# Land asset (farmOS:land:1.0) **URL:** \ **Category:** Conventions\ **Tags:** convention-proposal\ **Created:** [March 9, 2023, 3:03pm UTC](https://farmos.discourse.group/t/land-asset-farmos1-0/1560 "2023-03-09T15:03:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mstenta](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/farmos.discourse.group/mstenta/32/4_2.png) [@mstenta](https://farmos.discourse.group/u/mstenta)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2023, 3:03pm UTC](https://farmos.discourse.group/t/land-asset-farmos1-0/1560/1 "2023-03-09T15:03:28Z")
This thread is for discussing the draft farmOS core convention for land assets: `farmOS:land:1.0`. The current draft is in the `wip` branch of [GitHub - mstenta/farmOS-conventions](https://github.com/mstenta/farmOS-conventions/), copied below: * * * # Land Asset **Version 1.0** ```yml convention_id: "farmOS:land:1.0" dependencies: - farm:farm_land ``` ## Purpose A land asset is a unique geographic area, defined by a polygon. Land assets are used both to provide a visual representation of specific areas of land on a map, as well as a reference point to organize other records associated with the geographic area. ## Specification A specific area of land MUST be recorded as a “Land” (`land`) asset. Land assets MUST have a name (`name`). The “Land type” (`land_type`) field MUST be set to indicate the primary use of the area. Land types are provided by modules, and MAY include options like “Field” (`field`), “Paddock” (`paddock`), or “Property” (`property`). If an appropriate land type is not available, “Other” (`other`) MAY be selected. Land assets SHOULD include a polygon that represents their geographic boundaries in the “Intrinsic geometry” (`intrinsic geometry`) field. The “Is fixed” (`is_fixed`) boolean field MUST be set to true to indicate that it has a fixed geometry. Generally speaking, the geometry of a land asset should not change over time. If significant changes are made to the geographic area which necessitate changing the polygon geometry, then best practice is to create a new land asset and archive the old one. The exception to this is minor adjustments or corrections, which do not indicate actual changes to the geographic area in the real world. The “Is location” (`is_location`) boolean field SHOULD be set to true to indicate that other assets can be moved to the land asset. When a land asset is actively being managed, the Status (`status`) field SHOULD be set to “Active” (`active`). When it is no longer being managed, it SHOULD be set to “Archived” (`archived`). Land assets MAY move back and forth between “Active” and “Archived” status depending on their management activities. ---
**Author:** ![mstenta](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/farmos.discourse.group/mstenta/32/4_2.png) [@mstenta](https://farmos.discourse.group/u/mstenta)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2023, 3:09pm UTC](https://farmos.discourse.group/t/land-asset-farmos1-0/1560/2 "2023-03-09T15:09:13Z")
Some more context: we are currently working on defining a “SHMU” (Soil Health Management Unit) convention in the [NRCS module](https://github.com/farmOS/farm_nrcs/) for use by farms that are participating in NRCS projects that follow [CEMA 216](https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2022-10/FY23_CEMA%20216_Soil%20Health%20Testing.pdf). A SHMU is defined as (from the link above): > Soil Health Management Unit (SHMU) is one or more planning land units with similar soil type, land use, and management that can vary in size or acreage depending on soil texture, topography, and cropping system. SHMU is like a conservation management unit but designed to assess soil health status and potential limitations on soil health indicators. The thought was that this SHMU convention would ideally extend (`inherit_from`) a core farmOS convention. Originally I proposed calling that convention “Land management unit” to represent a land asset that is specifically for managed practices (as opposed to something like wild land areas). Eventually the discussion led to simply calling the convention “Land asset”. I’m curious to hear what others in the community think of this. We are also going to be defining an NRCS-specific soil testing convention for CEMA 216, which will extend from `farmOS:soil-test:1.0` ([Soil tests (farmOS:soil-test:1.0)](https://farmos.discourse.group/t/soil-tests-farmos1-0/1557)), so that was also part of the reasoning for extending the SHMU convention off of a farmOS core convention.