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2. Study Areas

This guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to create a study area in TytonAI.

Overview​

The Create Study Area module in TytonAI allows users to define specific geographic regions within imagery to be analysed and classified using AI. These areas serve as the boundary for AI classification, training, and validation activities.

Features​

  • Polygon Drawing Tool: Draw custom study area boundaries directly on imagery using your mouse.
  • Import Support: Upload existing study areas to your project.
  • Explorer Integration: Study areas are listed in the project explorer and can be easily selected or modified.
  • Nested Grouping: Organise multiple study areas into grouped hierarchies.
  • Buffer Zones: Prevent accidental out-of-bounds selections by honouring imagery buffers.
  • Property Panel View: Inspect coordinates, area size, and polygon features..

Accessing the Module​

You can access the Study Area tools in several ways:

  • Use the Wizard Bar: Select Study Areas to begin.
  • Use the Toolbar: Select the Study Area tool.
  • Right-click on the imagery layer > Create > Study Area.
  • Use the Study Area Polygon tool for creating nested or grouped areas.

Drawing a Study Area​

  1. Click the Study Area button in the toolbar.
  2. Left-click on the map to drop your first point.
  3. Continue clicking to define the polygon boundary.
  4. Press Enter on your keyboard to complete and create the study area.
  5. Press the Select Tool to exit drawing mode.

Your study area will now appear in both the imagery view and the Explorer panel.

Managing Study Areas​

Right-click on any study area in the Explorer to:

  • Rename: Assign a meaningful name.
  • Transform: Scale, rotate or reposition the area.
  • Modify Shape: Adjust individual vertices.
  • Copy/Delete: Duplicate or remove selected area.

Viewing Study Area Properties​

  • Once a study area is created, users can inspect its properties.
  • The properties panel displays:
    • Centroid Coordinates (X, Y)
    • Dimensions (Width, Height in km)
    • Area (ha)
    • Feature Properties (Type, Name, Colour)
    • Polygon Coordinates (All vertex points)
      Below is an example screenshot showcasing a created study area and its associated properties:

Working with Multiple and Grouped Study Areas​

  • Create Multiple Areas: Repeat the drawing process to add more.
  • Grouping: Use the Study Area Polygon tool to nest new areas under a parent.
  • Delete Grouped Areas: Remove individual polygons or all grouped study areas using right-click or the Delete key.
Managing Multiple Study Areas

When working with multiple study areas:

  • Grouping is useful for organising similar vegetation types or geographic zones.
  • Use descriptive names that reference location or vegetation type.
  • Create a consistent naming convention for your project.
  • Consider using prefixes for different vegetation communities.
  • Keep related study areas grouped by similar names.