How to Manage Polygons in your Site Profiles

This article provides guidance on how to add, edit, validate, submit, and update polygons. Polygons represent the exact geographic areas where your project is implementing restoration interventions. These areas are the core unit for monitoring restoration progress from a baseline state through the full project lifecycle.

Article Outline

• Getting Started
• Adding Polygons to a Site
• Managing and Searching Polygon Data
• Editing Polygons and Attributes
• Bulk Workflows and Bulk Editing
• Validating Polygons Before Submission
• Resolving Common Geometry Errors
• Submitting Polygons for Review
• Recommended Validation and Quality Assurance Checklist
• Useful Habits for Efficient Workflows

Getting Started

Make sure you are logged in to TerraMatch with access to the relevant project and site. Polygon management is done from the Sites area of a project.

• You must be able to open the project and its site profile.
• Polygon uploads are supported for SHP, KML, and GeoJSON files.
• A site can contain multiple polygons.
• Polygon status and validation results may affect what happens next in review and approval workflows.

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Adding Polygons to a Site

There are two main ways to add polygon data to a site: drawing directly on the map or uploading supported spatial files.

1. Log in to TerraMatch.
2. Open the relevant project.
3. Go to the Sites tab on the Project Overview page.
4. Open the site you want to update.
5. In the site polygon or site area section, click Add Data.

 

Option 1: Draw a polygon on the map

1. Choose the map drawing option.
2. Click on the map to place polygon points.
3. Close the shape to finish drawing.
4. Review the polygon outline on the map.
5. Save the polygon.

Here is a quick demo of drawing a polygon: 

Scroll through the tutorial below for step-by-step guidance on drawing polygons:

After saving, TerraMatch should display the polygon in the site’s polygon view so you can continue reviewing or editing it.

 

Option 2: Upload polygon files

1. Click Add Data.
2. Select the upload option.
3. Upload one or multiple files in SHP, KML, or GeoJSON format.
4. Wait for TerraMatch to process the file(s).
5. Confirm that the uploaded polygons appear on the map and in the polygon table for the site.

Best practice
Before uploading, make sure your file contains clean polygon geometry and the correct site data. This can reduce validation issues such as overlaps or geometry errors.

Here is a quick demo of uploading a polygon:

Scroll through the tutorial below for step-by-step guidance on uploading polygons: 

 

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Managing and Searching Polygon Data

The polygon list supports multi-criteria filtering. You can filter by:

• Submission Status
• System Validation result
• Plant Start Date
• Restoration Practice
• Target Land Use
• Tree Distribution
• Source

You can use filters individually or in combination. Filters and search work together, so you can refine results by criteria and search within that filtered set.

The table and the map are fully in sync: click a polygon on the map and the corresponding row highlights in the table. Click a row and the map highlights the polygon. Sort any column ascending or descending, paginate through large datasets, and see calculated totals for Trees Planted and Restoration Area update in real time based on your selection. The Polygon Name column stays frozen as you scroll — because losing track of which row you're on is not a problem anyone needs.

Important
If you edit a polygon after review has started, the polygon may need to be rechecked or resubmitted depending on its status and your workflow.

Here is a quick demo of the filter interface: 

Scroll through the tutorial below for step-by-step guidance on filter and search functionalities: 

Here is a quick demo of managing polygon data in the attribute table:

Scroll through the tutorial below for step-by-step guidance on managing polygon data in the attribute table:

 

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Editing Polygons and Attributes

Once polygons have been added, you can update both their shape and their attribute information.

1. Open the site’s polygon view.
2. Select the polygon you want to update.
3. Open the edit option for that polygon.
4. Make your changes.
5. Save the polygon.

What you can edit:

• Geometry: adjust the polygon shape or boundary directly on the map.
• Attributes: update the information associated with the polygon. You can edit case by case or multiple attributes and polygons at the same time by using the bulk actions bar on the bottom of the page.

Common polygon attributes in TerraMatch include the polygon name, restoration practice, target land use system, tree distribution, planting start date and trees planted. Some values, like calculated area, source, are system-derived rather than manually editable.

Here is a demo of managing polygon attributes and geometry: 

Scroll through the tutorial below for step-by-step guidance on editing polygon attributes and geometry: 

 

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Bulk Workflows and Bulk Editing

Save time when many polygons require the same changes (downloads, attribute values, deletions).

• Use filters or the attribute table to select the set of polygons to update.
• Apply bulk actions such as attribute edits, status changes, or bulk deletion. 
• Verify changes and run validations on a sample or the full set as needed.

Here is a quick demo of selecting polygons for bulk action: 

Here is detailed guidance on bulk actions available for polygons in TerraMatch: 

Here is a quick demo of bulk editing polygons:

Here is detailed guidance on bulk editing polygons: 

 

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Validating Polygons Before Submission

Ensure polygons meet geometry, topology, and attribute rules so submissions are accepted without errors.

• Run automated validations that check for geometry issues (self-intersections, overlaps), required attributes, and other business rules.
• Review validation reports and fix flagged issues.
• Re-run validations until no critical errors remain.

Here is a quick demo of the polygon validation flow on TerraMatch - for an individual polygon:

Here is a quick demo of the polygon validation flow on TerraMatch - in bulk:

Scroll through the tutorial below for step-by-step guidance on polygon validation: 

 

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Resolving Common Geometry Errors

TerraMatch can automatically resolve polygon overlaps directly within the platform, without requiring Champions to edit and re-upload their files. The Fix Overlap option will appear in the bulk actions bar and map tooltip when the selected polygon meets both of the following conditions:

• The overlap area represents 3.5% or less of the smaller polygon
• The absolute overlap area is 0.1 hectares or less

Both conditions above must be met for the automatic fix to be available. If either threshold is exceeded, the overlap will need to be resolved manually by editing the polygon geometry.

Here is a quick demo of the "Fix Overlap" feature in TerraMatch: 

Scroll through the guidance below for step-by-step guidance on how to fix overlap errors: 

 

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Submitting Polygons for Review

1. Review your polygons and confirm the details are correct.
2. Click Submit Polygons.
3. Confirm the submission if prompted.

Polygon statuses in TerraMatch include Draft, Pending Approval, Information Required, and Approved.
 

Expected result

Once submitted, polygons move out of draft and into the review workflow. TerraMatch may automatically trigger validation in the background so reviewers can assess the data.

Here is a quick demo of how to submit polygons:

Scroll through the tutorial below for step-by-step guidance on polygon submission:

 

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Recommended Validation and Quality Assurance Checklist

• Run polygon validations after creation or edits.
• Check for geometry errors such as self-intersections and overlaps.
• Confirm required attributes are filled and consistent with project conventions.
• Use filters and the attribute table to spot-check batches.
• Apply bulk edits carefully and re-validate affected polygons.
• Submit only after all critical errors are cleared.

Useful Habits for Efficient Workflows

• Save frequently and use drafts for intermediate work.
• Use filters to focus work on manageable subsets.
• Use bulk actions to reduce repetitive tasks but always validate afterwards.
• Resolve geometry issues promptly to avoid cascading errors during submission.

• Add comments upon submission with details for the polygon reviewers.