Sketch Classes

In SeaSketch, sketch classes are the things you draw, such as zones, and potentially analyze as prospective plans.

Adding Sketch Classes

To add a sketch class click the "Add +" button. Sketch classes include Simple Polygons, Simple Lines, Marine Protected Areas and Collections. Collections are just as they sound like: collections of multiple sketches that can be analyzed as a whole. This is not to be confused with a simple folder which is just a bucket to hold muliple sketches or collections but cannot be analyzed. We cover creating folders in the End User Documentation.

Dialog box for adding a new sketch class to your project.

Simple Polygon

Simple polygons could be any zone type, for example an "mariculture zone". The settings tab allows you to give it a name and limit who sees it (using Access Control).

After creating and using your sketch class, you may wish to hide it. Perhaps you no longer have a use for it and you don't want to confuse your users by having it persist in the Project. If this is the case, toggle the Archive to "on". You can always restore it in the future.

Archive is turned "off" in this case, so the sketch class will still appear in the Project View.

You may also choose to delete a sketch class but this is only possible if your users have created fewer than 10 sketches. This is to prevent "orphaned" shapes they may have drawn.

If you simply archive your old sketch classes, this option is probably not needed.

Attribute Form

Create as many attributes for a sketch that are useful. Possible attribute fields include:

• Email

• Multiple Choice (multiple or single selection)

• Short Text

• Text Area

• Number

• Rating (1-5 stars)

• Statements (which can provide information to users)

• Combo Box (similar to Multiple Choice but presented in a dropdown list).

• Matrix

Notice that for any given attribute, you can edit the options associated with it by clicking the pencil icon next to the attribute in the form. In the example below, the Multipe Choice options include Required (on/off), Export ID (the column name used when exporting data), Change to Comobo Box and Options (for labels and values).

Editing the attributes of a simple polygon.

Geoprocessing

A sketch can be configured with a preprocessing service and geoprocessing service. A preprocessing service is used to transform or validate a sketch, for example erasing land from a polygon intended to overlap water or ensuring a zone falls within a nations exclusive economic zone (EEZ). A geoprocessing service defines the reporting tools that will appear when analyzing a sketch, such as calculating the amount of overlap with seafloor habitats or human activities.

Services are used by entering the URL of that service. For example, the following URL is a preprocessing service that removes land from a sketch using the Open Street Map land polygons:

https://h13gfvr460.execute-api.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/prodh13gfvr460.execute-api.us-west-2.amazonaws.com

Copy this URL to use as a preprocessing service

Simply enter the above URL into the preprocessing service of your simple polygon

Entering the URL of the preprocessing service

Click "Search"

Identifying the preprocessing service you would like to use

And then choose the preprocessing service you would like to use. In this case, the name of the preprocessing service si called "eraseLand", a service thag was written by Chad Burt on May 5, 2020.

Geoprocessing services that are used to analyze sketches and generate reports are significantly more complicated to add. This is because, at the time of this writing, we do not have generic geoprocessing services you can use. These services must be written using our Geprocessing Framework which is documented here on GitHub.

In the future, we will have an Application Programming Interface (API) that will allow 3rd party developers to create their own geoprocessing services and reports, then link them up to sketch classes in their own project. Stay tuned for this functionality and note that this will likely only allow experienced programmers to develop analytics and reports for sketches. In the meantime, you can contract one of our developers at SeaSketch to develop these reports for you. Contact us at [e-mail].

Style

This feature is not yet available. In the near future, you will be able to apply different styles to your sketches. For example, marine protected area sketch classes could be colored blue while mariculture sketches could be colored green.