🗺️ Creating a Survey Plan
Survey plans capture where and how you will sample (transects, AOIs, point sets), plus recurrence and taxonomy filters. Surveys created “from plan” inherit these units so field teams stay consistent.
What you need before starting
- An Organisation and Project (see Create Organisation and Create Project).
- A Site with geometry (see Create Site).
Screenshot: Survey plan builder in MariMap
Protocols & allowed geometry
| Protocol (use-case) | Ecosystems | Geometry you can use | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mangrove Tree Growth | Mangrove | Points (plots), Lines (transects), Polygons (plots/AOIs) | Repeated tree plots/transects |
| Fauna / Biodiversity Observation | Mangrove | Lines (transects), Polygons (AOIs) | Opportunistic/fauna observations along routes or areas |
| Benthic Transect (PIT/LIT/CIT) | Coral reef, Seagrass | Lines (transects) | Point/line/chain intercept benthic cover |
| Fish Belt Transect | Coral reef, Seagrass | Lines (transects) | Fish counts along belt transects |
| Benthic / Photogrammetry Images | Coral reef, Seagrass | Points (quadrat/photo points), Lines (transects), Polygons (AOIs) | Photo quadrats, photogrammetry tracks |
Pick the protocol first; MariMap filters the geometry modes so you only see what fits that protocol.
Step 1) Plan Setup
- Go to Surveys → Plans → Create Plan (https://marimap.com/app/surveys/plans/new (opens in a new tab)).
- Select the Site. The card shows country/area/ecosystem and survey counts by protocol.
- Choose a Protocol (options depend on the site’s ecosystem). A hint explains the preferred geometry for that protocol.
Step 2) Geometry & Units
- Pick a geometry mode allowed by the protocol: Lines, Areas, or Points.
- In Select base geometries, search and check items to include:
- Sampling paths (transect lines)
- Sampling areas/AOIs (polygons)
- Point sets (pick all points or a subset)
- Existing sampling units (transects/AOIs/point sets already stored)
- Or draw new geometry on the map (lines/polygons/points). Overlays highlight anything you select.
- You must select or draw at least one geometry to continue.
Screenshot: Base geometries with overlays
Step 3) Plan Filters
- Configure allowed/restricted values for the protocol (taxon filters), or apply a saved taxon profile. These restrictions flow into every survey created from the plan.
Screenshot: Plan filters and taxonomy profile
Step 4) Naming & Recurrence
- Plan name (required)
- Recurrence: None, preset intervals, or a custom RRULE string
- Active toggle and optional Description
Screenshot: Name, recurrence, and status
Step 5) Review & Save
- Review site, protocol, geometry summary, recurrence, filters, and description.
- Click Save plan to create it (you’ll see a success screen).
Tips
- If you change the site to a different ecosystem, the allowed protocols update automatically.
- Use plans to keep transects/plots consistent across field days.
- Point sets can be partially selected—handy for rotating plots.
- If geometry errors appear (e.g., none selected), return to Step 2 and add at least one base geometry or drawing.