Who Needs to Create Locations

This section is for users who manage physical properties:

• Farmers managing farms or ranches
• Zoo staff managing zoo grounds
• Wildlife managers overseeing reserves or protected areas
• Conservation organisations managing sanctuaries or field sites
• Facility managers operating any animal-holding location

You may skip this section if:

• You are a veterinarian accessing client properties (locations already exist)
• You are a CAHW working across multiple properties managed by others
• You are a regulatory authority viewing existing organisational data
• You do not manage physical locations for animals

If you manage where animals are kept, this section guides you through creating your first location in Kora.

Understanding Locations in Kora

Locations represent the physical places where you manage animals.

Types of locations:

• Farms - Agricultural properties, ranches, livestock operations
• Reserves/Parks - Wildlife management areas, national parks, protected territories
• Zoos/Sanctuaries - Captive animal facilities, rescue centres
• Facilities - Any physical location holding animals

Location hierarchy:

• Top level: The main property (e.g., "Riverside Farm", "Kruger Wildlife Reserve", "City Zoo")
• Subdivisions: Smaller areas within the property (paddocks, enclosures, territories, zones)
• Features: Specific points of interest (water points, gates, feeding stations, shelters)

You will start by creating a top-level location. You can subdivide it later, optionally.

Creating Your First Location

Desktop is recommended for initial location setup. You get precision mapping and easier data entry. Mobile works for simple locations. However, boundary drawing is easier with mouse control.

Step-by-Step: Create a Location

1. Navigate to Map Manager

• Desktop: Click "Maps" in side navigation
• Mobile: Tap "Maps" in bottom navigation

2. Open Location Creation

• Look for "Create Location" or "Add Location" button
• Click to open location creation form

3. Basic Information

Location Name:

• Enter a clear, descriptive name
• Examples: "Riverside Farm", "North Paddock Complex", "Elephant Sanctuary", "Marine Research Station"

Location Type:

• Select the type that best matches your facility:
  • Farm
  • Zoo
  • Wildlife Reserve
  • Sanctuary
  • Research Facility
  • Conservation Area
  • Other

4. Add GPS Coordinates

Option A: Manual Entry (if you know coordinates)

• Enter latitude (e.g., -25.746111)
• Enter longitude (e.g., 28.188056)
• These represent the centre point or entrance of your location

Option B: Click on Map

• If map is visible, click the approximate centre of your location
• Kora captures GPS coordinates automatically

Option C: Use Current Location (Mobile)

• If you are physically at the location with a mobile device
• Tap "Use My Location" button
• GPS captures your current coordinates

Where to find GPS coordinates:

• Google Maps (right-click location, select coordinates to copy)
• GPS device readings
• Property surveys or official documentation
• Mobile device location services

5. Additional Details (Optional)

• Description: Brief notes about the location
• Area size: Total hectares, acres, or square metres (if known)
• Address: Physical address for the location
• Contact information: Phone, email for facility

6. Save Basic Location

• Click "Save" to create the location with basic information
• You can add boundaries and subdivisions later

Your location now exists in Kora. Animals can be assigned to this location.

Drawing Boundaries on Maps

Boundaries define the precise area of your location. This is optional but helpful for:

• Visualising exact property limits
• Calculating area automatically
• Creating accurate subdivisions
• Mapping animal movements within boundaries
• Planning biosecurity zones

Best done on desktop - Mouse precision makes boundary drawing much easier than touch-based mobile drawing.

Step-by-Step: Add Boundaries

1. Open Location for Editing

• From Map Manager, select your location
• Click "Edit" or "Edit Boundaries"

2. Activate Drawing Tool

• Look for "Draw Boundary" or polygon drawing tool
• Click to activate

3. Draw the Boundary

• Click points around the perimeter of your location
• Each click adds a boundary point
• Follow fence lines, roads, natural features, or property lines
• Close the polygon by clicking near the starting point

4. Adjust Points (if needed)

• Drag points to refine boundary
• Add points for more detail
• Remove points to simplify

5. Verify Area

• Kora calculates total area automatically
• Verify calculated area matches expected size
• Adjust boundary if area is incorrect

6. Save Boundary

• Click "Save" to apply boundary to location
• Boundary now appears on map

Tips for accurate boundaries:

• Zoom in close for precision
• Use satellite imagery to follow physical features
• Start at a recognisable landmark (gate, building, corner)
• Do not worry about perfection. You can edit later

Creating Subdivisions

Subdivisions are smaller areas within your main location. Most animal operations are subdivided.

Farms subdivide into:

• Paddocks (North Paddock, South Paddock, River Paddock)
• Pastures, fields, grazing rotations
• Barns, shelters, yards

Zoos subdivide into:

• Enclosures (Elephant Enclosure, Primate House)
• Exhibits, habitats
• Quarantine areas, veterinary facilities

Wildlife reserves subdivide into:

• Territories (Northern Territory, Waterhole Region)
• Conservation zones, protection levels
• Management units

Conservation sites subdivide into:

• Study areas, monitoring sectors
• Nesting sites, feeding grounds
• Rehabilitation zones

Step-by-Step: Create Subdivision

1. Select Parent Location

• From Map Manager, select the location you want to subdivide
• Click "Create Subdivision" or "Add Subdivision"

2. Subdivision Details

Name:

• Descriptive name identifying the subdivision
• Examples: "North Paddock", "Lion Enclosure A", "Wetland Territory 1"

Subdivision Type:

• Select type (varies by parent location type):
  • Paddock (for farms)
  • Enclosure (for zoos)
  • Territory (for wildlife reserves)
  • Zone, Sector, Area (general)

3. Define Subdivision Boundary

Option A: Draw on Map (Desktop)

• Use drawing tool to outline subdivision within parent location
• Kora validates subdivision fits within parent boundary
• Area calculated automatically

Option B: Manual Coordinates

• Enter GPS points defining subdivision perimeter
• Less common, used for pre-surveyed subdivisions

4. Additional Information (Optional)

• Capacity (how many animals can the subdivision hold)
• Features (water available, shelter present, feeding station)
• Access restrictions (biosecurity level, public access rules)

5. Save Subdivision

• Click "Save"
• Subdivision appears as distinct area within parent location

Create multiple subdivisions: Repeat this process for each subdivision. Common examples:

• Farm with 5 paddocks → Create 5 subdivisions
• Zoo with 20 enclosures → Create 20 subdivisions
• Wildlife reserve with 4 territories → Create 4 subdivisions

Adding Location Features

Features are specific points within locations or subdivisions.

Common features:

• Water points - Dams, troughs, natural water sources
• Gates - Entry/exit points for animal movements
• Feeding stations - Where animals are fed
• Shelters - Buildings, sheds, natural shelter
• Infrastructure - Veterinary facilities, handling yards, equipment storage

Why add features:

• Record where animals access resources
• Document infrastructure for maintenance planning
• Track movements through gates
• Plan facility improvements

Adding a feature:

1. Select location or subdivision
2. Click "Add Feature"
3. Click location on map where feature exists
4. Select feature type (water, gate, feeding station, etc.)
5. Name the feature (e.g., "Main Gate", "North Water Trough")
6. Save

Features appear as icons on the map.

Practical Location Setup Examples

Example 1: Small Livestock Farm

Main Location:

• Name: Hillside Farm
• Type: Farm
• GPS: -34.5, 138.6
• Area: 50 hectares

Subdivisions:

• North Paddock (15 hectares)
• South Paddock (12 hectares)
• Home Paddock (8 hectares)
• Lambing Paddock (5 hectares)
• Reserve area (10 hectares)

Features:

• Main Gate (entrance)
• North Dam (water point in North Paddock)
• Woolshed (shelter/infrastructure)
• Cattle Yards (handling facility)

Example 2: Wildlife Conservation Reserve

Main Location:

• Name: Savanna Wildlife Reserve
• Type: Wildlife Reserve
• GPS: -1.5, 37.0
• Area: 5,000 hectares

Subdivisions:

• Northern Territory (1,200 hectares)
• Waterhole Region (800 hectares)
• Acacia Woodlands (1,500 hectares)
• Research Sector (300 hectares)
• Buffer Zone (1,200 hectares)

Features:

• Main Waterhole (water point)
• Research Camp (infrastructure)
• Western Gate (access control)
• Observation Tower (facility)

Example 3: Small Zoo

Main Location:

• Name: City Zoo
• Type: Zoo
• GPS: -33.9, 151.2
• Area: 12 hectares

Subdivisions:

• African Savanna Exhibit (2 hectares)
• Primate House (0.5 hectares)
• Australian Mammals (1.5 hectares)
• Reptile House (0.3 hectares)
• Aviary Complex (1 hectare)
• Quarantine Facility (0.5 hectares)
• Administration/Public Areas (6.2 hectares)

Features:

• Main Entrance Gate
• Veterinary Clinic
• Enrichment Workshop
• Public Feeding Platform

After Creating Locations

What you can do now:

• Assign animals to locations (covered in 6.3)
• Record observations at specific locations
• Track animal movements between subdivisions
• View animals plotted on map
• Plan biosecurity zones based on location structure

Editing locations later:

• All location details can be edited
• Boundaries can be adjusted
• Subdivisions can be added, modified, or removed
• Features can be added as needed

You do not need perfect locations immediately. Start with basic information. Refine over time as you use Kora.

Mobile vs. Desktop for Location Management

Use Desktop for:

• Initial location creation with detailed boundaries
• Drawing complex subdivision shapes
• Precise boundary adjustments
• Bulk creation of multiple subdivisions

Mobile works for:

• Simple locations without detailed boundaries
• Adding features while in the field (standing at water point, mark on map)
• Viewing locations and navigating to them
• Quick location lookups

Best practice: Set up locations on desktop initially. Use mobile for field updates and navigation.