Find Nearest Neighbour Tool

Overview

The Find Nearest Neighbour tool helps you discover cadastre parcels and property rights surrounding a specific location, operation, asset, or custom polygon. By specifying a buffer distance, you can identify all properties within a certain radius of your target feature.

Location: This tool is accessible from two places:

• Report Tools panel → dropdown → Find Nearest Neighbour
• Analysis Tools panel → Find Nearest tab

Key Capabilities:

• Search by Provcoupe, Operation, Asset, or Custom Polygon
• Configurable buffer distance in meters
• Dual result sets: Cadastre Parcels and Property Rights
• Visual map display with color-coded results
• Interactive feature tables for detailed review
• Automatic zoom to results

Example Use Cases:

• Find all property owners within 500m of a planned harvest operation
• Identify cadastre parcels adjacent to a specific Provcoupe
• Search for neighboring parcels around a custom polygon boundary

How to Use the Tool

Step 1: Select Search Type

Click the Types dropdown and choose your search method:

Search Type	What You'll Search For
Provcoupe	Forest harvest cutting permit area
Operation	Operation ID number
Asset	Asset ID number
My Layer Polygon	Custom polygon feature from your saved layers

Step 2: Enter the Target Value

In the Value field, enter the identifier for your target feature:

• Provcoupe: Enter the Provcoupe code
  • Case doesn't matter—the tool automatically converts to uppercase
• Operation: Enter the numeric Operation ID
  • Must be a valid number
• Asset: Enter the numeric Asset ID
  • Must be a valid number
• My Layer Polygon: Enter the feature identifier from your custom layer

Step 3: Set Buffer Distance

In the Buffer (meters) field, enter the search radius in meters:

• Minimum value: 1 meter
• No maximum limit (but larger buffers may return more results)
• Common values:
  • 100 - Immediate neighbors (0.1 km)
  • 500 - Local area (0.5 km)
  • 1000 - Broader area (1 km)
  • 2000 - Extended search (2 km)

Note: Buffer value must be greater than 0 or the tool will display a validation error.

Step 4: Run the Analysis

Click the Process button to execute the search.

• The button will show a loading indicator while processing
• Processing time depends on buffer size and number of intersecting features
• Once complete, results appear automatically on the map and in tables

Step 5: Review Results

Results appear in two forms:

Map Display:

• Cadastre Parcels: Pink/magenta polygons with solid borders
• Property Rights: Purple polygons with solid borders
• Map automatically zooms to show all results

Results Dialog:

Results open in a draggable, resizable Find Nearest Properties - Results dialog with a two-column layout:

• Cadastre Parcels (left column): Table showing all matching cadastre parcels
• Property Rights (right column): Table showing all matching property rights
• Each table is sortable, filterable, and supports multi-column organization
• Click Dock to Bottom to move results to the bottom panel for a wider view
• Click Close to dismiss the dialog and clean up result layers

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Search Types

Provcoupe Search

Purpose: Find properties near a specific forest cutting permit area.

Input Format:

• Provcoupe code (alphanumeric)
• Case-insensitive (automatically converted to uppercase)

Operation Search

Purpose: Find properties near a specific forestry operation.

Input Format:

• Numeric Operation ID only

Validation:

• Must be a valid integer
• Non-numeric values trigger validation error

Asset Search

Purpose: Find properties near infrastructure or equipment assets.

Input Format:

• Numeric Asset ID only

Validation:

• Must be a valid integer
• Non-numeric values trigger validation error

My Layer Polygon Search

Purpose: Find properties near custom polygon features you've created.

Input Format:

• Feature identifier from your saved polygon layer
• Refer to your custom layer's attribute table for valid values

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Understanding the Results

Data Sources

The Find Nearest Properties tool queries two authoritative data sources:

1. STT Property Rights:

• Internal STT (State Timber Trust) property rights database
• Contains legal property rights and ownership zones
• Purple coloring on map
• Rights holder information and spatial extents

2. Cadastre Parcel (NRE):

• Official cadastral data from NRE (Department of Natural Resources and Environment)
• Authoritative land parcel boundaries from cadastral registry
• Pink/magenta coloring on map
• Parcel identification, ownership, and boundary information

Both datasets are queried simultaneously to provide comprehensive property information within your specified buffer distance.

Result Types

Cadastre Parcels (from NRE):

• Official land parcel boundaries from cadastral registry
• Pink/magenta coloring on map
• Contains parcel identification, ownership, and boundary information
• Authority: Department of Natural Resources and Environment

Property Rights (from STT):

• Legal property rights and ownership zones
• Purple coloring on map
• Contains rights holder information and spatial extents
• Authority: State Timber Trust database

No Results

If no properties are found, you'll see:

No Results No properties found for [Search Type]: [Your Value]

Possible Reasons:

• Target feature doesn't exist in the database
• Buffer distance too small to intersect any properties
• Incorrect identifier or typo in the value field
• Feature not visible with current user permissions

Solutions:

• Verify the target identifier is correct
• Increase the buffer distance
• Try a different search type
• Check with your administrator about data access

Partial Results

You may receive results from only one category:

• Cadastre Parcels only: Property rights don't exist in this area
• Property Rights only: No cadastre parcels intersect the buffer

Both scenarios are valid—the tool shows whatever data exists in the buffered area.

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Working with Results

Map Interaction

Viewing Results:

• Results automatically display on the map
• Map zooms to fit all results in view
• Each result type uses distinct coloring

Clicking Features:

• Click any polygon to view its popup
• Popup shows complete attribute information
• Navigate between overlapping features using popup arrows

Zooming and Panning:

• Results remain visible at all zoom levels
• Use standard map navigation tools
• Results are temporary and clear when the panel closes

Feature Table Analysis

Accessing Tables:

• Tables appear automatically in the bottom panel after processing
• Two separate tables: Cadastre Parcels and Property Rights
• Only tables with results are displayed

Table Features:

The results display in an interactive interactive results table with the following capabilities:

• Sorting: Click column headers to sort ascending/descending
• Multi-sort: Hold Shift and click multiple columns for complex sorting
• Pagination: Navigate through large result sets page by page
• Column Resizing: Drag column borders to adjust width
• Row Selection: Click rows to highlight corresponding features on map
• Column Reordering: Drag column headers to rearrange order
• Column Filtering: Use column menus for advanced filtering options

Advanced Table Interactions:

• Zoom to Feature: Select a row and the map zooms to that feature
• Flash Feature: Selected rows cause corresponding features to flash on the map
• Attribute Inspection: Click any cell to view detailed attribute information
• Column Menu: Click the column header menu (▼) for additional options
  • Show/hide columns
  • Freeze columns
  • Sort options
  • Filter by value

Table Menu:

• Each table has a menu button (three dots) in the top-right corner
• Close: Returns to the default feature table view
• Additional menu options may include:
  • Zoom to selected features
  • Clear selection
  • Refresh table data

Exporting Data:

• Use the table menu to access export options
• Export to CSV format for spreadsheet analysis
• Export to JSON for data integration
• Useful for creating notification lists or compliance documentation
• Exported data includes all visible columns and their attributes

Selection Tools:

• Single Selection: Click a row to select one feature
• Multiple Selection: Ctrl-click to select multiple rows
• Range Selection: Shift-click to select a range of rows
• Select All: Use table menu to select all features
• Selected features highlight in blue on both map and table

Clearing Results

Automatic Clearing:

Results are automatically removed when:

• You close the Find Nearest panel
• You run a new search (previous results are replaced)

Manual Clearing:

• Close the panel to remove all result layers
• Close individual tables using the table menu
• Result layers are temporary and don't save to the map

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Best Practices

Effective Buffer Distances

Small Buffers (0-100m):

• Immediate adjacent properties
• Direct neighbors only
• Fast processing
• Minimal results

Medium Buffers (100-500m):

• Local neighborhood properties
• Balanced result count
• Good for most notification scenarios
• Reasonable processing time

Large Buffers (500-2000m):

• Broader area analysis
• More comprehensive results
• Longer processing time
• Use when regulatory requirements specify larger distances

Very Large Buffers (2000m+):

• Regional analysis
• May return many results
• Longer processing time
• Consider performance impact

Data Quality Checks

1. Verify Input: Double-check your target identifier before processing
2. Review Results: Scan the feature tables for expected properties
3. Check Map Display: Ensure results appear in the expected location
4. Validate Attributes: Review property attributes for completeness
5. Cross-Reference: Compare with known property information if available

Workflow Integration

Documentation:

• Export result tables for records
• Screenshot map results for reports
• Save property lists for notification tracking

Collaboration:

• Share buffer distances with team members for consistency
• Document search parameters in project files
• Use consistent search types across projects

Compliance:

• Maintain records of property searches
• Document buffer distances used for regulatory requirements
• Archive result tables with permit applications

Working with the Results Table

Column Management:

• Hide unnecessary columns to focus on important data
• Freeze key columns (like parcel ID) for easy reference while scrolling
• Reorder columns to match your workflow preferences

Filtering and Sorting:

• Use multi-column sorting for complex data organization
• Apply column filters to narrow down results
• Combine map selection with table filtering for precise analysis

Data Export Strategy:

• Export to CSV for spreadsheet analysis and mail merges
• Export to JSON for integration with other systems
• Include only necessary columns to keep files manageable

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Video Tutorials

Get nearest neighbour data

Troubleshooting

Common Error Messages

"Please enter a value to search"

• Cause: Value field is empty
• Solution: Enter a valid identifier for your selected search type

"Buffer value must be greater than 0"

• Cause: Buffer field is empty, zero, or negative
• Solution: Enter a positive number (minimum 1)

"Operation ID must be a number"

• Cause: Non-numeric value entered for Operation search
• Solution: Enter only numeric characters (e.g., 8574)

"Asset ID must be a number"

• Cause: Non-numeric value entered for Asset search
• Solution: Enter only numeric characters (e.g., 1023)

"Invalid search type selected"

• Cause: Internal error with search type selection
• Solution: Refresh the page and try again; contact support if issue persists

"No Results" appears

• Cause: No properties found within buffer distance
• Solution: Increase buffer distance, verify target identifier, or try different search type

"Error finding nearest properties"

• Cause: Server error, network issue, or invalid target
• Solution:
  • Check network connection
  • Verify target feature exists
  • Try again in a few moments
  • Contact support if problem persists

Performance Issues

Slow Processing:

• Large buffer distances increase processing time
• Many intersecting features slow down results
• Network latency affects response time
• Solution: Use smaller buffers when possible, ensure stable network connection

Results Don't Appear on Map:

• Check if you're zoomed to the correct area
• Verify results were actually returned (check feature tables)
• Try clicking the zoom button in feature table
• Solution: Close and reopen the panel, run search again

Tables Won't Load:

• Browser may be blocking content
• Insufficient memory for large result sets
• Solution: Refresh page, close other browser tabs, reduce buffer distance

Results Table Issues

Table Not Responding:

• Large datasets may cause performance issues
• Solution: Use column filters to reduce visible rows, close and reopen table

Column Menu Not Appearing:

• Click directly on the column header dropdown icon (▼)
• Solution: Ensure you're clicking the correct area of the column header

Export Function Missing:

• Export options are in the table menu (three dots)
• Solution: Look for menu button in top-right corner of table

Selection Not Highlighting on Map:

• Feature may be outside current map extent
• Solution: Use "Zoom to selected" option in table menu

Getting Help

When contacting support, please provide:

1. Search Parameters:

   • Search type used
   • Value entered
   • Buffer distance

2. Error Details:

   • Exact error message
   • When error occurred (during processing, viewing results, etc.)
   • Screenshot if possible

3. System Information:

   • Browser type and version
   • Horizon version
   • Network connection type

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