From Lists to Maps

Chapter 8 showed you how to manage individual animals and mobs with comprehensive records. This section transforms those records into visual, spatial representations. You see where animals are, where they have been, and understand geographic patterns that text-based lists can never reveal.

Maps answer location questions instantly. Where are my cattle right now? Which animals have been in the quarantine area? Where has this GPS-collared elephant travelled this month?

Current Animal Positions

When you open the map view, animal positions display automatically based on their current location assignments (Chapter 7.3 movement records).

How Animals Appear on Maps

Visualisation varies by tracking method:

Individual animals:

• Each animal shows as a distinct marker on the map
• Marker colour and icon indicate species
• Click marker to see animal name, ID, species, and key status indicators
• Quick access to full animal profile from marker popup

Animal mobs (groups):

• Mob shows as a single marker representing the entire group
• Marker size may scale with mob size (larger mobs equal larger markers)
• Click marker to see mob name, species, count
• Access mob profile from marker popup

Location-level counts (when zoomed out):

• Instead of individual markers (which would clutter the map), the system shows counts
• 150 cattle at Valley View Farm
• Click location boundary for species breakdown
• Zoom in to see individual or subdivision-level distribution

Subdivision-level distribution (when zoomed in):

• 45 cattle in North Paddock, 30 cattle in South Paddock, 20 cattle in West Paddock
• Visual distribution across your property
• Empty subdivisions clearly visible (no markers)

The map adapts display based on zoom level. Zoomed out shows aggregated counts. Zoomed in shows detailed distribution. Fully zoomed shows individual animals (if tracked individually).

Interactive Animal Markers

Click any animal marker to open information popup showing:

• Animal name and ID
• Species, breed, age, sex
• Current location (location and subdivision)
• Health status indicators (quarantine status, biosecurity flags, pregnancy status)
• Last observation date and summary
• Quick action buttons: View full profile, Record observation, Move animal, View health history

Quick actions from markers:

• Jump to animal profile for complete record
• Record observation without leaving the map
• Initiate movement to different location
• Check health status and recent history

This interactivity makes maps operational tools, not just static displays.

Filtering and Searching Animals on Maps

Filter by species:

• Toggle species on and off: Show cattle only, Show sheep only, Show all
• Isolate specific animals when you have multiple species
• Focus on relevant population

Search by animal name or ID:

• Type animal name in search box
• Map centres on that animal's current location
• Marker highlighted
• Quick navigation to specific individuals

Filter by status:

• Show only quarantined animals
• Show only pregnant animals
• Show only animals flagged for veterinary follow-up
• Identify animals requiring attention

Filter by location or subdivision:

• Show all animals in North Paddock
• Show all animals at Valley View Farm
• Verify expected occupancy

These filters help answer specific questions quickly without scrolling through animal lists.

Movement History Visualisation

Every movement record (Chapter 7.3) creates geographic history. Maps can visualise this history, showing where animals have been over time.

What Movement History Shows

Individual animal trails:

• Line showing path from location to location
• Dates and timestamps at each stop
• Duration at each location
• Complete geographic journey

Mob movement trails:

• Group movement patterns
• Rotational grazing visualisation (paddock to paddock sequence)
• Seasonal migration routes (wildlife)

Multi-animal movement patterns:

• Which animals have shared locations (biosecurity contact tracing)
• Movement synchronisation (animals moved together versus separately)
• Population distribution over time

Viewing Movement History

For individual animals:

1. Open animal profile or click animal marker on map
2. Select View Movement History or Show Movement Trail
3. Map displays line connecting all locations the animal has occupied
4. Points along line show location names and dates
5. Click any point to see details (arrival date, duration, departure date)

Time-based filtering:

• Show movement history for last 30 days
• Show movement history from January through March
• Show movement history since acquisition
• Focus on relevant time periods

Example: Dairy Cow Movement Trail:

• Born in maternity paddock (Day 1)
• Moved to nursery area (Day 3)
• Moved to weaning paddock (Month 3)
• Moved to heifer paddock (Month 6)
• Moved to breeding paddock (Month 15)
• Moved to milking herd rotation (Month 24)
• Regular rotations between 4 paddocks (every 14 days)
• Trail shows complete 3-year history visually

Example: GPS-Collared Wildlife Movement:

• Elephant tracked over 6 months
• Daily GPS positions plotted on map
• Movement trail shows:
  • Dry season: concentrated near permanent waterholes
  • Wet season: dispersed across broader territory
  • Migration route between seasonal ranges
  • Preferred feeding areas (longer duration stops)
• Spatial patterns reveal habitat use invisible in data tables

Movement History Use Cases

Biosecurity Contact Tracing: When disease is suspected, movement history answers critical questions:

• Which locations has this animal visited?
• Which other animals were at those locations when the animal was present?
• What is the contact network (which animals have shared locations)?

Workflow:

1. Animal diagnosed with contagious disease
2. Open movement history for diagnosed animal
3. Map shows everywhere animal has been recently (e.g., last 30 days)
4. For each location visited, identify other animals present during overlapping timeframes
5. List of potentially exposed animals generated
6. Initiate quarantine for exposed animals
7. Movement history prevents disease spread through rapid contact identification

Example: Foot and Mouth Disease Response:

• Cow #A045 diagnosed with FMD (highly contagious)
• Movement history shows:
  • North Paddock (14 days ago, 45 cattle present)
  • Milking Parlour (daily visits, entire milking herd exposed)
  • South Paddock (7 days ago, 30 cattle present)
• Result: 75 cattle potentially exposed, all quarantined immediately
• Movement history prevented facility-wide outbreak through early identification

Rotational Grazing Pattern Analysis: Maps reveal whether your grazing rotation is working as planned:

• Visualise rotation sequence (paddock order)
• Verify rest periods (time between uses)
• Identify over-grazed paddocks (too frequent returns)
• Optimise rotation for pasture health

Workflow:

1. View movement history for cattle mob
2. Map shows rotation pattern over season
3. Analyse: Are rest periods adequate (30 plus days)? Are some paddocks overused?
4. Adjust rotation plan based on visual evidence

Wildlife Migration Route Mapping: For conservation and wildlife management:

• Document seasonal movement patterns
• Identify migration corridors
• Recognise critical habitat areas (feeding, calving, resting)
• Inform conservation planning and land management

Example: Elephant Migration Study:

• 15 elephants GPS-collared
• Movement trails over 2 years show:
  • Dry season: concentrated in northern protected area
  • Wet season: dispersed across broader landscape, including human-dominated areas
  • Consistent corridors used annually (wildlife corridors identified)
  • Critical wet season calving grounds identified
• Management action: Prioritise corridor protection, engage communities near calving areas

Stress and Welfare Assessment: Frequent movements can indicate stress or management issues:

• Animals moved too frequently (no time to settle)
• Constant isolation and quarantine cycles
• Erratic movement patterns versus systematic rotations

Workflow:

1. Review movement history for animal with health concerns
2. Map shows movement frequency
3. If excessive (moved 10 times in 30 days), investigate causes
4. Adjust management to reduce movement stress

Compliance and Traceability: Regulatory authorities require documented movement history for food safety and disease control:

• Demonstrate complete location history from birth
• Prove quarantine compliance (animal remained in quarantine zone for full duration)
• Show movement restrictions were observed (animal not moved during withdrawal period)

Maps provide visual proof more compelling than text records. Here is exactly where this animal has been for its entire life.

Location-Based Searches and Analysis

Maps enable spatial queries impossible with traditional lists.

Spatial Search Examples

Show all animals within 5km of this GPS point:

• Wildlife survey: biologist records GPS coordinates of observation point
• System shows all tracked animals within radius
• Useful for population density estimates, territorial analysis

Which animals are currently in subdivisions of type Quarantine?:

• Quick quarantine audit
• Visual confirmation of quarantine compliance
• Identify all animals under movement restrictions

Show animals that have visited Location X in the last 30 days:

• Biosecurity investigation
• Contact tracing without specific disease diagnosis
• Preventive monitoring

Display all breeding females within 2km of breeding males:

• Wildlife breeding programme planning
• Verify animals positioned for natural breeding
• Conservation spatial analysis

These searches combine location data with animal attributes, revealing spatial relationships.

Visual Pattern Recognition

Maps reveal patterns that lists obscure:

Uneven distribution:

• All animals crowded in one subdivision while others sit empty
• May indicate water availability issues, habitat quality differences, or fencing problems
• Visual prompt to investigate

Seasonal patterns:

• Animals concentrated in sheltered areas during winter
• Dispersed across property in summer
• Migration between seasonal ranges

Clustering around resources:

• Animals congregate near feeding stations, waterholes, shade structures
• Helps optimise resource placement

Movement bottlenecks:

• All animals must pass through single alleyway or gate to reach certain areas
• Identifies infrastructure improvement opportunities

Visual patterns often lead to management improvements you would not discover from lists alone.

Real-Time Updates

Animal positions on maps update in real-time as movements are recorded.

How updates work:

1. Team member records animal movement (Chapter 7.3)
2. Animal's current location changes in database
3. Map updates automatically within seconds
4. All users viewing the map see updated position

Multi-user coordination:

• Colleague moves animals from Paddock A to Paddock B
• You are viewing map at same time
• Map updates automatically showing new positions
• No refresh needed, no communication lag

Use case: Large Operation Coordination:

• Farm manager planning movements at office (desktop)
• Field workers executing movements (mobile)
• Manager sees real-time updates as animals move
• Adjusts plan based on actual progress
• No radio calls needed to check status (the map shows current state)

Mobile Map Features for Animal Locations

GPS integration:

• Mobile maps show your current GPS position
• Where am I? answered instantly
• Verify which subdivision you are standing in

Quick animal lookups:

• I am standing in this paddock, which animals are supposed to be here?
• Verify occupancy in the field
• Identify unexpected animals or absences

On-the-spot observations:

• Observe animal in field
• Record observation with GPS auto-capture (Chapter 7.1)
• Observation tagged with exact location
• Creates spatial observation history

Field movement recording:

• Moving animals in the field
• Record movement immediately using mobile
• Map updates for office staff instantly
• Reduces paperwork and delays

Animal Visualisation Examples

Example 1: Dairy Farm Paddock Check

• Open map on mobile
• Visual overview: North Paddock (45 cattle), East Paddock (0 cattle), South Paddock (32 cattle), West Paddock (18 cattle)
• Expected: 30 cattle in East Paddock
• Investigation: Fence down, cattle in neighbouring South Paddock
• Action: Repair fence, move 30 cattle back to East Paddock, record movement
• Map updates showing corrected distribution

Example 2: Zoo Daily Rounds

• Zookeeper opens map at start of shift
• All exhibits show expected animals
• Lion Exhibit shows 2 lions (correct)
• Elephant Enclosure shows 1 elephant (should be 3)
• Investigation: 2 elephants in behind-the-scenes holding area (remembered after checking map)
• Note added: 2 elephants in holding for exhibit maintenance

Example 3: Wildlife Reserve Census

• Open map showing GPS-collared animals
• 15 elephants visible with current positions
• 3 elephants clustered at northern waterhole
• 5 elephants in western woodland
• 7 elephants dispersed across central grassland
• Visual distribution informs habitat quality assessment
• Waterhole concentration suggests dry season stress (consider artificial water provision)

Example 4: Biosecurity Response

• Animal diagnosed with highly contagious disease
• Open movement history for last 30 days
• Map shows 4 locations visited
• Cross-reference: 37 animals shared those locations during overlapping times
• All 37 quarantined immediately
• Movement trails visualise exposure network
• Visual confirmation all exposed animals identified

Example 5: Rotational Grazing Verification

• Open map showing mob movement history over 90 days
• Visual trail shows: Paddock 1 to Paddock 2 to Paddock 3 to Paddock 4 to Paddock 1 (repeated)
• Each paddock grazed for 10 days, rested for 30 days (4-paddock rotation)
• Pattern visible confirms rotation plan is being followed
• One anomaly: Paddock 3 used twice in sequence (error identified)
• Adjust future rotation to correct