Planning tool

Learn how to access and use the Planning Tool.

Access

From the Site Dashboard select Planning from the Ellipsis dropdown menu to open the Planning tool.

Access Planning tool

Planning tool file

A Planning tool file is saved as <Descriptive Name - Site #.dryad>, where<Site #> is the Site Id which is shown in the breadcrumb of the Site Management app. You can use a more descriptive file name but it must use the .dryad extension.

The main menu provides access to saving and opening planning projects.

Menu options
  • Open: Open a saved Planning tool file on a local or network drive.

  • Save: Save and store your progress locally.

  • Export to CSV: Export device coordinates to a CSV file.

  • Help: Links to the topic Coverage estimation.

  • Quit: Close the Planning tool.

Toolbar

The Toolbar provides access to the tools for estimating coverage requirements.

Planning toolbar
  • Select: Use to select paths, areas or Gateways on the map.

  • Draw path: Use the Path tool to define high-density deployment areas such as hiking paths, rail lines, power lines.

  • Draw area: Use the Area tool to define lower density deployment areas such as forested areas.

  • Plan connectivity: Use the Connectivity tool to define the number and placement of Border Gateways and Mesh Gateways to build up a successful Mesh Network in the Site.

  • Comments: Use the Comment tool to add relevant comments to the plan.

Views

You view the Site in Terrain view, Map view, 3D view and Fire risk view.

Terrain view (topology)

Select the Terrain icon at the lower-left edge of the map.

Terrain view shows the topology of the path and how it may affect message transmissions to/from the sensors.

Terrain view

Fire risk view

Select the Fire Risk icon to display an overlay that indicates areas of high to low risk of fires.

Fire risk view

3D View

Select the 3D View icon to show a 3D map of the Site.

It shows areas that may cause connectivity issues such as hills and valleys. It also may show areas that are challenging for deployments such as steep hills that may be difficult to traverse.

3D view

Comments tool

The Comments tool allows users to include additional information about the deployment or any other relevant topic. They can be added anywhere on the map.

  • Add comment: Select Comment and then click anywhere on the map to add a comment. Remember to save the project.

  • Deleted comment: Select a comment icon. Erase the text in the Comment field to delete the comment item, then save the project.

Paths (high sensor density)

Linear areas of high human use such as hiking paths or valuable assets such as power lines are called Paths.

Example Path (a power line)

To learn how to add paths, see High density paths.

Areas (low sensor density)

Parts of the Site that have infrequent human use that include forests, hillsides, ravines, waterways or other places distant from a WUI (Wilderness Urban Interface) are called Areas.

Example defined Areas

To learn how to add areas, see Low density areas.

Connectivity zones (Gateways)

The Sensors need to be connected to the Silvanet Mesh Network. This is done by defining a Connectivity Mesh that consists of Border Gateways and Mesh Gateway zones.

Connectivity zones

To learn how to add connectivity, see Connectivity zones.

Complete plan

When completed, the result is an estimation of the number and placement of Wildfire Sensors, Border Gateways and Mesh Gateways to cover a Site. This estimated coverage is then:

  • Exported as a document

  • Sent as a set of Packages to the Deployment app.

To learn how to export the plan as a document and to the Deployment app, see Export plan.

Practice with a tutorial

To learn how to use the Planning tool, a tutorial is provided that guides you through the steps to prepare a coverage estimate for an example Site using the Planning tool in the Site Management app.

The plan includes several types of Paths and a set of Areas. To ensure Sensors have connectivity to the Silvanet Cloud, the plan includes a Connectivity Mesh consists of a Border Gateway and several Mesh Gateways.

After completing the plan, it is then released to the Deployment app and exported as a summary document.

To get started, see Planning tool tutorial.

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