PFMS OPERATION MANUAL FOR PROVINCIAL FOREST MONITORING DATABASE (FOR DISTRICT FPDS)

Transcription

1 PFMS OPERATION MANUAL FOR PROVINCIAL FOREST MONITORING DATABASE (FOR DISTRICT FPDS)

2 Preface This provincial forest monitoring database operation manual for district level provides step by step guidance on how to operate database in management and approval of forest change data for the District Departments of Forest Protection and Development (District-FPDs). For the overview of the PFMS, readers should refer to the PFMS Implementation Handbook while, for the detail of each PFMS component, readers should turn to individual implementation guidebooks, operation manuals, and training materials as listed in Figure 1. Implementation Guidebooks PFMS managers guidebook Village-based forest patrolling implementation guidebook Forest change measurement and reporting (FCMR) implementation guidebook Database management guidebook (for District FPDs) Database management guidebook (for Sub-FPD) Operation Manuals Operation manual of the FCMR tablet software Operation manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database (PFM-DB) for District FPDs Operation manual of PFM-DB for Sub-FPD Operation manual of QA/QC (verification with satellite images) Operation manual of QA/QC (verification with random sampling) Training Materials Training Material I (VFPT training) Training Material II (FCMR training) Training Material III (Database operation video for District-FPDs) Training Material IV (Database operation video for Sub-FPD) Training Material V (QA/QC with satellite images) Training Material VI (QA/QC with random sampling) Figure 1. Overall structure of the materials developed for the PFMS implementation Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page i

3 Table of Contents Part I - OVERVIEW OF PROVINCIAL FOREST MONITORING SYSTEM... 1 Part II - WHY QGIS AND POSTGRESQL/POSTGIS? What is QGIS? What are PostgreSQL and PostGIS? National forest resource information sharing system database and platform... 3 Part III - INSTALLATION OF QGIS AND REQUIRED PLUGINS QGIS installation Inspect necessary specification of computer First installation Upgrading installation Changing user interface to Vietnamese language Configuration of necessary plugins and parameters Installation of plugins Configuration of parameters Part IV - UNDERSTANDING ON THE DATABASE, CONNECTION AND LAYERS What is database and where is the server? What is connection and how to connect? Data layers and usage of each of them Spatial data Non-spatial (tabular) data Part V - WORKING WITH DATA Loading necessary layers to map canvas Loading layers from centralized database to map canvas Loading supporting data layers from local computer to map canvas Styling for newly added layer(s) Loading Google Satellite layer Reading and analyzing field data reported by commune-based forest rangers Read and analyze the changes with spatial data and media data Read and analyze data based on attribute data Updating changes to the monitoring layer based on reported and base data Case 1: Deforestation on the whole area of old plot Case 2: Deforestation inside (without touch on boundary) an old plot Case 3: Deforested area on larger part of existing plot Case 4: Deforested area which cover parts of more than one existing polygons Case 5: Forest increasing change area on separation with existing plots Case 6: An increasing area next to (adjacent) existing plots Updating changes on attribute data Tab 1: Administrative information Tab 2: Management information Tab 3: Planning information Tab 4: Plantation information Tab 5: Information of change Calculation and update area data Part VI - APPROVAL PROCESS Semiannual approval of district level reporting data Quality control, quality assurance procedure at district level Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page ii

4 3. Annual approval of district level reporting data Part VII - MAP COMPILATION Create a new map composer Load necessary layers to QGIS map canvas Cutting and clipping necessary data Styling map layers within map canvas Making a map composer Adjustment of size and orientation of paper: Loading necessary data layers in map composer Adding other map elements Setting map frame and grid lines with coordinate numbering Adding map title Adding map legend Adding North arrow Adding scale bar Adding text information Printing compiled map Part VIII - PRODUCTION OF REPORTS Establishment of connection to database server Production of reports Form 1: Forest and forestland area by forest function Form 1A: Special use forest area Form 1B: Protection forest area Form 1C: Production forest area Form 2: Forest area by ownership Form 2A: Forest area in forestry use (within three forest type) by ownership Form 3: Change in forest area by cause of change and forest type Form 4: Forest cover ratio Form 5: Area of plantation forests by tree species and age classes Form 5A: Area of plantation forests in special use forest by tree species and age classes Form 5B: Area of plantation forests in protection forest by tree species and age classes Form 5C: Area of plantation forests in production forest by tree species and age classes Form 5D: Area of plantation forests outside of forestry use by tree species and age classes Form 6: Change in forest area by cause of change and forest type Form 7: Forest area by forest function and forest origin Form 7A: Forest area by forest function and forest origin within special use forest Form 7B: Forest area by forest function and forest origin within protection forest Form 7C: Forest area by forest function and forest origin within production forest Form 7D: Forest area by forest function and forest origin outside forestry use Form 8: Forest and forestland allocation situation by ownership Monitoring form 1: Harvesting by forest function Monitoring form 2: Harvesting by forest types Monitoring form 3: Harvesting by forest owners Monitoring form 4: Area of silvicultural treatments by forest types Monitoring form 5: Area of silvicultural treatments by ownership Other forms (for other purposes) Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page iii

5 Part I - OVERVIEW OF PROVINCIAL FOREST MONITORING SYSTEM According to the system design, PFMS is operated in accordance with below figure illustrated. Figure 2: Protocol of PFMS As illustrated in above figure, the district level FPD staffs (the users which this User Manual targets to) will read and analyze data of forest changes from database which reported by forest rangers using tablet-based application, then update to district s Master layer to be as a base data for annual forest change reporting at district and provincial levels. In addition, district level staffs also have to produce forest maps and reports in periodic or at any time manner based on requests of the leaders, send to higher level in digital format or paper-based formats depending on requests. PFM database system is developed and to be operated based on open source software and applications which are all free of charge, including QGIS (for manipulation, management of database); Postgre-SQL (database management software) and PostGIS (a spatial extension for Postgre-SQL) and other supporting applications, tools, plugins, which are all designed solely for this PFMS. This PFM database system is designed and developed for operation at provincial level with orientation of scaling up to other provinces, based on current versions of software and applications, including QGIS 2.8, Postgre-SQL 9.4 and PostGIS 2.2. For other and higher version of software and applications as well as when deploying this PFMS for other provinces, additional documents references and consultation with the author of this document are highly recommended for further guidance. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 1

6 Part II - WHY QGIS AND POSTGRESQL/POSTGIS? 1. What is QGIS? QGIS (or so called Quantum GIS) is a cross-platform free and open-source desktop geographic information system (GIS) application that provides data viewing, editing, and analysis capabilities, able to run on multiple operation system like Linux, UNIX, Mac OS and Windows. Similar to other software GIS systems QGIS allows users to create maps with many layers using different map projections. Maps can be assembled in different formats and for different uses. QGIS allows maps to be composed of raster or vector layers. QGIS also supporting data processing directly from GPS and field data. Current version of QGIS is 2.8 (QGIS Wien). Free license under GNU Public License. Several advanced functionalities of QGIS: View and analyze different formats of vector and raster data (from.tab of MapInfo,.SHP of ArcGIS to.gpx of Garmin GPS and many other vector and raster formats) without a need of converting to common format. Supported data formats in QGIS including: - Postgre-SQL database including geometry and non-geometry data with PostGIS extension and Spatial Lite. - Most of vector data formats in OGR library, including ESRI s shapefiles, MapInfo, STDS and GML - All raster data formats in GDAL library, such as DEM (digital elevation models), aerial photography, satellite imagery data - GRASS satellite imagery processing. - Remote data which compatible to OGC standard, including WMS or WFS. With a user-friendly GUI, users can directly process both spatial data and attribute data in centralized database, including the following tasks: - Vector data (spatial and attribute) processing directly on centralized Postgre-SQL database with PostGIS extension; - Vector data (spatial and attribute) processing directly with single map layers from local computers. - Map compilation and printing at any scale level; - Querying data on database server to produce reports with predefined formats (using custom plugin). With a user-friendly GUI, users can explore satellite imagery data to produce maps with several free plugins, include: - GRASS software to process and interpret satellite imagery data; - Georeference plugin; - GPS Tools plugin to import/export data from/to QGIS and GPS handheld devices. There are several custom plugins and applications have been designed and developed solely for the PFMS with QGIS open source codes and API. In order to use such plugins and applications, users need to learn from guidance which are included in this document in below parts. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 2

7 2. What are PostgreSQL and PostGIS? Postgre-SQL is an object-relational database management system (ORDBMS) with an emphasis on extensibility and on standards-compliance. As a database server, its primary function is to store data securely, supporting best practices, and to allow for retrieval at the request of other software applications. It can handle workloads ranging from small single-machine applications to large Internet-facing applications with many concurrent users. PostGIS is an open source software program that adds support for geographic objects to the PostgreSQL object-relational database. PostGIS follows the Simple Features for SQL specification from the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC). Using Postgre-SQL, PostGIS with combination of GIS software (QGIS), users are able to process, analyze, statistics the spatial and non-spatial data in a centralized based system. 3. National forest resource information sharing system database and platform Some information about FORMIS System Purposes: The Forest Resource Monitoring System will support the Forest Protection Department (FPD) in the annual forest and forestry land monitoring process. The new FRMS will replace the current FPD Forest Change Monitoring Application and the MapInfo-based updating system. The new FRMS will be based on QGIS and other open source tools. The FRMS will provide up-to-date information of forest resources by providing reports of the forest resources and changes = Support in monthly and annual reporting processes. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 3

8 Development and deployment of the system The system will be deployed to the whole country in central, province, district and commune levels from 2016 Forest rangers will be the main users to update the data. (Extracted from presentation of Mrs. Raisa Sell, FORMIS II Forestry Advisor, presented at PFMS Technical Workshop on January 23, 2015 in Dien Bien) Part III - INSTALLATION OF QGIS AND REQUIRED PLUGINS 1. QGIS installation As explained above, QGIS is an open source GIS application, published under GNU Public License so that users can freely download and install into their computers to use for any purpose. QGIS is continuously updated by developers with upgrading and adding more and more functionalities, as well as fixing bugs. Users also can freely download and install these upgraded versions to use for better operation and functionalities. QGIS is developed to run on cross-platform, including Windows, Linux, UNIX, and MacOS. For Windows OS only, QGIS is also separated into two versions, one for Windows 32bit and another is for Windows 64bit. This part will guiding through users to download, install of QGIS version 2.8 (QGIS Wien) on Windows operation system, both 32bit and 64bit. For other operating system, users can refer to guidance on QGIS website or consult with the author of this document for further guidance. 1.1 Inspect necessary specification of computer. In principle, QGIS can be installed and run on any Windows-based computer with any version of operating system. However, in order to operate QGIS smoothly with Postgre-SQL database, the following specifications of computer to run QGIS 2.8 is highly recommended. a. Hardware: - Processor: Intel Core i3 or higher; - RAM: 4 GB or higher; - Free storage on hard disk: 50 GB or more; - Graphic processor: 2 GB or higher; - ADSL or Fiber internet connection. b. Software: - Windows 7 (32bit or 64bit) or higher; Users need to inspect their computer which to be used with QGIS to meet the above specifications, and in order to download correct version of QGIS 2.8, with following steps: Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 4

9 2 2 1 Step 1: Click on Start button at bottom-left corner of Windows desktop screen; Step 2: Right click on Computer to show a new tasks; Step 3: Click on Properties to open System specification window. Read information within this part to know about your computer specification and Windows version as well. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 5

10 Next, users will be guided on how to download and install QGIS on their computer. Important notes: There are several cases that Windows version has been changed, which installed version is not correct with processor structure (for example, processor structure is 64bit but installed Windows version is 32bit, or vice-versa), this will lead to unable to install QGIS. For these cases that users cannot install QGIS on their computer with correctly following the below guidance, they need to consult with computer supplier or the author of this document for further supports. 1.2 First installation To install QGIS, users firstly need to download correct QGIS installation version to their local computer. To download, users open their favorite internet browser and access to QGIS homepage at and click on Download Now button as shown in below figure. Click on this button to download latest QGIS version. Once Download Now button was clicked, another webpage will be shown to allow users to select correct version with their Windows operating system. Users just click on correct version of QGIS to download, as shown in below figure. Click on correct QGIS version to download. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 6

11 Current QGIS 2.8 installation size is around more or less 330MB, it may take around 30 minutes or more to be completely downloaded, depending on internet connection speed. After successfully downloaded, users navigate to specific folder where downloaded QGIS installation is stored, double clicking on that installation file to start the installation progress. Click on Yes button to confirm then click on Next as in below figure to continue. In the License Agreement dialog, users need to read all information on the license agreement of QGIS then click on Agree to accept it and continue: Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 7

12 In the next dialog of Choose Install Location, users need to select prefer location to install QGIS in their computer, (Default will be C:\Program Files\QGIS Wien) then click on Next button to continue. In the next dialog, users select dataset (it is not necessary to select any of them, so keeping as default) then click on Install button to start installing QGIS. Installation progress will start and it may take around 15 minutes to finish, for a normal computer. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 8

13 When installation is finished, users need to reboot their computer to take new software effective, by clicking on Finish button. After the computer was restarted, users can see some shortcut icons of QGIS and GRASS on main desktop of Windows: Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 9

14 Shortcut to QGIS application (we use this application frequently) Shortcuts to QGIS Browser application (rarely used) Shortcut to GRASS GIS for satellite imagery data processing 1.3 Upgrading installation For the computers with older version of QGIS was installed and users want to upgrade to latest version (for example, QGIS 2.6 Brighton was installed before and now users want to use QGIS 2.8 Wien), they need to uninstall previous version completely then install newer version. Followings are the steps for upgrading installation. a. Uninstallation of previous version: Navigating to folder of previous QGIS version installed (Default is: C:\Program Files\QGIS Brighton ), then click on Uninstall-QGIS.exe as shown in below figure: Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 10

15 A new dialog will appear, users click on Next button, then click on Uninstall button to start uninstallation of previous QGIS version. It may take about 10 minutes to complete this uninstallation progress. b. Installation of new version. After completion of uninstallation progress, users can do installation of new version as guided on point 1.1 above. Important notes: After doing actions correctly as guided on point 1.1 above but users cannot see some shortcuts on Windows desktop, it means that users installed QGIS unsuccessfully. One of the common errors is due to wrong version of QGIS which is not compatible with Windows version. In such cases, users need to consult with computer suppliers or IT experts or the author of this document for further supports. 2. Changing user interface to Vietnamese language From QGIS 2.8, Vietnamese translation with support of JICA and PFMS consultant has been integrated, users just need to follow the following steps to activate Vietnamese language interface. Step 1: Open QGIS, click on Settings menu then select Options, as shown below: Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 11

16 Step 2: On Options dialog, users select Locale tab then choosing Tieng Viet on near bottom of the list with Vietnam flag, then click on OK button as shown below Step 3: Restart QGIS by close it and open again, users see Vietnamese language interface. When QGIS interface has been changed to Vietnamese language, it is ready to configure with necessary plugins and application to operate with data and database server later on. Section 3 below will guide users on how to configure and install necessary applications and plugin on QGIS. 3. Configuration of necessary plugins and parameters 3.1 Installation of plugins Photo2Shape plugin This is free plugin available on QGIS plugin repository. This plugin will be used to convert geo-data in the geotagged field pictures to a point layer, and also will be configured for viewing field picture data on QGIS map canvas. This plugin require exifread library to operate. If exifread library was not installed in advance, users cannot make successful installation of this plugin, and certainly cannot use it. Steps to install exifread library and Photo2Shape are as following: Step 1: Open the Windows s command line console. Click on Start button of Windows, then type cmd.exe on Search area. After that, right click on cmd.exe line and select Run as Administrator as shown in below figure. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 12

17 Step 2: Run pythonpath.bat to activate Python 2.7 which is installed in the progress of QGIS installation. - The Windows s command line console will appear after Step 1, user need to use cd [full path] in this command line console to navigate to specific folder where pythonpath.bat file (it is provided in line with this manual) is located. - Run this pythonpath.bat file by typing correctly this full file name with extension then press Enter key. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 13

18 - Python 2.7 application will be activated after users press on Enter key and the command line console showing lots of paths, this is normal case. Step 3: Run the get-pip.py script to support installation of exifread library. In order to install exifread, users need to use pip and to use pip, users to download and install it first, using the same command line console. To download pip, users need to input this command: python get-pip.py correctly. This script file is also provided in line with this manual. Step 4: Installation of exifread library Now that you are ready to download and install this exifread library into your computer to support for Phto2Shape plugin work, by inputting correctly this command pip install exifread on the same command line console, then press Enter. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 14

19 The pip script will automatically search on internet for latest version of exifread library and install into your computer. - It may take a few minutes for the text Successfully installed exifread- to be appeared within command line console, it means you have successful installed exifread library, ready for Photo2Shape plugin to work. Now you can lose the command line console and move to next step. Step 5: Installation of Photo2Shape plugin. - Open QGIS and select Plugins menu then Manage and Install Plugins submenu. - On Plugin windows, you should select All tab then look for Photo2Shape plugin in the plugin list. When this plugin is found, select it and click on Install plugin button to install this plugin into QGIS Once this installation progress is finished, you can close this Plugin management window Installation of OpenLayers Plugin Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 15

20 This plugin allows users to download and use available satellite imagery data, including Google satellite imagery. These data are very useful for reference or looking for landmarks to support for updated field survey reports, especially useful to check if a CRS or projection system is correct configured in QGIS or not. To install this OpenLayers plugin, users can take the following steps. Open QGIS and select Plugins menu then Manage and Install Plugins submenu. - On Plugin windows, you should select All tab then look for OpenLayers Plugin in the plugin list. When this plugin is found, select it and click on Install plugin button to install this plugin into QGIS Installation of User-friendly data input interface This is an interface which completely interactive with PFMS database, designed and developed only PFMS, to replace for default data input interface of QGIS. It is very simple step to install this application, by copy this plugin to the python plugin folder of QGIS as below. - Navigating to folder where a provided subfolder named as: DataDriven Input Mask is located, copy all this subfolder. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 16

21 - Navigate to python plugin folder inside QGIS main folder, default is C:\Program Files\QGIS Wien\apps\qgis\python\plugins, then paste the copied folder to here Installation of Report Module for QGIS: A custom module is developed solely for this PFMS called Report Module. This module allows users to access to database, query and export report forms with templates of VNFOREST, at any timeframe, for any level, from household level to provincial level. This is a custom plugin and it is not available on official QGIS plugin repository. Therefore, in order to install this module, user just need to copy whole folder of Report Module provided in line with this Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 17

22 manual and paste it to python plugin folder within QGIS installed folder, same steps as installation of Data Driven Input Mask plugin. Important notes: For Data Driven Input Mask and ReportModule plugins installation, user have to activate these plugins after installation in order to take them effective. Simply going to Plugin > Manage and Install Plugin menu and tick on the checkbox of each plugin, then restart QGIS. 3.2 Configuration of parameters Database connection parameters. District level users are not allowed to create their own user name and password by themselves, and they will be provided this credential by provincial level. Depending on management framework of each locality, ways of setting such credentials may be vary but according to the system design, username of district level will be administrative name of that district, writing in normal letter without spaces and special characters, for example, dienbien or muongcha. Other parameters will be provided along with credentials are: - Host (IP address) of database server. In this PFMS, this will be: Port (of the database in the server system): In this PFMS, this will be Database name: In this PFMS, this will be PFMS - Username: - Password: Once users want to establish connection to database server, they can follow the guide below: - Open QGIS then click on Add PostGIS layer button as shown in below figure: - A dialog of Adding PostGIS layers will appear, users need to click on New button to create new database connection. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 18

23 - Another dialog of Create a new PostGIS connection will appear, users need to input (type) correctly all provided connection parameters, as illustrated in below figure. - After all parameters were input correctly, users can click on Test connect button to check connection. There will be one of two cases happened. * Case 1: All parameters were correctly input, and database server is working and the user s computer has a stable internet connection: PFMS is successful connected, as below figure. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 19

24 * Case 2: Any mistake or error in inputting parameters or no internet connection or database server does not work: Connection failed as shown in below figure. For case 2 (connection failed), users must firstly check carefully about parameters input, retype username and password then test again. If everything is OK with parameters, user can take second step of checking with internet connection on the computer. If internet connection is still good, user can contact to database server administrator at provincial for further supports Configuration of custom CRS By default, QGIS is ready with international Coordinate Reference System as well as VN-2000 projection system (6 degree projection zone, K factor = ) in accordance with Circular number 973/2001/TT-TCĐC. However, there is no CRS or projection system for every province with provincial central meridian and K factor = Therefore, in order to work with detailed and corrected data, users have to make custom CRS for their locality (province) in accordance with Circular 973/2001/TT- TCĐC. Following steps will guide users to make custom CRS to be used to work with provincial data (both vector and raster). This is example for specific of Dien Bien province. Step 1: Open QGIS and select Settings menu then select Custom CRS submenu: Step 2: A new dialog of define Custom Coordinate Reference System will appear, users need to: (1) Click on icon to add a new CRS. (2) Set a name for this custom CRS, (e.g. VN2000_TM103) (3) Copy all parameters in provided CRS parameter file and paste all to Parameters space. (4) Click on OK button to complete this progress of creating a custom CRS. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 20

25 Configuration of Advanced Digitizing Tools By default, this Advanced Digitizing Tools is installed in QGIS, but it is inactivated. With this toolset, it is good enough for users to work on editing, creating features (polygons, points, lines) on digitizing a map. So, steps bellow will guide through how to activate this toolset. - Open QGIS, then select View menu and then select Toolbars submenu. - Tick to select on Advanced Digitizing. - The advanced digitizing tools will appear on QGIS toolbars. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 21

26 1 2 3 Above Part III guides through how to install QGIS and necessary applications, plugins and modules, as well as how to configure necessary parameters to be used in operation of QGIS in PFMS. Users have to get success in this part in order to be able to operate and manipulate data at district level. There might be several different on buttons, wording and dialog, menu, submenus between different versions of QGIS. However, once users familiar with QGIS and operation of this PFMS, this different will not be any big problem. But, nevertheless, the most important is that the users need to follow this user manual correctly and practice more and more, so that they will not have to face to this different. If you need further information or guides, please refer to QGIS manual or consult with the author of this document. Part IV - UNDERSTANDING ON THE DATABASE, CONNECTION AND LAYERS Based on the system design of PFMS, this system will be operated under a centralized database model. It is therefore, users need to have a good knowledge and understand about some critical concepts, workload as well as tasks to do in order to participate to the system operation smoothly. 1. What is database and where is the server? This is an object-relational database on Postgre-SQL with latest technology which is widely applied on the world and Vietnam as well. Especially, VNFOREST will deploy a forestry database at national level, which also running on Postgre-SQL. The PFMS database is provincial centralized one, that secures the data unification (to avoid very low accuracy of data due to each sector keeps their own data), to be utilize for many sectors and levels Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 22

27 to use the same data source for their works (PFMS database is not only for forest change monitoring, but also useful for PFES implementation and in the near future, it will be useful for land use change monitoring, which supports to decisions and policies making progresses). This PFMS database will store all data, maps, parameters related to forest change monitoring within a province. The database is also a storage of all field data which reported by forest rangers using tablet-based application and updated by district level FPD. Data will be consolidated within a province, however, it is not opened to everyone from everywhere, and only authenticated users can login to the database to get such data and information. In a near future, this provincial centralized database will be replicated to other provinces sine this PFMS database is design in a national-oriented methodology. In a near future, a website on public internet will be developed, so that every forest owners (including the one as households or individuals) can search and know their forest and forestland area which allocated or contracted to them. Based on the system design, each province will operate their own PFMS database. Each physical server can host several database of several provinces. An example, server for Northwest provinces can host database of Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Son La and Hoa Binh provinces, and so on. In this development and piloting phase, the physical server is located at Dien Bien DARD with management and operation of Dien Bien Sub-FPD. 2. What is connection and how to connect? One of the biggest advantages of this provincial centralized database is that the dataset is only one, and should be shared between different levels and sectors within a province for different purposes. However, in order to operate this system smoothly, users need to have a good internet connection from their client machines to the centralized database server, especially on the time of data transaction between client side and server side. Each user, when authenticated by competent authority, will be provided with a credential and that user can use this credential to connect to the database when needed. Anyway, like other account type, users need to pay special attention to the security of the credentials as well as of the database. To connect to the database, please refer to point above on how to establish a connection to the database and how to connect. 3. Data layers and usage of each of them According to the system design of PFMS, the database will storing following basic maps and data: 3.1 Spatial data Spatial data is consisting of map layers which district level users will directly using or referencing. However, district level users are not allowed to create this kind of data, also they have some limited privileges or full privileges on different layers. Spatial data on database is also divided into 2 sections to make easier to understand by users, including manipulating (or so called monitoring) layers and supporting (or so called referencing) layers Manipulating layers. - Dien_bien_rung Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 23

28 The Dien_bien_rung layer is to store field data reported by forest rangers using tablet-based application. This layer is common used for entire province. Below is an example of this Dien_bien_rung within a database. This spatial data layer contains spatial data (polygons, which created by tablet-based application), media data (fully geotagged field pictures, recorded by tablet-based application) and attribute data (field information, input into the attribute table within tablet-based application), to provide enough information and data to district level users about the forest changes on the field, so that district users can update such changes into the database via district level manipulation layer, that is Master_(HC). District and provincial users can view (read) all information and data on this commune level data layer, however, no one can make any change on this layers. - Master_(HC) The Master_(HC) layer is the most important layer in the database as well as for district level users. District level users will update, edit, change, all data on this layer, based on data analyzed and read from commune level layer of Dien_bien_rung reported by forest rangers. Following is an example of a forest monitoring layer of Muong Cha district, Dien Bien province. As designed, each district will have one layer like this in order to update the forest change data which happened on all communes in that district. Therefore, district level users will be granted all roles to view, change and edit data of their respective district only, but not for any other district, even just view data only. Also, provincial users will be granted with a view only role on this layer, but not able to edit or make any change Supporting layers. Other spatial data layers on the database is for data supporting, in order to provide original data to the district level users, so that they (district level users) can analyze and input data to the main layer with highest possible data. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 24

29 Supporting layers are: - Administrative layers: Province boundary (polygon) District boundary (polygon) Commune boundary (polygon) Village boundary (polygon) - Data layers. Compartment boundary (polygon) Sub-compartment boundary (polygon) Three forest type boundary (polygon) Terrain (lines) Transportation network (line) Water body (lines, polygon). Other supporting layers. These supporting layers are so called static layers, since they are used to provide referencing data to the district level users, supporting to identification and correction of data which reported by forest ranger via tablet-based application. In addition, this is called a static layer because, it will not be updated except a case that there are the changes in the policies at national or provincial levels. These supporting layers can be national-wide layers (i.e. administrative boundary layers) or entire province (i.e. supporting data layers), so data size may be quite big, especially when district users have a limited internet connection. In any case, district level users have to refer to this data sources because they are the final and approved, to unify and normalized data within entire province, so that conflicts on claiming on accuracy of the data can be avoided. As said, supporting data layers on the database may be quite big in term of data size, especially for the district level users where internet connection is not so good, which may make too slow in operation. To overcome this challenge, district level users can one-time download such supporting data layers to their local computer and every time they want to refer to such supporting data, they can load from their downloaded data instead of reading from database server. It will be much faster and effective in term of time and cost. But, there are two preconditions if district users want to do so, including (1) district level users should not make any change in downloaded data to secure the original of data and (2) do not do the same way for Master layers, since you have another way to work with offline mode on this data layer, but you have nothing to do with downloaded data, this is totally different. 3.2 Non-spatial (tabular) data Besides the spatial data layers, database also is storing other data in tabular format, including all parameters to be input in monitoring layers, tables for database and user management such kind of tabular data cannot be shown on the map canvas and also, district level users are not allowed or authenticated to make changes in such tabular data, so this matter will not be mentioned within this user manual. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 25

30 Part V - WORKING WITH DATA This part provides detailed and step by step guides on how to work with data at district level. Operations and tasks to be conducted at district level in this part include loading commune level reported data layer, read, analyze data from that layer, updating to the master layer including spatial and attribute data, 1. Loading necessary layers to map canvas Following steps will guide users to loads map layers to map canvas of QGIS from two sources (first one is from centralized database and second one is from downloaded and saved data layers from local computer of the user). 1.1 Loading layers from centralized database to map canvas. - Open QGIS then click on button which located on left vertical toolbar of QGIS. - Dialog of Add PostGIS layers will appear with one connection that you have already created at step Part III. - Click on Connect button. - Click on + sign in front of public schema to open list of map data on database which you are allowed to use List of available map layers which district level users (or specific user at same district level) can view, reference or manipulate will be shown. Please click on the layer(s) you want (in this case, please click to select on Dien_bien_rung and Master_(HC) layers). - After all, please click on Add button to load selected layers to QGIS map canvas. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 26

31 Click to select layers to be added into map canvas Click on this button to load selected layers to map canvas - With this example, two map layers are loaded in QGIS map canvas: If you want to load other map layers from centralized database to your QGIS map canvas, please do the same procedure as above. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 27

32 1.2 Loading supporting data layers from local computer to map canvas Steps to load a map layer from your local computer (including shape file of QGIS/ArcGIS or TAB file of MapInfo) are as below: - Click on button Add vector layer on QGIS interface; - A dialog of Add vector layer will appear, please click on Browse button to browse for a layer Another dialog of browsing, please find a layer you want to be loaded (in this case, it is a shape fie with.shp extension, click to select that file then click on Open button to open that file into Add vector layer dialog. 3 4 Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 28

33 - The Add vector layer will be back, just click on Open on this dialog to load selected layer into map canvas. 5 - Another layer, loaded from local computer will be shown on map canvas. 1.3 Styling for newly added layer(s). All layers stored in the database were already styled with only one format, to secure the unification of the data source. However, in the map canvas you are working, there may be some other layers that you have just added from your local computer. With this layer, you should style it for easier work. If you want to do so, please follow the following steps. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 29

34 - Double click on a layer you want to style, a dialog of Layer Properties will appear. Please click to choose Style tab. - Within Styling dialog, please select Simple fill then click on the combo box arrow near Fill and then select Transparent fill For border, user can also change the border line color. - Users can also do it by themselves to make other styling for specific layers within this dialog with all fill color, border color, border line type, pattern fill, etc. All of styling parameters are in this dialogs. Below figure is an illustration of the styling for a village boundary layer (polygon geometry) Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 30

35 For other layers including lines, points or polygons geometry types, users can do the same steps above to have a specific styling. Important notes: The steps on styling a map layer in this part is for manipulating data and doing transaction between clients and database server only, just to make it easy to read not only data in the layers but also able to see other information on behind layers. For styling maps layers for map compilation, please refer to MAP Compilation part. 1.4 Loading Google Satellite layer In case that users are not provided with very high resolution satellite imagery data (e.g. Pleiades satellite data with resolution at 0.50m), they can use base layer from Google Satellite for reference, to identify landmarks on the maps or to correct projection or coordinate system. However, please take a note that, Google Satellite data is just for reference only, there is no confirmation of forest cover with this Google Satellite. To load Google Satellite into map canvas, users can do the following steps. (1) Click to select Web menu (2) Select Open Layers Plugin on right sub-menu. (3) Select Google Maps on right sub-menu. (4) Select Google Satellite on the last sub-menu Normally, when this Google Satellite layer is added after other vector layers were added before, this raster layer will be overlaid on top of layer list and so, it masks all other data behind. For this case, user just using the mouse to click-and-drag this raster layer to the bottom. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 31

36 Click and drag this raster layer to the bottom so that you can read data on the other layers. There may be, depending on user s need or at some progress, other layers are needed to be overlaid on this map canvas, such as data on three forest type planning, compartment, sub-compartment code For this case, users should do it by yourselves following the above mentioned steps, both for loading data from database server and loading data from local computer to map canvas. Reaching to this step, user may have enough data and information to read, analyze and check the reported data from commune-based forest rangers using tablet-based application, so that they can start to read, analyze data then updating to database as step by step guiding below. 2. Reading and analyzing field data reported by commune-based forest rangers. Field data measured and reported by commune-based forest rangers using tablet-based application consist of spatial data (shape of polygons or lines, areas, XY coordinates ) and media data (fully geotagged field pictures) and attribute data. In order to understand correctly about what is being changed, where, when, how district level users need to read, analyze and understand all data and information from commune level reports. 2.1 Read and analyze the changes with spatial data and media data In order to understand about what, where, when and how the changes happened, also understand what is current real status of the field, users at district level need to analyze spatial and media data. To be able to analyze, users need to follow some steps below. (1) Loading the commune level report layer ( Dien_bien_rung_ in this case ) to the map canvas. Please refer to III.1 above to know how to load a layers from database to map canvas. (2) Zoom to target feature using Zoom tool of QGIS, as below example. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 32

37 Load layer which contains reports from commune level. After selecting Zoom In button, using mouse to drag a rectangular around target feature. (3) Open field pictures by selecting Actions then choose one of the pictures you want to view. Users can do same steps in this part to view all pictures (maximum is 4 field pictures per feature, and minimum is one). (4) Save all pictures from internet browser to your specific folder, using right click on single picture and choose Save picture as then select your appropriate folder. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 33

38 (5) Next step is to convert data which geotagged in the field pictures to a point layer, using Photo2Shape plugin. To do so, open Vector menu then select Photo2Shape then Photo2Shape plugin (6) On new dialog of Photo2Shape plugin, please click on first Browse button at Directory with images to find the folders where you have already saved field pictures. After that, click on second Browse button on Output shapefiles to locate to a folder where you want to save this point layer as a new shape file. After all, please select other options as shown in below figure then click on OK button to run. Within a few seconds, a point layer will be created and automatically loaded into map canvas. You can click on Close button to close this plugin Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 34

39 (7) A new point layer will be created and automatically loaded into map canvas. User needs to style this layer to read more information, by double click on this new point layer to go to Layer Properties dialog. 1 2 (8) There is a template of this layer styling, which all users have to be provided in advance. So this styling step is just to load styling template for this layer. To do so, please click on Style tab then select Load style in Style combo-box, look for a template file named as Xem_anh.qml provided in line with this manual to apply a template styling (9) After click OK button to save a style, user will see new style for this layer with many information, including who is surveyor, where (coordinates), date/time, and direction of field picture taken. To view real condition from each picture, user just need to select Xem anh tool in the Actions button, then click on each root (starting end) of arrow. A field picture taken at that coordinates will appear on QGIS screen. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 35

40 When the above steps were done and users can see field pictures with it geo-data, it is good enough for district level users to analyze on: what is real field condition; where and when the changes taken place; how large it is through spatial data (red boundary polygon on map canvas) and media data (field pictures which are being shown on the screen) so that it is very easy for district level users to understand about the change on the field. However, it may be still not enough in term of attribute data, something like the change was taken place within planned forestland or not, or what is compartment and sub-compartment code, etc so district level users also need to refer to several supporting layers to get more information and data then compare such data with attribute data which reported by commune-based forest rangers using tablet-based application. Section 2.2 below will guide through how to read attribute data from this commune level layer attribute table and how to compare with unified data on the database server. 2.2 Read and analyze data based on attribute data To read and analyze attribute data, district level users need to select back to the Dien_bien_rung which contains reported data from commune-based forest rangers, then select Identify Features tool and click on the feature to view its attribute data. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 36

41 2 1 3 Users can see and read all attribute data in this dialog. On this attribute dialog, users can use mouse wheel to go back and forward to read all data and information which reported by forest rangers. A note have to be taken at this point is, this is readonly data, and district level users cannot make any change on this layer. Of course, this data can be re-opened any time later with same actions as you have just done above, but it will be better if you can record some information and data at this step. How to compare data and information: One of the main tasks in data analyze is to check and compare data and information between base data (this is official approved data, to be as a base) and reporting data (data reported by communebased forest rangers using tablets-based application). Wording may be not easy to explain how to compare, but illustration by a picture can do much better, please refer to below figure. The blue circles and rectangles are correct data and information, while the red circles and rectangles are incorrect data. With this incorrect data and information, district level users have to correct it on their master layer. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 37

42 Similarity, district level users can analyze, compare other data and information and will have to make decision on what data, information is correct and what is not, so correction or revision of data and information will be conducted based on data and information that district level users have. There are some data fields on the attribute tables which can be null and not required to be input. Depending on specific cases, district level users can ask commune-based forest ranger to make additional reports for missing data. Up to this steps, district level users can have enough information and data, including clear understanding about current field condition, where and when the change have taken place, from base layers and reported data by commune-based forest rangers using tablet-based application. With this information and data, district level can now making change and update to forest change monitoring layer of his district, with several specific cases of changes. Steps to make changes and updates on district level forest change data layer are guided as in Section 3 below. 3. Updating changes to the monitoring layer based on reported and base data. From the beginning to this points, you have already make all preparation steps for updating the change to monitoring layer. This is the most important work on operation of this PFMS at district level. So, take it easy and follow the following steps to update change data from commune level reports to official monitoring layer of district level. Normally, changes on the field are always different. There may be some forest area increasing (we called as afforestation/reforestation, caused by regeneration, plantation or, in several case, base data is not updated with such forested areas on the field). Besides, there are some forest area decreasing (we called as deforestation) due to several causes. And, the shape of changes also different always, when changes can take place on whole area of previous plot, or just a part within (not touch with boundary) previous plots, or on the larger part of previous plot or some other cases, that the changed area taken place on the parts of more than one previous plots. We are going in detail for each of these cases as below. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 38

43 3.1 Case 1: Deforestation on the whole area of old plot. Following is an example of deforestation which happened on the whole area of old plot. Although boundary of the changed area which polygonized by forest ranger (surveyor) using tabletbased application, is not exactly aligned with old plot boundary of previous year forest area status (green boundary), but tolerance is too small. It is therefore, this change area can be considered as on the whole of old plot. For this case, district level users do not have to make any change in spatial data (do not need to make new polygon or revise ole polygon on its monitoring layer), but revising attribute data to correct current land use status as to current condition of the changed area. Steps and actions to update attribute data is guided in detail in section 4. Updating changes in attribute table. Please refer to that section if you want to revise attribute data now. 3.2 Case 2: Deforestation inside (without touch on boundary) an old plot. Below figure is an illustration of a case, where deforested area taken place inside an old plot without any touch to old plot boundary. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 39

44 For this case, users can see a report from commune-based level that there is a deforestation taken place within (inside) an old plot. For this case, district level users have to create a new polygon on monitoring layers. This new polygon should align on the red-line polygon, then update attribute data and recalculate area for both new and old polygons. Below steps should be followed in order to create (or to cut) a new polygon within an old polygon. (1) Activate layer editable mode and also advanced digitizing mode. - Click to select your monitoring layers (in this case, it is Master_(HC)_ - Click on Toggle layer editable mode on/off - Check if advanced digitizing tools is activated Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 40

45 - When user complete some clicks as above, QGIS interface will look like as below figure. (2) Digitizing to create a new polygon. - Click to select Fill ring tool. - Using your mouse to make a polygon which align on red-line one. When complete, please right click to finish. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 41

46 - After right mouse clicked, a dialog of feature attribute will appear with all information of old plot. - District level users can do attribute data updating at this step. However, it is so difficult for district level to do it now, since all data in attribute table has been encoded into numeric format. It should be better if user can click on OK button to close this dialog and follow the steps in section 4. Updating changes in attribute table to update attribute table with all normal data in a Vietnamized interface. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 42

47 (3) Saving your result. - After closing attribute data dialog, you need to save your result of editing, otherwise all of your work will be lose. To save your result, just click on Save layer editing then Toggle editable layer on/off buttons, as shown in below figure. 2 1 After saving, there will be a new feature (polygon) created inside existing polygon, as shown below: Next step is to update attribute data of this newly created feature, including update attribute and recalculation of area of both old and new polygons. Steps and actions to update attribute data is guided in detail in section 4. Updating changes in attribute table. Please refer to that section if you want to revise attribute data now. 3.3 Case 3: Deforested area on larger part of existing plot. Example in below figure is a deforested area which covers a larger part of an existing plot. The way to split deforested area in this example is also applied for other cases that deforested area cover a small part of existing area but not totally inside of the existing plot. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 43

48 For this type of changes, district level users need to split existing polygon into two new polygons, with splitting line aligns with red-line which is reported by commune level, then updating attribute for new polygon and recalculate area of both two polygons. Steps below will guide on how to split one polygon into two. (1) Activate layer editable mode and also advanced digitizing mode. - Click to select your monitoring layers (in this case, it is Master_(HC)_ - Click on Toggle layer editable mode on/off. - Check if advanced digitizing tools is activated When user complete some clicks as above, QGIS interface will look like as below figure: Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 44

49 (2) Digitizing to create a new polygon. - First, user needs to select the polygon that you want to split, using Selecting tool on QGIS tool bar, then click directly on the polygon to be split Select Split feature tool. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 45

50 - Draw a line aligning with red-line boundary within the boundary. In several cases, due to terrain difficulties on the field, the red-lines cannot go exactly with the boundary of changed area. It is therefore, depending on each case, district level users can slightly draw a little tolerance with red-line, however, red-line have to be followed. - Starting point and ending point of drawing line HAVE TO BE outside of boundary of selected polygon (green line in this case). Otherwise, QGIS cannot split selected polygon. - When line drawing is completed, user need to right click to finish and then click on Save editing layer then deactivate editing mode on this layer, as shown in below figure After saving, existing polygon has been split into two polygons as shown below. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 46

51 Next step is to update attribute data of this newly created feature, including update attribute and recalculation of area of both old and new polygons. Steps and actions to update attribute data is guided in detail in section 4. Updating changes in attribute table. Please refer to that section if you want to revise attribute data now. 3.4 Case 4: Deforested area which cover parts of more than one existing polygons. Red-line polygon in below figure is an example of a forest change area, which cover several parts of adjacent existing polygons. In this example, user can see that there are a forest change area covering 4 small parts of 4 existing plots. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 47

52 For this case of forest change area, district level users need to split polygons as in section 3.3 above, but we are going to split all 4 polygons at one and create only 1 new polygons of deforested area, with below steps: (1) Activate layer editable mode and also advanced digitizing mode. - Click to select your monitoring layers (in this case, it is Master_(HC)_ - Click on Toggle layer editable mode on/off. - Check if advanced digitizing tools is activated When user complete some clicks as above, QGIS interface will look like as below figure: (2) Digitizing to create a new polygon. - First, user needs to select the polygons that you want to split, using Selecting tool on QGIS tool bar, then drag a box to select the polygons to be split. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 48

53 1 2 - Select Split feature tool. - Draw a line aligning with red-line boundary within the boundary. In several cases, due to terrain difficulties on the field, the red-lines cannot go exactly with the boundary of changed area. It is therefore, depending on each case, district level users can slightly draw a little tolerance with red-line, however, red-line have to be followed. - Starting point and ending point of drawing line HAVE TO BE outside of boundary of selected polygon (green line in this case); Starting point and ending point also HAVE NOT ALIGNED together. Otherwise, QGIS cannot split selected polygon. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 49

54 - When line drawing is completed, user need to right click to finish. - Next, user have to merge all smaller parts in a newly created parts into one polygon. To do so, user need to select these newly created 4 small part, then click on Merging button tool on QGIS toolbar. A new dialog of Merging will appear, users can select any row in this dialog and then click on OK button to confirm the action of merging polygons into one. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 50

55 When merging is completed, user need to right click to finish and then click on Save editing layer then deactivate editing mode on this layer, as shown in below figure After saving, existing polygon has been split into two polygons as shown below. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 51

56 Next step is to update attribute data of this newly created feature, including update attribute and recalculation of area of both old and new polygons. Steps and actions to update attribute data is guided in detail in section 4. Updating changes in attribute table. Please refer to that section if you want to revise attribute data now. 3.5 Case 5: Forest increasing change area on separation with existing plots. A red-line polygon in below figure is an example of a forest change area on the way of increasing. According to field picture data from forest ranger report, using tablet-based application, this is a long term pine plantation, but it has not been recognized as a forested area in base layer. We need to report to higher level that, this is a forested area. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 52

57 To create a polygon feature to report this forested area, district level users need to follow the steps below: (1) Activate layer editable mode and also advanced digitizing mode. - Click to select your monitoring layers (in this case, it is Master_(HC)_ - Click on Toggle layer editable mode on/off. - Check if advanced digitizing tools is activated When user complete some clicks as above, QGIS interface will look like as below figure: - Select Add feature tool. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 53

58 - Drawing a polygon based on red-line and right click to finish. - After right clicking, a new polygon will be created. However, user cannot save this editing since some not-null attribute data are missing. User have to input at least 3 data of Province, District and Commune into the attribute table for this newly created feature. Furthermore, user also cannot input text name into these fields, but only code. So, it is necessary that district user have to remember at least province code and district code of their responsible area. To input such data, user need to click on Identify Feature button then click on that new feature. A dialog for inputting data will appear as below. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 54

59 - On this dialog, district level users need to input at least codes of Province, District and Commune. Then, click on OK button to save. - When attribute data is save, user need to click on Save editing layer then deactivate editing mode on this layer, as shown in below figure After saving, a new feature was created as shown below. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 55

60 Next step is to update attribute data of this newly created feature, including update attribute and recalculation of area for this polygons. Steps and actions to update attribute data is guided in detail in section 4. Updating changes in attribute table. Please refer to that section if you want to revise attribute data now. 3.6 Case 6: An increasing area next to (adjacent) existing plots. Red-line polygon in below figure is an example of an increasing change of forest area which located adjacent to the existing forested area. This increasing change may be caused by regeneration to become the forested area. For this type of changes, users have to options. If existing polygon is not newly regenerated forest area, user need to create new polygon as guided just above Case 3.5, or if existing adjacent area is regenerated area, user can add this new area to existing area. Below steps are to guide users to add this new area to existing area. (1) Activate layer editable mode and also advanced digitizing mode. - Click to select your monitoring layers (in this case, it is Master_(HC)_ - Click on Toggle layer editable mode on/off. - Check if advanced digitizing tools is activated. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 56

61 When user complete some clicks as above, QGIS interface will look like as below figure: - Select Reshape Features tool. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 57

62 - Drawing a line to create an OPEN polygon which align on red-line, which cross to one boundary of existing polygon two times (starting point and ending point). Right click to complete this drawing progress. - After right clicking, additional area will be merged immediately to existing polygon. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 58

63 - Next, user needs to click on Save editing layer then deactivate editing mode on this layer, as shown in below figure. 2 1 Next step is to update attribute data of this newly created feature, including update attribute and recalculation of area for this polygons. Steps and actions to update attribute data is guided in detail in section 4. Updating changes in attribute table. Please refer to that section if you want to revise attribute data now. 4. Updating changes on attribute data. Tasks and steps that district level users have done as guided in Section 3 above are just updating spatial data only, while attribute data is also same important level to be updated, in order to have data for reporting in latter works. It is therefore very important that district level users have to update the attribute data of each change also. The attribute data updating are including update area (recalculation), data and information about forest owners, status before change, cause of change, current status, etc. and always different from time to time, and it will not be the same for every case of changes. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 59

64 Data and information in attribute table reported by commune-level forest rangers may be missing, insufficient or incorrect for several cases. Therefore, attribute data updating is also including checking data and information if it is correct and sufficient, based on supporting layers and from knowledge of district level users, in order to obtain the most accurate possible of data updated by district level. As guided in section 3. Updating change data from commune level reports to monitoring layers, district level users have to update attribute data and recalculate area of old and new polygons right after updating spatial data. As above rationales, this document cannot provide all details about parameters input or where to recalculate the area, due to every case will have specific data and information to be updated. However, the author is trying to make detailed explanations of each data field in the attribute table as well as on data input interfaces. District level users need to follow this guidance and specific conditions to update correctly into attribute table. First, following is explanation of main attribute table of master (or monitoring) layer, same order as it is on attribute table: No Field name Field alias Description 1. id Number Sequential numbering of feature 2. tinh Province Province name 3. huyen District District name 4. xa Commune Commune name 5. ddanh Village Village name 6. tk Compartment Compartment code 7. khoanh Sub-compartment Sub-compartment code 8. lo Plot Plot number (code) 9. thuad Parcel number Number of land parcel 10. tobando Map sheet Number of map sheet 11. nqh Planning state Whether the changed area under forestland or not. 12. ma3lr Three forest type Whether the changed area under which forest type 13. mdsd Landuse purpose What type of land use purpose that changed area belongs to? 14. lapdia Site condition What type of site condition that the changed area belongs to. 15. nggocr Forest origin Type of forest origin (natural forest or planted forest) 16. ngsinh Original status Status of origin of forest before change 17. ldlr Land use type Land use type before change Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 60

65 No Field name Field alias Description 18. nggocrt Plantation forest origin 19. thanhrung Planted forest status Origin of planted forest (planted on non-forested before, or regenerated from planted forest) Is it planted area recognized as forest or not yet. 20. sldlr Planted species What is main species planted in the plot 21. namtr Year of planting Year of planting 22. captuoi Age class Age class of main species 23. ktan Year to closed canopy Number of year to closed canopy 24. dtlo Plot area Area of plot before change 25. mgo Timber volume Mean volume of timber for that plot before change (not appeared in data input interface) 26. mgolo Total timber volume of plot 27. mtn Mean bamboo volume 28. mtnlo Total bamboo volume Timber volume of that plot before change (not appeared on data input interface). Mean volume of bamboo for that plot before change (not appeared on data input interface). Bamboo volume of that plot before change (not appeared on data input interface). 29. kquanly Management type Management type of the plot where the changed area belongs to 30. dtuong Forest actor (owner) Forest owners (CPC or HH or others) 31. machur Forest owner code Forest owner code 32. churung Forest owner name Full name of forest owners 33. quyensd Land use certificate Ownership type for that plot 34. thoihansd Land use tenure Land use tenure for that plot 35. trchap Conflict state Status of conflict for that plot 36. mangtrchap Code of conflict entity 37. ngtrchap Full name of conflict entity Code of conflict entity Full name of conflict entity 38. khoan Protection contract Status of forest protection contract 39. mangnk Code of contractor Code of entity who contracted for forest protection Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 61

66 No Field name Field alias Description 40. nguoink Name of contractor Full name of contractor for forest protection 41. ctdvmtr PFES Is this plot under PFES or not 42. kieubd Change type Is it deforestation or A/R 43. ngnhan Cause of change Cause of forest change (deforestation or A/R) 44. khthac Forest harvesting One of causes of deforestation 45. thgiankht Time of harvesting When the forest area was harvested 46. dtkhthac Harvested area Area of deforestation due to harvesting 47. trlkhthac Harvested timber volume 48. trltnkt Harvested bamboo volume 49. lamsinh Silvicultural treaments Timber volume of deforestation due to harvesting (not appeared on data input interface). Bamboo volume of deforestation due to harvesting (not appeared on data input interface). Silvicultural treatment activities that caused forest increasing 50. trongr Plantation type Is it newly planted or replanted. 51. khnuoi Regeneration Several types of forest regeneration 52. lskhac Other silviculture treatment 53. thls Time of silvicultural treatment 54. dtls Area of silvicultural treatment Other activities of silvicultural treatment When the silvicultural treatment taken place How large area of A/R due to silvicultural treatment 55. loairt Type of plantation Is it single species or multi-species planted 56. matdo Density Density of planted species 57. tacdong Incidents Incidents that caused deforestation 58. thtdong Time of incidents When the incidents taken place 59. dttdong Area of incidents How large of deforestation due to incidents 60. trltdong Volume of incidents Timber volume in deforested area due to incidents (not appeared on data input interface). 61. chuyenmd Conversion of purpose New purpose of land use after conversion 62. thcdoi Time of conversion When the conversion taken place 63. dtcdoi Converted area How large of area of converted. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 62

67 No Field name Field alias Description 64. trlcdoi Converted volume Timber volume of area that was converted (not appeared on data input interface). 65. trltncdoi Converted bamboo volume Bamboo volume in area that was converted (not appeared on data input interface). 66. ngnhank Other causes Other causes that make deforestation 67. thgiank Time of other causes 68. dtichkh Area of other causes 69. trlkh Volume of other cause Time that other causes taken place Deforested area due to other causes Deforested volume due to other causes 70. htrang Current status Current status of the plot after change District level users have to learn to be familiar with the above table, in order to know what each data field mean and how and where to update and recalculate of area. There is a customized data input interface plugin that customized by GIS consultant, to support users in attribute inputting in a friendly way. To update attribute data, district level users need first to open this plugin, as guided below. - Select layer that its attribute data to be updated (in this case, this is Master layer). - Click on small arrow next to Actions button and select Data Input Form. - Click directly on the feature which you want to update its attribute data After several correctly clicks as above, a new interface will appear. This is corresponding to attribute table of a single record (feature). Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 63

68 Below is detailed explanation of all tabs and each data field, including logical connection between data field when you are inputting attribute data. 4.1 Tab 1: Administrative information This interface provides administrative information which related to forest plot. To update and input data, district level users just need to select (on the fields which combo-box is available) predefined parameters, or type in (for the field which is not available to be selected) the data you have corrected. Any field to be null value, just click to check Null checkbox at the end of each null-able field. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 64

69 4.2 Tab 2: Management information This interface provides management information related to the plot. The Management type, Forest actor, Code of forest owner and Name of forest owner fields are conditionally and logically related each other. - If Not allocated/leased parameter is selected in Management type field, then CPC parameter have to be selected in Forest actor field, and next two fields of Code of forest owner and Name of forest owner have to be nulled. - If Allocated/leased parameter is selected in Management type field, then one of parameters other than CPC parameter have to be selected in Forest actor field, and next two fields of Code of forest owner and Name of forest owner have to be filled with code and name of a forest owner. The Land use certificate and Land use tenure fields are conditionally and logically related each other. - If No certificate parameter is selected in Land use certificate, then Land use tenure field have to be nulled. - If one of other parameters but not No certificate is selected, then Land use tenure have to be filled with year of expiry of that land use certificate. The Conflict situation, Code of conflicting owner and Name of conflicting owner fields are conditionally and logically related each other. - If No conflict is selected in Conflict situation, then next two fields of Code of conflicting owner and Name of conflicting owner have to be nulled. - If Conflict is selected in Conflict situation, then next two fields of Code of conflicting owner and Name of conflicting owner have to be filled with conflicting owner code and name respectively. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 65

70 The Protection contract state and Code of contractor and Name of contractor fields are conditionally and logically related each other. - If Not contracted parameter is selected in Protection contract state field, then Code of contractor and Name of contractor fields have to be nulled. - If Contracted parameter is selected in Protection contract state field, then Code of contractor and Name of contractor fields have to be filled with code and full name of the forest protection contractor(s). 4.3 Tab 3: Planning information This interface provides information on planning-related for the plot. The Forest use situation, Thee forest types and Forest function fields are conditionally and logically related each other. - If Outside forestry use is selected in Forest use situation, then Thee forest types and Forest function fields have to be nulled. - If In forestry use is selected in Forest use situation, then Thee forest types and Forest function fields have to be filled with information of 3 forest types planning and forest function. - Selection of parameters in Forest Function have to be depended on selection of parameters in Three forest types. Other data fields in this interface are not related together or to other field in this interface, however, all fields have to be filled with information from field data, which provided by surveyor. The Land use type and Area fields are the data of previous year, and district level users are not allowed to make any change on these two fields. So, these two fields are greyed-out with read-only information, so that district level users can know what type of land use before change. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 66

71 4.4 Tab 4: Plantation information This interface provides information and data about planted forest, before change. As same as other interface, district level users just need to select suitable predefined parameters in the combo-boxes, or type in line fields. For null value, users just need to click to tick equivalent checkboxes to set it to null (no data). 4.5 Tab 5: Information of change This is very important interface that provides information related to the changed area on the field, as well as current status of land use at the time of survey. District level users need to pay more attentions to this part. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 67

72 (1) The Type of change and Cause of change fields are conditional and logical related together: - If No changed parameter is selected in Type of change, then all below fields (except Current Status and Updated by ) have to be nulled. - If Forest increasing parameter is selected in Type of change, then one of parameters Silvicultural treatment or Plantation have to be selected in Cause of change field. - If Forest decreasing parameter is selected in Type of change, then one of the following parameters have to be selected in Cause of change field. Harvesting Incidents Land use purpose conversion Other cause (2) The Cause of change field is conditional and logical related with underneath fields by pairing, as detailed explanation below: Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 68

73 - If Incidents is selected in Cause of change, then Type of incident, Time of incident and Area of incident will have to be filled. Note that area of the feature will have to be calculated using Field calculator function of QGIS as being guided in Part 5 below, not typing manually. All other fields (except Current Status and Updated by ) have to be nulled. - If Land use purpose conversion parameter is selected in Cause of change, then New land use purpose, Time of conversion and Area of conversion fields have to be filled. Note that area of the feature will have to be calculated using Field calculator function of QGIS as being guided in Part 5 below, not typing manually. All other fields (except Current Status and Updated by ) have to be nulled. - If Harvesting parameter is selected in Cause of change, then Type of harvesting, Time of harvesting and Area of harvesting have to be filled. Note that area of the feature will have to be calculated using Field calculator function of QGIS as being guided in Part 5 below, not typing manually. All other fields (except Current Status and Updated by ) have to be nulled. - If Silvicultural treatment parameter is selected in Cause of change, then Type of silvicultural treatment, Time of treatment and Area of treatment have to be filled. Note that area of the feature will have to be calculated using Field calculator function of QGIS as being guided in Part 5 below, not typing manually. All other fields (except Current Status and Updated by ) have to be nulled. - If Plantation parameter is selected in Cause of change, then Status of plantation field and other fields related to plantation have to be filled. Note that area of the feature will have to be calculated using Field calculator function of QGIS as being guided in Part 5 below, not typing manually. All other fields (except Current Status and Updated by ) have to be nulled. - If Other causes parameter is selected in Cause of change, then typing name of the other cause in Changed by the other cause, Time of change and Area of change have to be filled. Note that area of the feature will have to be calculated using Field calculator function of QGIS as being guided in Part 5 below, not typing manually. All other fields (except Current Status and Updated by ) have to be nulled. - At Current status field, please select most appropriate parameter with current status of the feature at surveyed time (based on field pictures). (3) At Updated on field, please select current date to input. (4) At Updated by field, please type your full name. After input and update all necessary information and data, please click on OK button to save your results to database server. You have NOT done yet since area of the change in accordance with type of change is not updated. Please follow section 5 below to calculate such data. 5. Calculation and update area data. Area data will have to be calculated and updated specifically for each case, depending on type of change and cause of change. In addition, for the cases that one existing polygon was split into several new polygons, or a new changed feature was created from several parts of existing features, for such cases, area data have to be updated for both old and new polygons, for both original (previous year) plot area and area for specific type of change and cause of change. It is therefore, it will be very complicated to understand if this document make a guidance to update for every specific case, which may make readers to be confused. Instead, this document will guide how to calculate area, what are steps to do and expression of area calculation, so that users will know how to make area calculation and they will have to decide what field of area will have to be calculated and updated. All of area calculation work will be conducted with Field Calculator module in QGIS. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 69

74 To start with Field Calculator, district level users first need to open it, with below steps: (1) Open attribute table: - Click to select layer to calculate on (in this case, it is Master layer). - Select feature to calculate its area (as in no. 2 and 3) in below figure. - Right click on that layer (Master ) then select Open attribute table Attribute table of this layer will appear with all records (so many), you can navigate to record of the selected feature by clicking on Show all features on bottom-left corner of attribute table, then select Show selected features in drop-down list. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 70

75 - Attribute table will show only record(s) that corresponding with feature(s) you have selected at above steps. You can use horizontal slide bar to move then select the field you want to update area data. In this case, you are going to update the Plot area, which equal to dtlo field name. Please refer back to beginning part of section 4 above for explanation of field names. (2) Open Field Calculator function. - Please click on Open Field Calculator icon on middle-top of attribute table window, or simply press Ctrl and I on the keyboard at same time to open Field Calculator function. Once Field Calculator window is opened, users need to follow below steps: 1) Tick on check-box Only update ( ) selected features. If not, QGIS will understand that you want to update this field for all records. So, if you want to update area data for the feature(s) you have selected, you have to tick on this check-box. 2) Tick on check-box Update existing field. If not, you cannot select the field you want to calculate area on it. 3) Select dtlo (which equal to Plot Area (as explained in beginning part of section 4) in the drop-down list. 4) Type in Expression box with this expression: $area/10000 correctly. 5) Click on OK button to calculate and update area data for this field in a selected record. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 71

76 ) After that, you can check again area data in Plot Area field. You can see that area data has been updated. Now, you have already complete whole progress of updating data on your monitoring layer, from reading and analyzing field data reports, updating spatial data and attribute data, recalculate area data. It may be quite complicated steps to follow, so please try to practice as many as possible, to become familiar with procedures and steps. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 72

77 Important notes: To calculate other fields and for other records, just follow exactly same steps, actions and expression as above. However, when you want to update area data of the change in accordance with type of change and cause of change, you have to select right field (in the drop-down list as mentioned in point 3) above) of area data that corresponding to type of change and/or cause of change you have already updated in attribute table. This is the most important. Otherwise, you are updating wrong data, then you have to do many other steps to delete wrong data updated and to update right data again. Part VI - APPROVAL PROCESS According to the system design, it is necessary to approve the data which is being reported from district level to provincial level, in order to be as a official data for quality control, quality assurance and data approval at provincial level. For procedure of quality control and quality assurance of reporting data, it will have to be based on semiannual approved data from district FPD and for annual approval, it will have to be based on annual approved data from district FPD. It is therefore, there are two approval times at district level. 1. Semiannual approval of district level reporting data Every year, forest change area on the field are measured and reported by commune-based forest rangers to district FPD through database and district level users (district FPD technical staffs) will analyze and update to district level forest change monitoring data layer. This normal process is continuously conducted from January to June yearly. Provincial level, in accordance with this system design, will process a procedure of quality control and quality assurance on forest change monitoring data from district. This procedure will start from July 15 yearly. It is therefore, district level will take a semiannual approval process to approve its forest change monitoring data within their district jurisdiction. This process will have to be conducted in between from July 1 to July 15. Output data from this semiannual approval are just simple with a general report form 1 (Form 1: Forest and forestland area by forest functions) and a forest cover map as of the date of mapping, digitally printed to PDF format that could be sent via or online storage link to provincial level. For district level users (district FPD technical staffs), to know how to generate Report Form 1 (Forest and forestland area by forest functions) and forest cover map, please refer to Part VII - MAP COMPILATION and Part VIII - PRODUCTION OF REPORTS below. Map and report generated by district FPD technical staff will be then signed for appproval by district FPD leader before sending to provincial Sub-FPD as official semiannual reports. There should not be any difference between approved paper-based data and the one in the district s forest change monitoring data which is on database server. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 73

78 2. Quality control, quality assurance procedure at district level As explained above, provincial level will conduct a procedure of quality control and quality assurance of district level forest change monitoring data, based on the one that semiannual approved by district FPD leader. Once the reporting data from district level is received by Sub-FPD, provincial technical staffs will take their jobs on overlaying on latest satellite imagery data and detect possible changes on the district jurisdiction which was not reported by commune-based forest rangers and also not updated by respective district level users. An official request from provincial level for additional field checkings, measurings and reportings with attachments of MBTiles format files which contains circle-marked possible change areas to be sent to district FPD after July 15 yearly. Once this official request from provincial received, district FPD will assign corresponding communebased forest rangers to do additional check, measurements and report to database. District level users, once a month in between from July 15 to November 15, will conduct additional analyzing and updating of field change measured and reported data from commune-based forest rangers. Steps and actions to be carried out in this additional analyzing and updating are exactly same as normal data analysis and update, please refer to the other parts and sections within this user manual to learn more. District level FPD leader and staffs have to make sure that all forest area changes on the field have been updated and reported to provincial level. 3. Annual approval of district level reporting data As explained above, forest change monitoring activities at district level are conducted once per month during the time from January to middle of November every year. Semiannual approval of district data is requested for the district data as of the point by beginning of July, then this semiannual data will be updated during the time of additional reporting, from middle of July to middle of November. Once this duration of additional report and update ended, district level will approve this latest data to be as official district forest change data within current year. This district level approved forest change data will be consolidated as provincial level data to be approved by PPC and then to be sent to national level as official forest change data of the province. In order to be approved at district level, first district level users need to generate a district s forest cover map and all 25 report forms as regulated by VNFOREST and submit to district FPD leader for signature of approval. Depending on requirements, there may be other kind of maps to be compiled by district level, as it may not limited in only one district cover map. Actions and steps on how to generate maps and report forms are guided in Part VII - MAP COMPILATION and Part VIII - PRODUCTION OF REPORTS below. Again, there should not be any difference between approved paper-based data and the one in the district s forest change monitoring data which is on database server. This process of annual approval of district level reporting data should be done by the end of November yearly to secure enough time for provincial level users to do their job on consolidation of data and generate provincial maps and report forms to submit to PPC for approval and report to national level by the end of December. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 74

79 Part VII - MAP COMPILATION One of the big job of a GIS software is to support for map compilation. For QGIS, it might be quite easier and systematical than other GIS software with a user-friendly interface and easy to use. However, district level users need to follow a concrete procedure and progress to make it consolidation in map compilation, in order to follow the system design in development of maps. 1. Create a new map composer In order to compile a map, users firstly have to create a new map composer to compile a map, with below steps. 1.1 Load necessary layers to QGIS map canvas. Steps to load necessary layers to QGIS map canvas is same as guided above. There are two main data sources, one is from your local computer that can be data layers downloaded from database server before, or copied from others, or from.tab files in MapInfo; another data source is from database server directly. Click on this button to load data layers from your local PC Click on this button to load data layers from centralized database 1.2 Cutting and clipping necessary data There are several methods to cut or to clip a necessary data, such as select or clip data. Here below are detailed steps for each methodology Select data to be mapped Single feature to be mapped. This is normally for administrative boundary of the area that you want to map, e.g. district boundary or commune boundary or forest management board boundary. Steps below are to guide you how to select single feature to be mapped. - Select layer that contains feature you want to select. - Click on Select Feature then click directly on feature you want to select. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 75

80 Save this selected feature as a new shapefile, by right click on layer name, then select Save as A new dialog of Save vector layer as will appear, users need to set a new shapefile name but click on Browse button, then tick on Save only selected features check-box (Otherwise, QGIS will save all features in this layer, and it is not correct with what you want to save). After that, click on OK button to save this selected feature to a new shapefile. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 76

81 A new layer will be added automatically to map canvas with only saved selected features. You will style this layer in next step of 1.3 Styling map layers within map canvas Multiple features data to be mapped. There are other data sources with larger area data, for example, compartment or subcompartment data which to be needed to map. If users just load these data to map canvas, then it will show all data for bigger area, such as for all province while users need to make a district or commune map only. It is therefore, this data have to be fit with area that user is developing maps. To do so, we will conduct some steps to select area we want. To do selection, we will operate a query selection. First, we select layer to be queried then select the Select feature with expression button on middle-top toolbar on QGIS map canvas. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 77

82 2 1 A dialog of Select by expression will appear. In this case, we are going to select all subcompartments in a commune, so you will click on ( + ) sign at Fields and Values line, then double-click on communecode. This will appear on Expression window. Then, you will have to complete this expression with [ communecode = xxxxxx value of commune code]. After all, click on Select button to execute this query by expression Save this selected feature as a new shapefile, by following same steps in above, you will have new saved shapefile with all selected features (in this case, all sub-compartments in a commune with code 3202). Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 78

83 - Users can do same steps in this for selection of other data to be mapped, i.e. compartment layer Clip data to be mapped. For the other data source which are not managed by a specific administrative unit code, such as Three forest types layer, so users cannot select required area by expression as above. However, we will have another method to get data area we want, by clipping this data source with administrative layer, in this case, we will use result from section as an input for clipping. To clip an area from a layer: - Select Vector menu then select Geoprocessing tools then Clip A dialog for Clipping will appear. Users select: Input vector layer: This is source data (in this case, 3 forest type layer). Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 79

84 Clipping layer: This is base layer that the source data will be clipped (in this case, result from section above). Output shapefile: This is new shapefile to be created from clipping result. - After selecting the above parameters, click on OK button to clip data A few moment of waiting, a new shapefile of clipped data will be load automatically to map canvas Creating a buffer border. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 80

85 To create a buffer with several colors, we need to create several buffer layer then style them to become buffer. Please follow below steps: - Select boundary layer to become buffer. - Open buffering function by selecting Vector menu, then Geoprocessing tools then Buffer(s) submenu A dialog for creating buffers will appear, users have to select correctly the layer to be buffered, then set buffer distance (the distance from border line of source layer to border line of buffer layer), normally at value of 20 for maps at scale of to After that, set a name for output shapefile (we use buffer1.shp ) for this first buffer and then click on OK button to create this layer Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 81

86 - After the first buffer layer created, this dialog will not closed automatically, allowing users to create other buffer. This time, user set buffer distance to zero (so that this border is totally fit with border of main layer) and shapefile name is buffer2.shp. After loading and creating necessary data to be shown on printing map, users need to style it. Please refer to section 1.3 below to know how to style map layers. 1.3 Styling map layers within map canvas Map layers need to be styled in order to have technical and professional look in printed map. There are several templates for map styling, created and provided in line with this manual. So, district level users just need to apply appropriate templates for specific layers, with below steps. - Right click on layer you want to style, then select Properties command. - Properties window of the selected layer will appear, please click on Style button on bottomleft corner of this Properties window, then select Load style > Load from file. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 82

87 Then, a browsing window will appear, users have to select appropriate style template for specific layer in a folder of styling templates provided in line with this manual. - Once users clicked on OK button, a new style will be applied for selected layer. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 83

88 - User will have to do same steps as for this layer to style other map layers in map canvas. Note that each layer have specific template. After styling all map layers, map canvas will look like in below figure and it is ready to be layout on map composer window. 1.4 Making a map composer After loading and styling necessary layers and data, now you are ready for making a map on a map composer. To do so, please click on New printing composer button on QGIS interface, then naming a new composer. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 84

89 A window of map composer will appear, district level users will work on this window mainly to develop a map. 1.5 Adjustment of size and orientation of paper: Before adding map layers and map elements to map composer in order to print, users need to prepare paper size, paper orientation of map, so that users can draw map on this paper size and orientation. To do so, please click on Composition tab and change parameter. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 85

90 For our purpose, we are going to draw a map on A0 size, landscape orientation, with a 300 dpi resolution. 2. Loading necessary data layers in map composer - To load data layers from map canvas to map composer, user can select Add map layers tool in one of two way below. - Then, using the mouse to drag a suitable area on blank paper window, with note that other spaces are required for map title (on the top) and other supporting information and scale bar (on the bottom of this page). When the mouse is released, all data layers from map canvas will be loaded to map composer, as below. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 86

91 - Next, users need to move to Item properties on right side of Map Composer window to round map scale. At scale line, change value to suitable rounded number. For this case, map will be scaled at 1:20000, so we type here value of After rescaling, map may not very nice layout and aligned with paper and frame, users can adjust it, by using Move item content, then click on inside map frame to move content to symmetrical layout. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 87

92 1 2 If you want to add more data layer(s) to the map, just load that layer(s) to map canvas and style it, or if you want to remove any layer from this map composer, just deactivate or remove it from map canvas. All changes will be loaded into map composer accordingly. 3. Adding other map elements A printing map is not only consisting data layers, but there are many other elements, including (but not limited to) Map title, main data contents (loaded), map frame, grid lines with coordinates numbers, legends, North arrow, scale bar, other text information, This part is guiding through for making a completed map with the above elements. 3.1 Setting map frame and grid lines with coordinate numbering. Steps to set map frame and grid lines with coordinate numbering are: - Select map frame by select Select/Move item button then click on main body of map. After that, go to Item properties and slide down to near bottom of Item properties part, where you can tick on check-box Frame with black arrow. Please setting a value of 4 mm (or depending on what value you want) in Thickness line. After these clicks, you will see that a thicken map frame have been set. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 88

93 Next, go up a little bit on Item properties window, click to expand Grids line and then click on + button to add a grid. Setting grid value in Interval X and Y with 1000 unit. After these setting, you will see grid lines on your map frame, however without X, Y (or E, N) coordinates data Next, please slide down the same Item properties window, where you can see Draw coordinates check-box. Please tick this check-box to enable coordinates data, then set parameters in Left and Right to Vertical ascending, then set value in Distance to map frame to 3.0 mm and value in Coordinate precision to zero (0). After these setting, you will see coordinates data appear surrounding your map frame. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 89

94 Now you have complete on setting map frame, grid lines and coordinate data for your map. Now you are ready for adding other elements. 3.2 Adding map title Steps to add map title are: - Click to select Add new label button. - Drag a suitable frame on blank space on middle top of map frame. - Item properties will automatically change to control this newly added label. Please change QGIS text in the box to map title you want to place. - In Appearance part, you can change and style the text, by click to open Font button, then changing font type, font style and font size (somehow like doing in MS Words). After these steps, you will have map title set, as below figure. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 90

95 Adding map legend Steps to add a map legend are: - Click to select Add new legend button. - Drag a suitable frame on blank within map frame. - When you release your mouse, a legend with so many unnecessary information and data will be added to the map frame and Item properties will automatically change to control this newly added legend. 1 2 Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 91

96 - We are going to customize on new Item properties windows. Uncheck the Auto update check-box to enable customization. Click on Filter Legend button to remove unnecessary legend. Select each item on the list then click on red - button to remove, one by one. You also can change font size/type and symbol size by expanding these part and make change there After these steps, you will have map legend as below figure. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 92

97 3.4 Adding North arrow Steps to add a North arrow are: - Click to select Add image button, then drag a suitable frame on blank within map frame. - When you release your mouse, a small blank frame will be added to the map frame and Item properties will automatically change to control this newly added item To add an arrow, please click to expand Search directories part in Item properties, then select appropriate icon for North arrow. Once icon is selected, it will automatically added into drawn frame. 1 2 Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 93

98 3.5 Adding scale bar Steps to add a scale bar are: - Click to select Add new scale bar button, then click on a suitable point on blank space outside and middle bottom of map frame. - When you release your mouse, a scale bar will be added to the map frame and Item properties will automatically change to control this newly added item. - You can change some parameters on Item properties window. After these steps, you will have map legend as below figure. 3.6 Adding text information Steps for adding text boxes for other information, such as Data source or Who made the map are same as adding map title, but text is smaller. So, please refer to section 3.2 Adding map title for further guidance. Basically, a ready-for-print map will look like below figure: Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 94

99 4. Printing compiled map. You have already developed a professional map, and now is the time for print it. If you have a big-size (A0 or more) color printer connected to your computer, you can click on Print button right now. Otherwise, you can export to PDF format file by clicking on Export as PDF button then copy exported file for printing outside, or send this copy to higher level for reporting in line with reports. To printer To PDF Part VIII - PRODUCTION OF REPORTS This Part guides through to district level users on how to export reports in accordance with regulation of report formats and templates of VNFOREST. Basically, the formats and templates are somehow same as formats and templates in DBR software, however with several adjustment and improvements based on consultation with VNFOREST and FORMIS II Project. Production of reports in QGIS is never such easier before with a custom module which designed and developed for the PFMS. Steps and tasks to be conducted with this production of reports are just several mouse clicks to select level of report and format of reports. All other jobs will be done by scripts and district level users will have accurate, updated reports which are ready to send to higher level or to submit for approval. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 95

100 1. Establishment of connection to database server Steps to be conducted to establish a connection from user s computer to database server are: Open QGIS then open Report Module by select Database menu, then select ReportModule in sub-menu. Another method is click on JICA logo button. A dialog of Report Module will appear, please select top Tab of Database server to connect to database server. Within this tab, please select Selection of connection to load the connections in QGIS to this module. When connection is established successfully, you will see a list of data layers. Please select a Master layer of your district to produce reports from that data layer. If you want to view this data in QGIS map canvas, please click on View spatial data button, this layer will be loaded into QGIS map canvas, exactly same as loading layers from database to QGIS canvas as usual. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 96

101 Next steps are productions of reports in accordance with regulation. 2. Production of reports 2.1 Form 1: Forest and forestland area by forest function This Form provides data on forest and forestland area by forest function (three forest type) at whole district level or detailed to commune, compartment, sub-compartment or forest owners, including households or individuals. You have to click on Call data button before can select all levels with your purpose, from provincial level down to forest owner level. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 97

102 After that, you can select level or administrative unit to produce report for that level or unit. If you want to produce this Form 1 report for a commune, you can select province, district then commune you want to have report. When administrative unit or level to produce report for, you have 3 options: (1) load spatial data to QGIS canvas as normal; or (2) export this FORM 1 to Excel format; or (3) Export to PDF format. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 98

103 Option 1 (load spatial data to QGIS canvas) allows users to load filtered data as selected, just for data of forest and forestland area by forest function to QGIS canvas, so that user can develop visual map to attach to report form. Details on how to develop a map has already guided above. Option 2 (export this FORM 1 to Excel format) allows users to export queried and filtered attribute data to an Excel file, which users can add some additional info, such as place name of approval personnel. From this Excel file, users can print out for signature and stamp or send to higher level via for reporting. Option 3 (export this FORM 1 to PDF format) allows users to export queried and filtered attribute data to PDF format, which users will not able to add additional information, just print out for signature and stamp or send to higher level via for reporting. 2.2 Form 1A: Special use forest area. This form 1A provides data of special use forest area, for a district or detailed to commune, compartment, sub-compartment or forest owner (Special use forest management board). To produce this FORM 1A: Special use forest area, users need to follow steps and actions as guided in production of FORM 1 report above. 2.3 Form 1B: Protection forest area. This form 1B provides data of Protection forest area, for a district or detailed to commune, compartment, sub-compartment or forest owner (Protection forest management board). To produce this FORM 1B: Protection forest area, users need to follow steps and actions as guided in production of FORM 1 report above. 2.4 Form 1C: Production forest area. This form 1C provides data of Production forest area, for a district or detailed to commune, compartment, sub-compartment or forest owner (household or community or even an individual) To produce this FORM 1C: Production forest area, users need to follow steps and actions as guided in production of FORM 1 report above. 2.5 Form 2: Forest area by ownership This Form 2 provides data of forest area by ownership (Community or SUFMB or PFMB or CPC ) for a district or detailed to commune, compartment, sub-compartment or forest owner. To produce this FORM 2: Forest area by ownership, users need to follow steps and actions as guided in production of FORM 1 report above. 2.6 Form 2A: Forest area in forestry use (within three forest type) by ownership. This Form 2A provides data of forest area in forestry use (within three forest type) by ownership (Community or SUFMB or PFMB or CPC ) for a district or detailed to commune, compartment, subcompartment or forest owner. To produce this FORM 2A: Forest area in forestry use (within three forest type) by ownership, users need to follow steps and actions as guided in production of other reports above. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 99

104 2.7 Form 3: Change in forest area by cause of change and forest type This Form 3 provides data on changes in forest area by cause of change and forest type (including forest area decreasing and forest area increasing) for a district or detailed to commune, compartment, sub-compartment or forest owner. To produce this FORM 3: Changes in forest area by cause of change and forest type, users need to follow steps and actions as guided in production of other reports above. 2.8 Form 4: Forest cover ratio This Form 4 provides data on forest cover ratio for a district or detailed to commune, compartment, sub-compartment or forest owner. To produce this FORM 4: Forest cover ratio, users need to follow steps and actions as guided in production of other reports above. 2.9 Form 5: Area of plantation forests by tree species and age classes This Form 5 provides data on Area of plantation forests by tree species and age classes for a district or detailed to commune, compartment, sub-compartment or forest owner. To produce this FORM 5: Area of plantation forests by tree species and age classes, users need to follow steps and actions as guided in production of other reports above Form 5A: Area of plantation forests in special use forest by tree species and age classes This Form 5A provides data on Area of plantation forests in special use forest by tree species and age classes for a district or detailed to commune, compartment, sub-compartment or forest owner. To produce this FORM 5A: Area of plantation forests in special use forest by tree species and age classes, users need to follow steps and actions as guided in production of other reports above Form 5B: Area of plantation forests in protection forest by tree species and age classes This Form 5B provides data on Area of plantation forests in protection forest by tree species and age classes for a district or detailed to commune, compartment, sub-compartment or forest owner. To produce this FORM 5B: Area of plantation forests in protection forest by tree species and age classes, users need to follow steps and actions as guided in production of other reports above Form 5C: Area of plantation forests in production forest by tree species and age classes This Form 5C provides data on Area of plantation forests in production forest by tree species and age classes for a district or detailed to commune, compartment, sub-compartment or forest owner. To produce this FORM 5C: Area of plantation forests in production forest by tree species and age classes, users need to follow steps and actions as guided in production of other reports above Form 5D: Area of plantation forests outside of forestry use by tree species and age classes This Form 5D provides data on Area of plantation forests on outside of forestry land by tree species and age classes for a district or detailed to commune, compartment, sub-compartment or forest owner. To produce this FORM 5D: Area of plantation forests on outside of forestry land by tree species and age classes, users need to follow steps and actions as guided in production of other reports above. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 100

105 2.14 Form 6: Change in forest area by cause of change and forest type This Form 6 provides data on changes in forest area by cause of change and forest type (including forest area decreasing and forest area increasing) for a district or detailed to commune, compartment, sub-compartment or forest owner. To produce this FORM 6: Changes in forest area by cause of change and forest type, users need to follow steps and actions as guided in production of other reports above Form 7: Forest area by forest function and forest origin This Form 7 provides data on Forest area by forest function and forest origin for a district or detailed to commune, compartment, sub-compartment or forest owner. To produce this FORM 7: Forest area by forest function and forest origin, users need to follow steps and actions as guided in production of other reports above Form 7A: Forest area by forest function and forest origin within special use forest This Form 7A provides data on Forest area by forest function and forest origin within special use forest for a district or detailed to commune, compartment, sub-compartment or forest owner. To produce this FORM 7A: Forest area by forest function and forest origin within special use forest, users need to follow steps and actions as guided in production of other reports above Form 7B: Forest area by forest function and forest origin within protection forest This Form 7B provides data on Forest area by forest function and forest origin within protection forest for a district or detailed to commune, compartment, sub-compartment or forest owner. To produce this FORM 7B: Forest area by forest function and forest origin within protection forest, users need to follow steps and actions as guided in production of other reports above Form 7C: Forest area by forest function and forest origin within production forest This Form 7C provides data on Forest area by forest function and forest origin within production forest for a district or detailed to commune, compartment, sub-compartment or forest owner. To produce this FORM 7C: Forest area by forest function and forest origin within production forest, users need to follow steps and actions as guided in production of other reports above Form 7D: Forest area by forest function and forest origin outside forestry use This Form 7D provides data on Forest area by forest function and forest origin outside forestry use for a district or detailed to commune, compartment, sub-compartment or forest owner. To produce this FORM 7D: Forest area by forest function and forest origin outside forestry use, users need to follow steps and actions as guided in production of other reports above Form 8: Forest and forestland allocation situation by ownership. This Form 8 provides data on Forest and forestland allocation situation by ownership for a district or detailed to commune, compartment, sub-compartment or forest owner. To produce this FORM 8: Forest and forestland allocation situation by ownership, users need to follow steps and actions as guided in production of other reports above. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 101

106 2.21 Monitoring form 1: Harvesting by forest function. This Monitoring Form 1 provides data on Harvesting of forest by forest function for a district or detailed to commune, compartment, sub-compartment or forest owner. To produce this MONITORING FORM 1: Harvesting of forest by forest function, users need to follow steps and actions as guided in production of other reports above Monitoring form 2: Harvesting by forest types. This Monitoring Form 2 provides data on Harvesting of forest by forest type for a district or detailed to commune, compartment, sub-compartment or forest owner. To produce this MONITORING FORM 2: Harvesting of forest by forest type, users need to follow steps and actions as guided in production of other reports above Monitoring form 3: Harvesting by forest owners. This Monitoring Form 3 provides data on Harvesting of forest by forest owners for a district or detailed to commune, compartment, sub-compartment or forest owner. To produce this MONITORING FORM 3: Harvesting of forest by forest owners, users need to follow steps and actions as guided in production of other reports above Monitoring form 4: Area of silvicultural treatments by forest types This Monitoring Form 3 provides data on Area of silvicultural treatments by forest types for a district or detailed to commune, compartment, sub-compartment or forest owner. To produce this MONITORING FORM 4: Area of silvicultural treatments by forest types, users need to follow steps and actions as guided in production of other reports above Monitoring form 5: Area of silvicultural treatments by ownership This Monitoring Form 5 provides data on Area of silvicultural treatments by ownership for a district or detailed to commune, compartment, sub-compartment or forest owner. To produce this MONITORING FORM 4: Area of silvicultural treatments by ownership, users need to follow steps and actions as guided in production of other reports above Other forms (for other purposes) In addition to the above reporting forms, there are several reporting forms will be integrated for other purposes, such as quick reports in FPD sector, or reporting form for PFES implementation. Currently, such additional report forms has not been integrated into this system yet, so guidance for these such reporting forms will be added to the next version of this document. Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 102

107 Afterword This Operation Manual is among a series of outputs from the Project for Sustainable Forest Management in the Northwest Watershed Area (SUSFORM-NOW) funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The project is being implemented from August 2010 to August 2015 with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) of Dien Bien Province, and Dien Bien Provincial People's Committee (PPC). Any inquiry on the project should be addressed to: JICA Viet Nam Office Address: 11F CornerStone Bldg., 16 Phan Chu Trinh, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi, Viet Nam Phone: Operation Manual of Provincial Forest Monitoring Database for District-FPDs Page 103