Create a flight plan from planter data in QGIS

1. Download QGIS .

2. Open QGIS, In order to view planter data you need to export the planter data as a shapefile.

3. Drag planter data shapefile(s) (.shp) into the QGIS map menu. In addition, as an option you can add satellite base layer to the map ( see satellite data instructions ).

4. Create a new line layer:

   1. Navigate to "Layer > Create Layer > New Shapefile Layer".

   

   b. Set an output file name.

   c. Set the "Geometry type" to "LineString".

   d. Confirm that the coordinate system is set to "EPSG:4326 - WGS 84".

   

5. Draw desired flight plath.

   1. Click on the pencil in the top menu to start editing the new line layer.

   2. Click the "Add feature" button to create a new line.

   

   c. Optional - if your planter data is in a straight line of points, use the snapping toolbar to snap to the points. To turn on the snapping toolbar right click in the empty space in the top menu and check "Snapping Toolbar". To turn on snapping click on the magnet button and select "vertex" as the snapping option.

   

d. Before selecting your first point, consider where you want to start your flight to avoid any structures or power lines that may be close to the edge of the field.

e. Left click to start drawing a line and follow the planter points and click at the end of each pass to create a turn around point.

f. To finish the line, right click in the map.

g. After you are finished with the line, if you want to make any edits, use the "vertex editor".

h. After you have a flight path line that you want to use, save your edits and disable editing by clicking the pencil button again.

1. Convert the line's to points.

   1. Open the processing toolbox.

   

   b. Search for "Extract vertices".

   

   c. Select your line layer and save it to a shapefile.

   
2. Add the coordinates and export to a csv file.

   1. In the processing toolbox search for "Add X/Y fields to layer".

   2. Set the input layer as the points layer you created.

   3. Make sure that the coordiante system is "EPSG:4326".

   4. Set the output file path and make sure to save the file as a csv.

   5. Deselect the "Open output file" option.

   
3. Edit your csv file to follow the expected format for the FieldAgent mobile app:

   1. Ensure the vertex index column is in order starting at 0.

   2. Delete all of the columns except for X and Y.

   3. Rearrange the columns so that they are in order of Y, X.

   

   d. Delete the column headers and your final csv file should look like the following on image below.

   
4. Import the csv file to the FieldAgent mobile app using these instructions.

Satellite Data in QGIS

1. Navigate to "Plugins > Manage > Install Plugins".

2. Click on the "All" tab.

3. Search for "QuickMapServices".

4. Install the plugin.

5. QuickMapServices will be available in the "Web" menu.

6. To enable more options click "Settings > More Services > Get contributed pack".