Slope-IQ allows you to design and implement a variable slope ditch (or plane - see relevant article for this function) based on a survey run. Simply drive along the proposed drainage route with your equipment to survey it, then design the ditch using the App, and implement the design:


  1. Make sure you've entered the blade-to-ground (in transport position) measurement in Settings
  2. With your implement raised up in transport position, drive to the start of the proposed route (you can survey in either direction)
  3. On the Survey tab, tap reset to remove any prior surveys from active memory, and then tap Start
  4. Drive along the exact route you plan to create your ditch. It may be straight or curved
  5. At the end of the proposed run, tap Stop 
  6. The SLOPE-IQ button will now be enabled. Tap SLOPE-IQ
  7. The Slope-IQ design screen opens. Specify the minimum grade for your ditch. For example, 0.05 would be 0.05% or 6 inches per 1000 feet. 0.1 would be 12 inches per 1000 feet. Ditch Assist assumes the lowest point of the survey is the outlet point. If you actually want to go the opposite way (i.e. drain 'uphill') then use the + - buttons to reverse the grade direction. The number area will turn red to warn you that you are draining against the natural slope. Tap Propose.
  8. The proposed design will appear. The existing ground profile appears in orange, and the best-fit design is shown in green. Wherever there is sufficient natural slope the green line will follow the ground terrain. The screenshot below doesn't show it, but we will be adding an option to show a depth guide (e.g. a line at user-specified depth) to help you interpret how deep you may be working where you are cutting. 
  9. You may make changes to the minimum gradient and tap Propose again to see the results. When you are satisfied with the design, use the Back button on your tablet to return to the survey screen.
  10. You should now see that the Implement Slope IQ button is enabled. Tap this button to load your design into the grading engine. 
  11. The Grading screen will open. A message will briefly show on screen confirming SLOPE-IQ Grading is active. Because you are implementing your design, you do not need to enter any gradients in the target grade box, and you do not need to specify Uphill/Downhill.
  12. Tap Start at any point on the original survey route and begin working. Based on your current location, the target elevation will be computed from the design. 
  13. Tap Stop whenever you need to stop grading, and then tap Start again when you resume. Don't hit Reset or you'll need to return to the survey screen and press Implement Slope IQ again to load the design into the grading engine.
  14. If the current target depth is too deep and you are cutting too much, use the Nudge Up button to reduce the cut. Red markers will be dropped on the map to show you where you didn't go deep enough. On future passes use Nudge Down until your Nudge Offset is 0 and you are on target. 
  15. Once your ditch is complete, repeat these steps to create additional ditches


Notes:

  • If you wish to cut deeper (e.g. still cut at least a few inches even when you have enough natural slope), use the Nudge Down button to increase the depth for the entire ditch
  • If you are using a tile plow or trencher and require a minimum depth, design the run as shown above, and then use Nudge Down to add an offset prior to starting the install. For example, if you require a minimum depth of 2ft, nudge down 24" then start working - this will mean you are never less than 24" deep.
  • When you start a new survey be sure to hit RESET first on the survey tab otherwise the new survey will add-on to the previous survey
  • You don't need to press RESET on the Grading screen between finishing one ditch and then loading a new one via SLOPE-IQ (but you do need to press RESET if you want to switch from SLOPE-IQ grading to regular grading where you enter a Target Grade into the box)
  • Your work will be recorded in kml (Google Earth) files. As you work, each new marker that is drawn on the map is added to the current active kml file. To clear the on-screen markers and create a new working kml file, press and hold the RESET button on the grading screen
  • You can access your work log kml files by either installing the ES File Explorer app then opening the work folder via the More option on the Ditch Assist App, or using any other file management app to browse to the storage location (usually Device Storage>GIS4AG>Ditch Assist)