I figured out how to convert a SHP file into a KML file and how to edit said file and successfully created this place:
https://www.inaturalist.org/places/louisiana-epa-ecoregion-65-southeastern-plains
6 Likes
The suspense is killing us! 
What was your conversion method?
2 Likes
Oh sorry. I was just excited. I downloaded the files from EPA’s website then used this website for conversion: https://mygeodata.cloud/converter/shp-to-kml
The files from EPA had multiple shapes in one file and also a lot of extra text. I figured out what parts I could delete to have just what I wanted left.
4 Likes
Using an open source GIS software would have done the trick, such as QGIS.
2 Likes
I wanted to see if I could do it without having to download software and learn how to use GIS. It was really easy once I knew what I was looking at in the text.
1 Like
I made another place for an ecoregion: https://www.inaturalist.org/places/louisiana-epa-ecoregion-75-southern-coastal-plain This one has multiple polygons which I found interesting looking at in the code. I learned how to write HTML more than 20 years ago. The codes for KML are a similar style.
I had talked to a couple people who were interested using ecoregions but didn’t know how to make them. I made these two for exclusion (from the rest of the state) for a project I’m tinkering with.
Should I make more places for other ecoregions assuming that other people might want them? I know that large places can be taxing on the system, but is adding lots of smaller places a bad thing?
Since that is a real concern, I would suggest adding them only if they are actually needed for a project or other application.
Also, I know I have seen other community-created EPA ecoregion places in the system already, in other geographic areas. To avoid creating duplicates, search carefully first to make sure the same place has not already been added. Instead of guessing what someone might have used for a place name, the most reliable way to check for this is to pick an observation within the potential new place, open its detail page, expand the place “details” right under the map, and (if necessary) click “more” at the bottom of the list of Community Curated places.
Just randomly picking https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/59590603, I see Level III and Level IV EPA Ecoregions already created for the location of that observation.
1 Like
Thanks for the tips 
1 Like
Found one I needed that I couldn’t find using search terms!
1 Like
This topic was automatically closed 60 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.