What can I do with mapping software?
You can view aerial photos of your land, draw boundaries, measure distances and areas, mark features and print maps. Many people use maps to plan pasture divisions, locate a garden, track where they have spread manure or lime, or show a contractor where to work.
Some tools also show soil types, elevation and flood information from public sources. Others let you add notes, photos and dates to each mark. Compare more than one tool, since the same land can look different in each. Think about what you want to know before you pick a tool. A person planning a garden needs different features than one planning grazing rotations or a drainage ditch.
- Measure fence lines and pasture sizes
- Plan gardens, orchards and buildings
- Share maps with helpers and contractors
What public maps and data are available?
Federal and state agencies publish soil surveys, flood maps, wetland information and aerial images. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service offers soil information, and county offices often have parcel maps. Your county extension office or conservation district can help you read them.
Remember that public maps are general. Soil can change within a few steps, and flood maps may not reflect recent changes. Use them for planning, then check on the ground. Take care with files from others, and be skeptical about maps that claim to show boundaries or buried lines with certainty. Keep a note of the source and date of each layer you use, so you know how current it is and can return to it later.
How do I get started?
Pick one tool and learn it on a small task, such as drawing your fence line. Add a layer at a time: buildings, water, gates, then pastures. Save your work, and keep a printed copy in a binder, since computers and accounts fail.
Look at your aerial image's date. It may be several years old, and trees, ponds, buildings and fences may differ today. Correct the map as you learn.
If a tool asks for an account, check what data it stores and who can see it. Make a simple key for your colors and symbols so others can read the map. If a tool lets you export your work as a standard file, use that feature, so a change in software later does not trap your records.
How accurate are the measurements?
Aerial images are close but not exact, and measurements drawn on screen can be off by a meaningful amount, especially on slopes or in tree cover. That is fine for planning a pasture or estimating seed, but not for deciding where a boundary lies. A licensed surveyor handles boundaries, and your county records office holds deeds and plats.
Check your measurement by pacing or measuring a short distance on the ground. Take photos on the ground that match marks on the map, so you can remember what each spot looks like.
What should I map for planning and safety?
Mark wells, septic systems, buried utilities, fuel tanks, water sources, power lines, steep slopes, wet areas and gates. Share a simplified map with your household and with neighbors you trust, so anyone helping in an emergency can find shut-offs and hazards.
Do not post a detailed map of your buildings and valuables publicly. Share a version without sensitive items when you need to show others.
Call your state one-call service before any digging, and do not rely on your own map for buried utilities. Share maps with a trusted person who can find the shutoffs if you cannot. Add notes about seasonal conditions, such as where water stands in spring or where snow drifts, so you remember them next year.
How can I keep maps useful over time?
Update your map after any change, such as a new fence, a pond or a cleared area. Add dates. Keep records of what you did on each part of the land, including seeding, grazing and fertilizer. These records help you notice patterns and are useful for conservation programs, for lenders and for future owners.
Back up your files to more than one place and print the key ones. Look at your records once a year and note what has changed, what worked and what you would do differently. Review the whole map with a family member each spring and fall, since fresh eyes often catch missing gates, old fences and changes you stopped noticing.
Key takeaways
- Start with one tool and one small task.
- Public soil and flood maps are general guides.
- Aerial images may be out of date.
- Screen measurements are for planning, not boundaries.
- Call the one-call service before digging.
Sources and further reading
Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Rural Farm Life Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.