• Fencing or barrier status (condition, type, last inspection)
• Wildlife notes (for conservation contexts)
• Accessibility information

Example - Farm Subdivision:

Subdivision: South Paddock
Type: Rotational Grazing
Size: 12 hectares
Fencing: Electric fence, excellent condition, inspected March 2025
Usage: Summer grazing for dairy herd (60 cows)
Current carrying capacity: 60-70 cattle

Example - Zoo Subdivision:

Subdivision: African Savanna Exhibit
Type: Exhibit Area
Size: 0.8 hectares
Barriers: Ha-ha wall (5m depth) with electric top strand
Usage: Mixed species exhibit - zebra, wildebeest, ostrich
Viewing: 200-degree public viewing area
Capacity: 12 zebra, 8 wildebeest, 4 ostrich

Example - Wildlife Subdivision:

Subdivision: Northern Grassland Zone
Type: Habitat Protection Area
Size: 850 hectares
Usage: Elephant ranging territory, seasonal migration corridor
Vegetation: Mixed Acacia woodland and grassland
Water sources: 3 natural springs, 1 seasonal stream

Example - Marine Subdivision:

Subdivision: Kelp Forest Main Tank
Type: Main Tank
Size: 1.2 million litres (333,000 gallons)
Depth: 8.5 metres maximum
Zones: Surface zone, mid-water column, rocky bottom
Life support: Closed system with wave surge generator
Temperature: 12-16°C (54-61°F)

Tier 3: Features (Specific Points of Interest)

Features are specific infrastructure elements, natural landmarks, or points of interest within locations or subdivisions. They represent precise places that matter for operations, animal welfare, or management.

On a farm, features might include:

• Water troughs (specific watering points)
• Gates (entry/exit points between areas)
• Mineral lick stations
• Shelter structures
• Loading ramps
• Feed storage buildings

In a zoo, features might include:

• Feeding stations (where food is delivered)
• Observation points (for monitoring animal behaviour)
• Enrichment structures (climbing frames, pools, toys)
• Heating/cooling stations
• Nest boxes or den sites
• Medical restraint areas

In a wildlife reserve, features might include:

• Water holes (natural or artificial)
• Camera trap locations
• GPS collar release sites
• Ranger patrol posts
• Wildlife corridors
• Nesting sites
• Salt licks

In an aquarium, features might include:

• Feeding stations
• Water intake points
• Filtration outflows
• Viewing windows
• Enrichment devices
• Monitoring sensors

What a Feature includes:

• Type (from extensive predefined options)
• Name (descriptive identifier)
• Precise GPS coordinates or GeoJSON geometry
• Description (purpose, condition, specifications)
• Photos or documentation

Example - Farm Features:

Feature: East Gate (Gate)
GPS: 42.7015°N, 74.9240°W
Description: Main access gate between South Paddock and handling yards
Condition: Good, replaced 2024, 4m width allows tractor access

Feature: Spring Creek Watering Point (Water Source)
GPS: 42.7018°N, 74.9238°W
Description: Natural spring-fed trough, reliable year-round
Capacity: 800 litres, services 60-80 cattle

Example - Wildlife Features:

Feature: Elephant Waterhole #3 (Water Source)
GPS: -1.4125°S, 35.1502°E
Description: Seasonal waterhole, active June-November
Monitoring: Camera trap installed, checks daily during dry season
Wildlife usage: Primary dry season resource for 45-elephant herd

Feature: Camera Trap KEN-042 (Monitoring Station)
GPS: -1.4089°S, 35.1475°E
Description: Motion-triggered camera, 24/7 operation
Coverage: North-south wildlife corridor, 15m detection range
Data: Uploads daily via satellite link

GPS Coordinates and Boundaries

Point Locations (GPS Coordinates)

Every location has a GPS coordinate. This represents its centre point or primary entrance. Subdivisions can have centre points. Features always have precise GPS coordinates.

GPS coordinates consist of:

• Latitude: North-south position (positive = north, negative = south)
• Longitude: East-west position (positive = east, negative = west)
• Elevation: Height above sea level (optional but useful)

Why GPS matters:

• Enables field workers to navigate directly to animals or features
• Supports mobile observations with automatic location capture
• Allows mapping and visualisation of animal movements
• Enables distance calculations between locations
• Critical for wildlife monitoring and conservation
• Required for regulatory compliance in some jurisdictions

Boundaries (GeoJSON Polygons)

Locations and subdivisions can have precise boundary definitions using GeoJSON format. This allows you to:

• Draw exact property boundaries on maps
• Define fenced areas with precision
• Track when animals cross boundaries
• Calculate area accurately
• Visualise territorial boundaries for wildlife
• Support legal property documentation

You do not need to understand GeoJSON technically. Kora provides map-based drawing tools. You click points on a map. The system creates the boundary automatically.

Practical use:

• Draw your paddock boundaries on a map to see exactly where fences are
• Define zoo exhibit boundaries for tracking animal locations
• Map wildlife territories based on GPS collar data
• Document marine reserve zones with precise coordinates
• Create biosecurity zones with exact perimeter definitions

How the Hierarchy Works in Practice

Animals Connect to the Hierarchy

Every animal (individual or group) is assigned to:

1. A Location (which property they are on)
2. A Subdivision (which specific area within that property)

This means you always know where animals are. When you move an animal from Paddock 3 to Paddock 5, Kora records:

• The animal moved
• From: South Paddock (Subdivision ID 3)
• To: East Paddock (Subdivision ID 5)
• Date and time
• Reason for movement

This movement automatically becomes part of the animal's traceability record.

Observations Capture Location

When you record an observation, Kora can automatically capture location details. This is especially true for field observations using mobile devices.

The system captures:

• Which location you are at
• Which subdivision (if you specify it)
• Precise GPS coordinates of where the observation occurred

This is particularly valuable for:

• Wildlife monitoring: Knowing exactly where you observed an animal
• Large properties: Remembering which paddock had the sick animal
• Disease investigation: Mapping where disease occurred to identify patterns
• Research: Documenting precise study locations

Biosecurity Uses Location Structure

Biosecurity zones overlay onto the location hierarchy. You might designate:

• Entire locations as quarantine facilities
• Specific subdivisions as isolation zones
• Areas requiring special access protocols
• Buffer zones around disease outbreaks

When an animal in quarantine is assigned to "Quarantine Paddock 1," everyone immediately knows:

• The animal is isolated
• Which physical space to avoid
• What biosecurity protocols apply
• Where to deliver food and water safely

Flexibility Across Contexts

The same three-tier structure adapts to radically different operations:

Small Backyard Farm

Location: Home Farm (2 hectares)
├─ Subdivision: Chicken Run (200 m²)
├─ Subdivision: Goat Paddock (0.5 hectares)
└─ Subdivision: Vegetable Garden (500 m²)
    └─ Feature: Water trough

Large Cattle Ranch

Location: High Plains Ranch (2,500 hectares)
├─ Subdivision: North Pasture (450 hectares)
│   ├─ Feature: Windmill water point
│   └─ Feature: Salt lick station
├─ Subdivision: South Pasture (600 hectares)
├─ Subdivision: Breeding Paddock (80 hectares)
└─ Subdivision: Quarantine Area (10 hectares)

Metropolitan Zoo

Location: Central City Zoo (12 hectares)
├─ Subdivision: African Savanna Exhibit (0.8 hectares)
│   ├─ Feature: Main feeding station
│   ├─ Feature: Shade shelter
│   └─ Feature: Observation platform
├─ Subdivision: Primate House (0.4 hectares)
│   ├─ Feature: Indoor enclosures (12 units)
│   ├─ Feature: Outdoor runs (8 units)
│   └─ Feature: Quarantine room
└─ Subdivision: Veterinary Hospital (0.2 hectares)

Wildlife Conservation Reserve

Location: Serengeti North Conservancy (15,000 hectares)
├─ Subdivision: Core Protection Zone (8,000 hectares)
│   ├─ Feature: Waterhole Alpha (GPS marked)
│   ├─ Feature: Camera trap network (25 units)
│   └─ Feature: Ranger post #1
├─ Subdivision: Buffer Zone (5,000 hectares)
└─ Subdivision: Community Use Area (2,000 hectares)

Marine Research Facility

Location: Tropical Marine Centre (1.5 hectares)
├─ Subdivision: Main Reef Tank (800,000 litres)
│   ├─ Feature: Feeding station Alpha
│   ├─ Feature: Water intake valve
│   └─ Feature: Monitoring sensor array
├─ Subdivision: Quarantine Tank System (50,000 litres)
│   ├─ Feature: Individual holding tanks (12 units)
│   └─ Feature: Medical treatment bay
└─ Subdivision: Breeding Laboratory (20,000 litres)

Why This Hierarchy Matters

Organisation and Clarity

The hierarchy provides clear, unambiguous organisation:

• Everyone knows which "Paddock 3" you mean (the one at Valley View Farm)
• You can have multiple locations each with their own "North Paddock"
• Features are always tied to specific subdivisions or locations

Scalability

The same structure works whether you have:

• 10 chickens in one location
• 5,000 cattle across 20 locations
• 100 species across 200 enclosures
• Wildlife populations spanning multiple reserves

Movement Tracking

The hierarchy enables precise movement documentation:

• "Cow #405 moved from Valley View Farm → South Paddock to Valley View Farm → Quarantine Paddock"
• "Lion pride moved from North Territory to West Territory"
• "Shark #23 transferred from Holding Tank 2 to Main Display Tank"

Regulatory Compliance

Many regulatory frameworks require location documentation:

• Property identification codes (PICs)
• Precise movement records for traceability
• Quarantine location specifications
• Wildlife territory definitions for conservation permits

Operational Efficiency

Clear location hierarchy improves daily operations:

• Tasks can be assigned to specific locations ("Check fence in North Paddock")
• Work can be organised geographically (visit all South Paddock animals together)
• Resources can be allocated by subdivision (feed storage for specific areas)
• Mobile workers can navigate directly to precise locations using GPS

Getting Started with Your Locations

When you set up Kora, you will begin by creating your location hierarchy:

1. Create your primary location: Your farm, zoo, reserve, or facility
2. Add subdivisions: The internal divisions that matter to your operation
3. Map important features: Water points, gates, monitoring stations, or infrastructure
4. Assign animals: Place animals in appropriate subdivisions
5. Refine over time: Add subdivisions and features as your needs evolve

Do not worry about getting everything perfect immediately. The hierarchy is flexible. You can add, modify, or reorganise as you learn what works for your operation.