Guide: Digital Planting Plan - AgroForest Designer

Content

Guide: Digital Planting Plan - AgroForest Designer

This guide describes all functionalities of the Digital Planting Plan module of AgroForest Designer. The module is a powerful, interactive 2D planning environment for designing agroforestry systems, food forests, and permaculture layouts.

📋 Table of Contents

  1. Overview
  2. User Interface
  3. Placing Plants
  4. Plant Zones
  5. Map Navigation and Tools
  6. Drawing Tools
  7. Measurements and Distances
  8. Sun Position and Shadow Analysis
  9. Harvest Calendar
  10. Inventory
  11. Structure Templates
  12. Annotations
  13. Orthomap Overlays
  14. Ground Control Markers
  15. Saving and Loading Plans
  16. 3D Visualization
  17. PDF Export (Pro)
  18. Keyboard Shortcuts
  19. Dark Mode Support
  20. Mobile Support

Overview

The Digital Planting Plan is the core functionality of AgroForest Designer. It allows users to:

  • Place plants on an interactive satellite map with exact GPS coordinates
  • Draw plant zones for larger areas with the same plant species
  • Simulate shadows based on sun position throughout the year
  • Generate harvest calendars for all placed plants
  • Measure distances and document the terrain
  • Save plans and load them later for further editing
  • View 3D visualizations of the design

Requirements

  • An active project with defined project boundaries
  • Modern web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)
  • Internet connection for Google Maps

User Interface

The interface consists of three main components:

1. Viewport (Main Area)

The central map area where all elements are displayed and edited.

2. Sidebar (Side Panel)

The right panel contains all tools and options, organized in tabs:

Tab Function
Plants Plant list, filters, search function
Plant Info Details about selected plant
Annotations Text and marking functions
Templates Structure templates (buildings, ponds, etc.)
Drawings Drawing tools for shapes
Paths Path design tools
Sun Sun position and shadow controls
Settings Map settings and display options
Elevation Elevation contours (Pro)
Sort Sorting options for plant list

3. Header Bar

Contains: - Project name and current plan name - Toolbar with shortcuts to frequently used functions - Save/Load buttons - 3D View button (Pro)

4. Status Bar

At the bottom: displays information about the current plan and selected elements.

Placing Plants

Recipes vs. All Plants

There are two modes for selecting plants:

  1. Recipe Mode: Select a recipe from the dropdown to show only the plants in that recipe
  2. All Plants Mode: Search through the entire plant database

Placing a Plant

  1. Select a plant from the plant list (click on the plant card)
  2. Position the crosshair at the desired location on the map
  3. Click "Place" or use the keyboard shortcut

The plant appears as: - A circle representing the canopy width - A height indicator (vertical line with top circle) - A safety circle (optional, shows minimum plant spacing) - A center marker for exact positioning

Trunk Type Selection (for Trees)

When placing trees, you can choose from three trunk types:

Trunk Type Trunk Height Description
Low trunk ~0.6m Suitable for small gardens, easy harvest
Half trunk ~1.5m Balance between harvest and size
High trunk ~2.0m+ Classic tree form with maximum height

Tip: Check "Remember my choice" to save the preference.

Editing a Plant

After selecting a plant, you can:

  1. Move - Drag the plant to a new location (only selected plants are draggable)
  2. Arrow keys - Fine-tune position
  3. Normal: small steps
  4. With Shift: larger steps
  5. Delete - Press Delete or Backspace

Viewing Plant Properties

Click on a placed plant to open the Plant Info tab with:

  • Basic information: Name, scientific name, layer
  • Dimensions: Height, width
  • Harvest period: When harvesting is possible
  • Properties: Soil type, pH, sunlight, etc.
  • Guild plants: Suitable companion plants

Plant Zones

Plant Zones are areas where the same plant species is planted in mass (e.g., groundcovers, herbs).

Drawing a Zone

  1. Select a plant from the plant list
  2. Click "Zone" button instead of "Place"
  3. Draw the zone by clicking points on the map
  4. Close the zone with double-click or right-click

Zone Properties

The zone automatically calculates: - Area in m² or hectare - Estimated number of plants based on plant spacing - Accounting for: - 10% space for paths - 85% efficient placement

Editing a Zone

  1. Select the zone by clicking on it
  2. Edit - Adjust corner points by dragging
  3. Save or Cancel changes
  4. Delete - Permanently remove from the map

Map Navigation and Tools

Basic Navigation

Action Method
Pan Drag with mouse / touchpad
Zoom Scroll wheel / pinch gesture
Rotate Shift + drag (or two-finger rotate)
Tilt Ctrl + drag up/down

Map Type

Switch between: - Satellite - Aerial photo for detailed planning - Roadmap - Street map with labels - Terrain - Topographic view - Hybrid - Satellite with labels

Toolbar Buttons

Button Function
🎯 Crosshair Toggle center crosshair for precise placement
📏 Measure Start distance measurement
🔵 Safety Circles Toggle safety circles around plants
📐 Height Lines Toggle height indicators
🌐 Grid Toggle grid overlay
🌤️ Shadows Toggle shadow display
🏠 Center Center map on project location
💾 Save Save the current plan
📂 Load Load a previously saved plan
🎬 3D Open 3D visualization (Pro)

Overlay (Mask)

The area outside the project boundaries is masked. Settings: - Color - Background color of the mask - Transparency - Opacity of the mask

Grid Settings

Setting Description
Size Grid size in meters (default 3.5m)
Color Color of grid lines
Transparency Opacity
Offset X/Y Grid offset

Drawing Tools

Available Shapes

  1. Circle - Round shape with adjustable radius
  2. Rectangle - Rectangular shape
  3. Polygon - Freehand polygon

Creating a Drawing

  1. Open the Drawings tab
  2. Select a shape type
  3. Draw on the map:
  4. Circle: Click center, drag for radius
  5. Rectangle: Click two opposite corners
  6. Polygon: Click points, double-click to finish

Drawing Properties

Each drawing has: - Name - Identification - Height - Height in meters (for shadow calculation) - Color - Fill color - Description - Optional notes

Editing a Drawing

  • Select - Click on the drawing
  • Move - Drag in selected mode
  • Adjust shape - Edit corner points (edit mode)
  • Delete - Select and press Delete

Measurements and Distances

Starting a Line Measurement

  1. Click on the Measure button (📏)
  2. Click starting point on the map
  3. Add points by continuing to click
  4. Finish with right-click

Measurement Information

During measurement you see: - Intermediate distance - Distance from last point - Total distance - Sum of all segment distances

Area Measurement

Close the line to create a polygon: - Perimeter is automatically calculated - Area in m² or hectare

Editing a Measurement

  1. Select a measurement by clicking on it
  2. Edit points - Drag individual points
  3. Save/Cancel changes
  4. Delete - Via right-click or delete button

Sun Position and Shadow Analysis

One of the most powerful features for planning light conditions.

Sun Tab

Control sun position with: - Month - Select the month (1-12) - Day - Select the day - Hour - Slider for time of day (0-24)

Shadow Display

Shadows are calculated based on: - Sun position (azimuth and altitude) - Plant/drawing height - Plant/drawing width

Toggle: Toggle shadows with the 🌤️ button

Advanced Sun Compass

A visual compass showing: - Current sun position (yellow dot) - Sun path for the selected day - Seasonal paths (optional) - Azimuth and altitude direction

Settings

Setting Description
Size Compass size in % of viewport
Position Corner position (topleft, topright, etc.)
Projection Stereographic or equidistant
Altitude lines Show altitude lines
Azimuth lines Show direction lines

Sun Animation

Animate sun position over the day: 1. Set start hour 2. Set end hour 3. Click Play to start animation 4. Adjust speed with slider

Harvest Calendar

Opening the Calendar

  1. Go to the Plants tab
  2. Open the Harvest Calendar sub-tab
  3. The calendar is automatically generated

Calendar View

By Layer (default): Separate calendars for each forest layer: - Canopy layer - Shrub layer - Herb layer - Groundcovers - Climbers

Full Calendar: All plants in one overview

Filters

Filter Description
Layer Filter by specific forest layer
Month Show only plants harvestable in specific month
Only harvestable Show only currently harvestable plants
Sort by Name, layer, or harvest period

Reading the Calendar

  • Green highlighted cells = Harvestable months
  • Intensity = Peak harvest period
  • Click on a plant for details

Inventory

Inventory Tab

Shows an overview of all placed elements:

  • Plants - Grouped by species with counts
  • Zones - Zones with estimated plant count
  • Drawings - List of drawn objects

Search and Filter

  • Search bar - Filter by name
  • Categories - Filter by element type

Inventory Usage

The inventory is useful for: - Overview of required plants - Preparing orders - Cost calculation (with Pro subscription)

Structure Templates

Pre-defined shapes for buildings, ponds, and other structures.

Available Categories

  • Buildings - Houses, barns, greenhouses
  • Water - Ponds, ditches, springs
  • Infrastructure - Roads, paths, parking lots
  • Garden elements - Pergolas, terraces

Placing a Template

  1. Open the Templates tab
  2. Browse through categories
  3. Select a template
  4. Place by clicking on the map
  5. Customize:
  6. Scale - Adjust size
  7. Rotate - Turn the template
  8. Move - Drag to position

Managing Placed Templates

  • List of all placed templates
  • Toggle visibility per template
  • Delete via right-click or delete button

Annotations

Add text and notes to your plan.

Annotation Types

  1. Text - Simple text labels
  2. Markers - Points with description
  3. Descriptions - Extended text blocks

Adding an Annotation

  1. Open the Annotations tab
  2. Select type
  3. Click on the map for position
  4. Enter text
  5. Adjust styling (color, size, background)

Annotation Properties

Property Description
Text The content of the annotation
Color Text color
Background Background color and transparency
Size Font size
Position GPS coordinates

Orthomap Overlays

Upload custom aerial photos or maps as overlay.

Uploading an Orthomap

  1. Open the Settings tab
  2. Go to Orthomaps section
  3. Select file (PNG, JPG)
  4. Position the overlay on the map
  5. Adjust transparency

Managing Orthomaps

  • Transparency slider - Adjust opacity
  • Hide/Show - Toggle visibility
  • Delete - Permanently remove

Note: Orthomaps are stored on the server and restored when loading the plan.

Ground Control Markers

Reference points for accurate positioning.

Placing a Marker

  1. Open the Ground Control tab
  2. Click on Add marker
  3. Position on the map
  4. Optionally add description

Distance Lines

When selecting a plant/zone, distance lines are drawn to all ground control markers, useful for: - Navigation in the field - Accurate positioning - Measuring distances

Saving and Loading Plans

Saving

Quick Save (Ctrl+S): - Saves directly to current plan - Only available after first save

Save As: 1. Click on Save button 2. Choose Update existing plan or New plan 3. Enter name (for new plan) 4. Click Save

Loading

  1. Click on Load button
  2. Select a plan from the list
  3. Plan is loaded with all elements

What Gets Saved

  • ✅ All placed plants with positions
  • ✅ Plant zones
  • ✅ Drawings
  • ✅ Paths
  • ✅ Annotations
  • ✅ Structure templates
  • ✅ Ground control markers
  • ✅ Orthomap overlays

Starting a New Plan

Click on New Plan to: - Remove all elements - Get a clean workspace - Current changes will be lost (confirmation required)

3D Visualization

Pro Feature - View your plan in 3D.

Opening 3D

  1. Save the plan first
  2. Click on the 3D button
  3. The visualization opens in a new window

3D Navigation

  • Rotate - Drag with left mouse button
  • Pan - Drag with right mouse button
  • Zoom - Scroll wheel
  • Time slider - View growth through the years

3D Display Options

  • Growth percentage - 0-100% of mature size
  • Season - Spring, summer, autumn, winter
  • Shadows - On/off

PDF Export (Pro)

Export your plan as professional PDF.

Export Options

  • Scale - 1:100, 1:200, 1:500, etc.
  • Paper size - A4, A3, A2, A1, A0
  • Orientation - Landscape or portrait
  • Content:
  • Plant legend
  • Area calculations
  • Harvest calendar
  • Plant list

Keyboard Shortcuts

Shortcut Action
Arrow keys Move selected plant
Shift + Arrow keys Larger steps
Delete / Backspace Delete selected element
Escape Cancel current action / close mode

General

Shortcut Action
Ctrl + S Quick Save

Dark Mode Support

The interface automatically adapts to dark mode:

Elements that Adapt

  • Map overlay - Darker background
  • Grid lines - Better visibility
  • Height lines - Cyan color for contrast
  • Plant markers - Adjusted brightness
  • Interface elements - Full dark theme

Activation

Dark mode is automatically detected based on system preferences or can be manually set via the theme toggle.

Mobile Support

The Digital Planting Plan module also works on mobile devices.

Touch Gestures

Gesture Action
Tap Select
Long press Context menu
Drag Move
Pinch Zoom
Two-finger rotate Rotate map

Mobile Interface

  • Sidebar - Slides in from the right
  • Toggle button - Hamburger menu
  • Optimal display - Responsive design

Mobile Limitations

  • Drawing complex shapes can be more difficult
  • Recommended for planning, less for design
  • Desktop recommended for extensive work

Common Problems

Plant doesn't appear on map

  • Check if the position is within the project boundaries
  • Refresh the page and try again
  • Check if the recipe is loaded correctly

Shadows are not displayed

  • Enable shadows with the 🌤️ button
  • Check if plants have a height > 0

Orthomap doesn't load

  • Check the file format (PNG/JPG)
  • File size shouldn't be too large
  • Try a smaller file

3D button is disabled

  • Save the plan first
  • 3D is only available for Pro subscribers

Tips for Efficient Design

  1. Start with large elements - Place trees first, then shrubs, then groundcovers
  2. Use the grid - Helps with regular plant spacing
  3. Check shadows - Test for summer AND winter
  4. Save regularly - Use Quick Save (Ctrl+S)
  5. Use zones - Much more efficient than individual plants for mass planting
  6. Annotate your plan - Add notes for yourself or others
  7. View in 3D - Gives better insight into the final situation
Getting Started