How to bulk create Area Search Sampling Units

Owned by Dianne Miller
Last updated: Jul 13, 2022
3 min read

Go to the Bulk Uploader (https://data.pointblue.org/science/projectmanager/bulk_uploader), select your project (you will only see projects that you have access to).

Sampling units are defined in a hierarchy, with each level having 2 names: a short name (a brief, upper case identifier with no spaces) and a long name (a longer, descriptive name that can be the same as short name or contain more detail). The combination of short name and long name must be unique in your project. The standard hierarchy for Area Search is Study Area → Area Search; e.g., Disneyland → Space Mountain.

Note, you can create additional study areas in the hierarchy. For instructions on this step, see the notes at the end of this page.

To use the tool:

  1. Choose the Add Sampling Units tab and select “Area Search”.

  2. Populate a csv file with the following fields. A template is available for download by selecting “Get a blank Template to Fill out.”
    - Study Area Short Name (short name, required)
    - Study Area Name (long name, not required but will ensure your sampling unit loads properly)
    - Area Search Plot Short Name (short name, required)
    - Area Search Plot Name (long name, not required but will ensure your sampling unit loads properly)

  3. Choose the csv file to upload; after successfully selecting a file, the name of the file will appear on the screen.

  4. If you have a GIS file ready that defines the area of your sampling unit, that can be uploaded as well. This can also be added later.

  5. Click the Process button. Errors, successes, and information about the batch run will be shown.

     

  6. You can now confirm your data loaded in ProjectLeader.

     

  7. To review previous batch loads for your project, select Batches, then click on an individual batch to expand the details.

     


    Note: If the study area does not yet exist, it will be created along with the Area Search Sampling Unit(s)

    (Note, the source of the error below isn’t clear. The two records in the csv were successfully added, as confirmed in ProjectLeader.)




    Note 2: For area searches, you can have nested study areas, and these can be created via the Bulk Uploader. To add another level in the hierarchy, insert two additional columns called Study Area Name 2 and Study Area Long Name 2. If any of the field values already exist in the same project in a different hierarchy, the record will not be insert. In the example below, the new study area Fantasyland will be created within the Disneyland study area, along with two area search plots, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride and Tea Cups.