Regions: creation, sources, filtering and Repository #
A Region is a geographic working layer independent of a Database. It may represent a country, park, reserve, geographic region or a custom study area. One Region can be active. ENTOMONE then shows records whose GPS point lies inside its boundary.
A Region filters only records the user is already allowed to access. It does not share records, alter Database permissions or transfer record ownership. A record without coordinates is not included in the result.
Ways to create a boundary #
| Method | Use |
|---|---|
| Draw on the map | A custom study area or a boundary without a ready-made source |
| Import a file | GeoJSON, KML, KMZ, zipped SHP or GeoPackage |
| OpenStreetMap | Countries, parks, reserves, administrative areas and some geographic regions stored in OSM |
| OpenPlanetData | Ready-made land boundaries of countries and regions without maritime areas |
| iNaturalist | Places found by name, numeric ID or a link containing place_id |
| ENTOMONE Repository | Ready-made, described and versioned boundaries available without retrieving the source again |
Open every external result with Preview and inspect it on the map before choosing Load boundary. Previewing and loading do not save the Region yet. Name the Region and use Save and activate to place it in your Library and make it the active filter.
When Google Drive is connected, ENTOMONE also attempts to save a GeoJSON copy on the user's Drive. Failure to create the Drive copy does not undo the Library save. A boundary retrieved from a source is a stable snapshot and does not update automatically.
Active Region and recently opened Regions #
The Regions page shows the active Region name and the Show records and Edit actions. Only one Region filters records at a time. Turn filter off returns to a view without a geographic restriction. Changing the active Database does not remove saved Regions.
Recently opened makes it easier to switch between recently used boundaries. Activating an item changes the filter but does not modify its geometry.
Editing and combining #
An existing boundary can be corrected by moving, adding and removing vertices. Click Edit beside the active Region, then enable the pencil below the map. The checkmark finishes geometry work on the map, but only Save changes in the form writes the new version permanently.
Combine Regions creates the geometric union of at least two owned Regions. Blue lines show source boundaries and the red line shows the result. The result is saved as a new independent Region; later source edits do not update it automatically.
Repository and private Library #
The private Library contains Regions saved for personal work. The Repository is a shared catalogue of ready-made boundaries for all users. Loading a Repository item creates a private copy that can be edited and activated independently.
An owner may explicitly submit a specific version of their Region to the Repository. They provide Polish and English names, type and licence, and confirm the right to share it. Only the boundary and its description are published, without records, Databases, photos or other private data. Submissions from regular users require review before publication.
Precision and performance #
External boundaries may come from different dates and have a different level of detail from the basemap. They are not legal boundary determinations. Before saving, inspect coastlines, islands, holes and the boundary near the study area.
OpenPlanetData accepts source files up to 50 MB. Files up to 15 MB receive no additional simplification; larger files are streamed and optimized to no more than 100,000 vertices. The preview reports the resulting vertex count and tolerance. For studies very close to a boundary, use your own verified GIS file when the available outline is too simplified.
See also the Greece comparison of an OpenPlanetData land outline and an OSM administrative boundary.