Working with multi-location properties
This article includes:
- Multi-location overview
- Managing multi-location properties
- Monitoring multi-location properties
- Naming locations
- Multi-location reports
- When to use multi-location properties vs. multi-polygon properties
- How to create a multi-location or multi-polygon property
Multi-location overview
Multi-location properties are a collection of individual locations that share a common property name. Multi-location properties are ideal when your goal is to create one combined monitoring report that covers multiple sites. 
Managing multi-location properties
Multi-location properties can be expanded on the Property Overview page to list all of their locations. For each location you can:
- Order imagery. To learn more, check out the Ordering Imagery article.
- Assign tags. To learn more, check out the Organizing Properties with Tags article.
- Add assignees. To learn more, check out the Adding Your Properties article.
- Add a reporting due date.
To create a multi-location property, you can simply rename two separate properties to have the same name. Once multiple properties have identical names, they will be automatically consolidated into a multi-location property. If you would like this undone, you can reach out to our team at lens@upstream.tech.
Monitoring multi-location properties
When you first select a multi-location property, you will see the entire property highlighted in blue.
From here, you can select any of the individual locations and the map will zoom to that location of the property, where all of the normal Lens tools will be available.
You can swap between different property locations by either panning and selecting them within the map or hovering over the thumbnail of the property on the bottom right hand of the screen and selecting a different location.
Hover the cursor over a location to see the property and location name displayed.
Naming locations
When providing a shapefile that includes a multi-location property, specify which attribute should be used to name the different locations in addition to the parent property name. If no location name is provided, then you will see italicized placeholder text in location name fields. These can then be manually renamed once the location is selected.
Multi-location reports
You have the option to generate a report for a single location, or for all locations within a property. If no location name is provided, the placeholder “Location” will be displayed in the Title and Property Overview pages.
The second page of the monitoring report will show the entire multi-location property. If you are creating a report for a single location, then the boundary of the relevant location will be highlighted.
When to use multi-location properties vs. multi-polygon properties
A multi-polygon property can display multiple noncontiguous parcels simultaneously, instead of separately like a multi-location property. In GIS terms, a multi-polygon property consists of multiple polygons that are part of a single feature, whereas a multi-location property consists of separate features or line items in an attribute table. An example of a multi-polygon property is shown below.
A multi-polygon property in Lens. Note how both parcels are able to be viewed simultaneously, as opposed to the multi-location property shown above.
There are pros and cons of using multi-location properties or multi-polygon properties. Here are some aspects to consider:
- Imagery Purchasing: Imagery is purchased for all parcels simultaneously with a multi-polygon property, whereas imagery is purchased for separate parcels with a multi-location property. Multi-location properties will have better imagery availability since it's more likely for images to cover a smaller area.
- Reports: When you generate a report for a multi-location property, you can decide whether the report will include all locations within a multi-location property, or just for the location you're viewing. With a multi-polygon property, reports will include all of the parcels. If you would like to generate reports of specific parcel locations, it's best to configure your property as a multi-location property.
- Managing many locations: In instances where you have dozens of small parcels within a single property, it may be overwhelming to have each parcel as a separate location of a multi-location property. Grouping nearby parcels together as single features in GIS and using a hybrid approach may be best. Clusters of nearby parcels can act as separate locations of a multi-location property.
How to create a multi-location or multi-polygon property
Multi-location properties
- New uploads: If you upload a property shapefile that includes multiple features under the same property name, Lens will automatically ask whether you'd like to combine them into a multi-location property. You can enter Location Names for each of the parcels you're uploading (ex: South Parcel, Phase II Parcel, etc.)
- Existing properties: To combine multiple existing properties into a multi-location property, you can rename them to share the same name and Lens will automatically merge them together. Navigate to the Details pane and hover over the Property Name. You will see a pencil icon appear, allowing you to change the property name. As you change multiple properties to having the same name, they will automatically merge together into a multi-location property. You can then edit the Location Name of each parcel in the Details pane.
Multi-polygon properties
- New uploads: If you upload a property shapefile that includes features consisting of multiple parcels, these parcels will be added as a multi-polygon property.
- Existing properties: If you have multiple properties or a multi-location property that you'd like to turn into a multi-polygon property, you can email us at lens@upstream.tech. We will need to know the property names and links to each parcel you would like combined.