Drain-IQ logo placeholder

Drain-IQ — Help & User Guide

By GIS4AG (17449275 Canada Inc.) • Exclusively provided through Northern Plains Drainage Systems and gis4ag.com • Field drainage planning & LiDAR insights on any device

Overview

Drain-IQ is a field-ready web app that puts a complete, pre-generated LiDAR stack at your fingertips—elevation, contours, depression/ponding depths, wetness index, and flow routes—hosted behind your own custom URL. No software to install, no login. Open the link on any device and your layers stream instantly.

It's the modern replacement for paper maps and waiting on consultants: trace routes, check grades and depths, add to a design, and export georeferenced files in minutes—right from the field.

Watch This First - Main Features & Workflow Explainer

What you can do
  • Visualize elevation, contours, depressions (ponding), wetness index, and flow lines.
  • Quickly plan drainage: trace wet-area flow routes with Quick Profiler, check grades and depths, then Add to Quick Designer to build a surface drainage or targeted tile plan.
  • Export a variety of maps and field-ready deliverables — Map PDF, JPG+JGW, KML, CSV/XYZ, GeoTIFF, SHP — plus download your raw data. You own it.
  • Create georeferenced map overlays for Ditch Assist, and generate .BMP files required by SD Drain and Ditch Pro.
Pricing & Access
  • Developed by GIS4AG (17449275 Canada Inc.) and exclusively provided through Northern Plains Drainage Systems and gis4ag.com.
  • Priced per acre with flexible single- or multi-year hosting options. Available directly from Northern Plains Drainage Systems or through most Ditch Assist dealers.
  • Existing customers: access your layers anytime at your own custom URL (e.g., drain-iq.com/your-farm.html).
  • Need more coverage? To add additional fields to your current plan, please contact your dealer.

Interface & Navigation

Drain-IQ features a modern, responsive interface optimized for both desktop and mobile devices.

Sidebar (Desktop & Tablet)

  • Toggle sidebar: Click the hamburger menu (top-left) to open/close the sidebar.
  • The sidebar is organized into collapsible sections (Fields, Layers, Tools, Export, etc.).
  • Click section headers to expand/collapse them.
  • On desktop, the sidebar floats over the map with a clean card design.

Floating Quick Actions

Quick access buttons appear at the bottom of the screen:

  • Layers — Quick layer toggle popover
  • GPS — Enable location tracking
  • Ditch Assist — Quick drainage tools
  • Fullscreen — Toggle fullscreen mode
  • Help — Open this user manual
  • Profile — Toggle profile chart (when active)

Map Controls

  • Zoom: Use + / - buttons, mouse scroll, or pinch gesture
  • Pan: Click/drag or swipe to move the map
  • Box Zoom: Hold Shift and drag (desktop)

Fields

Select the field you want to work on. Each field loads its own set of layers and export files.

Switching Fields

  • Click the Field Selector button at the top of the sidebar (shows current field name with )
  • Choose a field from the dropdown list
  • The map automatically recenters and loads the boundary
  • Fields with an Offline badge are saved for offline use

Last Field Memory

  • Your last-selected field is remembered and loads automatically on your next visit

2D / 3D View Modes

Switch between flat 2D maps and immersive 3D terrain visualization.

Toggle View Mode

  • Use the 2D / 3D toggle switch in the sidebar header
  • 2D Mode: Traditional map view with layers, perfect for planning and measurements
  • 3D Mode: Perspective terrain view with elevation exaggeration, ideal for visualizing slopes and drainage patterns

3D Mode Features

  • Multi-directional hillshading shows terrain relief from all angles
  • Elevation coloring highlights high and low areas
  • Rotate: Right-click/two-finger drag to change viewing angle
  • Tilt: Adjust pitch to see terrain from different perspectives
  • Ponding overlay syncs with 2D ponding slider

Note: Profile chart and some drawing tools are disabled in 3D mode. Switch back to 2D for full functionality.

Layers

Toggle visibility and adjust settings for each analysis layer. Layers are grouped by type with visual indicators showing which are active.

Field Boundary

  • Shows your supplied or digitized boundary.
  • Used for exports and fit-to-view.

Elevation

  • LiDAR elevation surface displayed to emphasize the highest and lowest parts of the field.
  • Use this for general terrain context and spot checks.
Lower (low areas) Higher (high areas)

Contours

  • Pre-generated KML contour sets based on field elevation range (e.g., 6 in, 1 ft, 2 ft, 5 ft, 10 ft).
  • Very flat fields will see 6in, 1ft, 2ft contours. Moderately flat fields will have 1ft, 2ft, and 5ft contours. Rolling lands have 2ft, 5ft, and 10ft contours. And very hilly land has 5ft, 10ft,, and 15ft contours.
  • Click a contour set to load. Only one contour layer can be loaded to the map at once

Flow Lines

  • Display the major natural overland flow routes in the field.
  • Modeled using 'fill-and-spill' (where low areas fill up, where will the water go next?) method.
  • Following natural flow routes where possible results in efficient drains with less earth to move for surface draind, and easier installs for tiles.
  • Use the slider to filter minimum contributing acres and identify the most important drains on the field.

Ponding Risk

  • Identifies areas prone to standing water based on slope, contributing area, and depression likelihood.
  • Usually the priority areas to target with surface or targeted tile drainage.
  • Move the Overlay intensity slider right to emphasize depressions, and to the left to expand to ponding-prone areas on flat fields.
  • Blue = low risk, Yellow/Orange = moderate, Red = high risk.

Depressions

  • Uses a pit-fill algorithm that identifies areas with no natural drainage outlet.
  • Creates a "filled" seamless surface where all depressions are filled, then compares it to the natural surface—the difference reveals true depressions.
  • Shows areas where water naturally accumulates with no way to drain without intervention.
  • Blue = shallow depressions, Red = deep depressions.
💡 Ponding vs. Depressions: While often similar, these layers show different information. The most high-risk ponding areas will usually align with depressions, but not always. The ponding algorithm may miss smaller depressions if they don't have significant contributing area. Conversely, some ponding-prone areas may not be true depressions if they have subtle drainage paths. Best practice: review both layers plus your field knowledge to identify priority drainage areas.

Wetness Index

  • Topographic Wetness Index (TWI) predicts likelihood of areas being wet based on relief. Blue = wetter-prone, Red = drier.
  • Highlights subtle ridges and raised areas on flat fields, and more pronounced features on rolling ground, as relatively drier zones (note: less reliable on very flat terrain).
  • Useful to guide targeted tile placements on more rolling land - try to get tiles into the blue and green-blue areas.
Drier (ridges, raised areas) Wetter (depressions, low areas)

Mark Elevations

Click anywhere on the map to place an elevation marker showing the precise elevation at that point.

How to Use

  • Open the Mark Elevations section in the sidebar
  • Click or tap on the map to place markers
  • Each marker displays the elevation in feet
  • Use Undo to remove the last marker
  • Use Clear to remove all markers

Best Uses

  • Compare elevations of ridges, draws, and low spots
  • Evaluate potential outlet locations
  • Check grade between two points
  • Verify LiDAR accuracy against known benchmarks

Quick Profiler

Draw a line across your field to sample elevations and instantly view an elevation profile chart with auto-computed "best-fit" drainage lines. These fits are intended for planning and information purposes only: Best-Fit Surface (red dashed, ≥0.05% grade) and Best-Fit Tile (green dashed, ≥0.10% grade with 2 ft cover). Before installing, all routes should be surveyed and confirmed with an RTK-grade control system.

Workflow

  1. Open Quick Profiler section (drawing is armed automatically). Desktop: Click to drop points, double-click to finish. Touch: Long-press to drop each point—a single tap will close the line immediately.
  2. The profile chart expands from the bottom showing:
    • Ground surface (black filled area)
    • -1 ft Guide (grey dashed, enabled by default)
    • Best-Fit Surface (red dashed, ≥0.05%, enabled by default)
    • -3 ft and -5 ft Guides (grey dashed, click legend to enable)
    • Best Fit Tile (green dashed, ≥0.10% with 2 ft cover, click legend to enable)
  3. Resize the chart: Drag the handle at the top of the chart up/down to adjust height, or click to close
  4. Use Reverse Outlet if your profile appears to run "uphill"
  5. Press Add to Design to save the route to Quick Designer

Profile Chart Controls

  • Clear – Remove current profile and chart
  • New – Draw another profile
  • Reverse – Flip inlet/outlet direction
  • Add to Design – Save route to Quick Designer
  • Undo – Remove last addition from plan

Chart Guide Lines

Click items in the chart legend to show/hide guide lines. Your preferences are saved automatically:

  • -1 ft, -3 ft, -5 ft Guides: Visualize cut depths (1ft shows by default)
  • Best-Fit Surface: Minimum 0.05% grade surface drain (shown by default)
  • Best Fit Tile: Minimum 0.10% grade with 2ft cover (click legend to enable)

Tip: For surface drain planning, hide the 3ft, 5ft, and tile guides to focus on shallower cuts.

Quick Designer

Quick Designer lets you turn one or more profiler routes into a working plan. Think of it as a simple design board: every route you Add to Design from Quick Profiler is stored, tallied, and displayed on the map as a thick purple line with arrows pointing toward the outlet. With the tab open, a stats box appears in the lower-right corner showing combined lengths, averages, and totals.

Plan Basics

  • Save Design – download your current plan as design.json for backup or sharing. This also lets you pause work and continue later.
  • Load Design – import a saved design.json back into the app to continue editing, or share it with someone else so they can open your custom URL and view your exact plan.
  • Clear Current Plan – wipe the slate clean and remove all design lines.

Important: This is a web app – designs are only saved for the current session. If you refresh the page or navigate away, your plan will be lost. Always use Save Design if you’ll need it again!

Exports

  • Export Design Report (PDF) – snapshot of your field with design lines plus full statistics. Useful for planning discussions or even as supporting documentation for permit applications.
  • Export Plan to KML / CSV / XYZ – take your design into Google Earth, spreadsheets, or GNSS tools.
    • KML: overlay your plan in Google Earth or other mapping apps.
    • CSV: simple table with latitude, longitude, and elevation columns.
    • XYZ: can be imported into Ditch Assist (Layers → Import XYZ). This allows Slope-IQ to follow your planned grade without re-driving the survey. Important: use caution – always run Auto Height Calibration to align GPS elevation with LiDAR. Recommended for excavators, not surface implements.

On-map Styling

  • Design lines are shown in purple with arrows pointing to the outlet.
  • The Designer stats box (lower-right) updates live as you add or remove routes.

Best Use

Use Quick Designer to sketch out a drainage plan before going to the field. Share the saved plan with a custom operator, agronomist, or crew. It’s a quick way to communicate intent and test “what-if” layouts without extra trips to the field.

Geolocation (GPS)

Track your real-time location in the field and navigate to specific areas.

Enabling GPS

  • Click the GPS button (floating button or sidebar)
  • Grant location permission when prompted
  • Your position appears as a blue dot on the map
  • Accuracy circle shows GPS precision

GPS Features

  • Enable Tracking – Show your current position
  • Follow Mode – Keep map centered on your location as you move
  • Heading Indicator – Shows direction of movement

Best Practices

  • iOS/Safari: Enable "Precise Location" in Settings → Privacy → Location Services
  • Android/Chrome: Use "High accuracy" mode in Location settings
  • For best accuracy, use outdoors with clear sky view
  • GPS accuracy is typically 5-15m; use RTK for construction-grade precision

Using Offline

Save field data to your device for use without internet connection. Ideal for working in remote areas with poor cell coverage.

How to Save for Offline

  1. Select your field from the dropdown
  2. Wait for all layers to finish loading (you'll see them appear on the map)
  3. Scroll to the bottom of the sidebar
  4. Click Save for Offline
  5. Wait for "Saved for offline ✓" confirmation
  6. The field will show an Offline badge in the field list

Offline Status Indicators

  • Available offline ✓ – Field is fully cached
  • Offline badge – Shows next to cached fields in the list
  • Status updates automatically when you switch fields

What's Cached

  • ✅ Field boundary, elevation raster, flow lines
  • ✅ Ponding risk, depressions, and wetness index
  • ❌ Contours (not cached due to large file size)
  • ✅ App interface and tools

Best Practices

  • Pre-load before leaving: Save while on WiFi, before heading to the field
  • Keep session open: Don't close the browser tab or refresh the page until you're back online
  • Use installed app: Install as PWA for more reliable offline persistence
  • Clear when done: Use Clear Offline to free up device storage
Technical Note: Offline data is stored in your browser's cache using a service worker. If you reload the page while offline, cached layers may not load. For best results, save the field, then keep the tab open until you're done working.

Install as an App

Installing Drain-IQ as a home-screen app gives you a full-screen experience, quick launching, and more reliable session persistence while you’re in the field.

Android (Chrome)

  1. Open your custom Drain-IQ URL in Chrome.
  2. Tap the menu and choose Install app (or Add to Home screen).
  3. Confirm to add it. Launch from your home screen.

iOS (Safari)

  1. Open your custom Drain-IQ URL in Safari.
  2. Tap Share (square with arrow) → Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add. Launch from your home screen.
  • You may see an install prompt on first load. If not, there’s also an Install App button under About & Help.
  • Installing does not change the offline behavior: you still need to Save for Offline while online and keep the session open.

Troubleshooting & FAQ

How recent is the LiDAR data in my area?

We use the latest publicly available data from Canada HRDEM Mosaic (NRCan) and USGS 3DEP. In Western Canada, most projects were flown ~2018–2024. In the U.S. grain belt (Dakotas, Minnesota, etc.), many areas were collected or refreshed in 2022–2023.

If LiDAR is updated, can my maps be remade?

Yes. If your area is re-flown while your paid plan is active, we’ll reprocess your layers from the best-available data at no additional charge.

I’ve done ditching or land-forming—will that show up?

Only if the LiDAR was collected after your work. Public datasets reflect ground conditions at the time of acquisition.

How accurate is the elevation data?

Typical agricultural field accuracy is in the 4-6" range—good enough for planning, but not construction-grade. Field conditions at collection time (e.g., water in potholes, crop residue) can affect elevations. Most projects are flown in the fall.

Best practice: Use Drain-IQ as a pre-planner to develop your design and understand what will work before heading to the field. Then, use RTK in the field to pre-survey proposed runs and finalize your design in your machine control system (Ditch Assist, SD Drain, etc.) before installing. This workflow saves time and ensures you arrive with a solid plan.

Do I need drains everywhere I see flow lines?

No. Treat the network as guidance. Prioritize main drains along lines with the largest contributing areas, then apply your knowledge plus the Ponding Risk, Depressions, and Wetness Index layers for smaller routes.

Flow shows water leaving my field toward a neighbour—what now?

The flow layer models natural drainage paths. In some jurisdictions, downstream owners are not obligated to accept water unless it follows a legally recognized watercourse. Requirements vary widely—consult local regulations and authorities before altering drainage.

Flow lines aren’t perfectly aligned with existing ditches/channels.

We lightly simplify flow geometry for performance, so minor offsets are expected. Use judgement in the field and when profiling—follow the lowest channel.

Will every mapped depression hold standing water?

Not necessarily. Deeper (red) depressions are more likely to fill, but soil texture, micro-relief, contributing area, and elevation context matter. Higher parts of a field may not pond as much. Existing drains can also appear as depressions—regular maintenance and re-grading are important for performance.

Can I share my custom URL?

Yes—share it with anyone you choose (contractors, operators, advisors, etc.).

Do I own my data?

We own the web app and host your layers while your plan is active. You can download LiDAR and derived layers anytime and keep them even after expiry. Any maps/plans you create are yours.

LiDAR is “free”—why is there a fee?

The raw data is public, but turning it into something useful takes work: we source, process, derive layers, host them at your custom URL, and provide tools for planning and export—all priced to be affordable for farm use.

How does pricing work?

You pay a per-acre setup that includes an initial hosting term. When it ends, you can renew or do nothing.

What happens if I don’t renew?

We remove hosted layers and your web app stops serving maps. You should download anything you want to keep before expiry.

Can I cancel and re-activate later?

Yes, but the initial setup fee applies again—we’ll need to rebuild and re-host your layers.

I bought more land—can you add it?

Yes. Contact us or your dealer to add new fields to your plan.

I need advanced, whole-field tile/surface design tools.

For complex designs, especially tiling, we also offer GeoSurface: a powerful LiDAR-backed design platform for validating complete drainage systems. Ask us or your dealer to add it to your plan.

Why do I see a grey bar below the map?

You've opened the Quick Profiler. The profile chart appears as a resizable panel once you draw a profile line. You can drag the top handle up/down to resize the chart, or click it to close.

How do I resize the profile chart?

When the profile chart is visible, grab the grey handle bar at the top and drag up (expand) or down (shrink). You can also click the handle to close the chart entirely. The chart height is remembered for future profiles.

Why can't I see my guide lines in the profile chart?

Guide lines (-1ft, -3ft, -5ft, Best-Fit Surface, Best Fit Tile) can be toggled by clicking their names in the chart legend. By default, only the -1 ft Guide and Best-Fit Surface are enabled. Your visibility preferences are saved automatically.

The offline status shows "Saved for offline ✓" but the field isn't actually cached.

This was a bug in earlier versions where the status persisted from previous fields. The latest version correctly shows "Available offline ✓" only for fields that are actually cached. Refresh the page to get the updated version.

My JPG/JGW export shows a warning, but then downloads fine.

That alert is informational. Save the .jpg and .jgw with the same name in the same folder, then add both to Ditch Assist.

Map downloads are slow or fail.
  • Check your internet connection - some of the layers are quite large so require a fast connection.
  • On mobile, disable Data Saver / Low-data mode.
How do I undo a plan addition?

Open Quick Profiler and tap Undo Last Add. This removes the most recent push to the plan so you can adjust (e.g., Reverse Outlet) and re-add.

Keyboard & touch tips
  • Shift + drag to box-zoom (desktop).
  • Long-press to continue a profile line on touch; a quick tap ends the line.
  • Pinch to zoom (touch).
I have other questions

Visit gis4ag.com or drainage.farm to contact us, or reach out to your dealer.

Terms of Service & Privacy Policy

Effective Date: January 1, 2025

TERMS OF SERVICE

1) ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS

Welcome to Drain-IQ (the "Service"). The Service is provided by 17449275 Canada Inc. and Northern Plains Drainage Systems Ltd, operating under the GIS4AG umbrella brand and the Drain-IQ product brand ("we", "us", or "our"). By accessing or using the Service, you agree to these Terms of Service (the "Terms"). If you do not agree, discontinue use immediately.

2) SERVICES DESCRIPTION

Drain-IQ provides web-based drainage planning tools ("Tools") intended for informational and educational use, including:

  • LiDAR-based elevation, flow route, ponding, and wetness index mapping
  • Elevation profiling and drainage design utilities
  • Map visualization and export tools
  • Offline caching for field use

No Professional Advice. The Tools and outputs are not a substitute for professional engineering, surveying, agronomy, environmental consulting, or legal/regulatory approvals.

3) OWNERSHIP & BRANDING

The Service is owned and operated by 17449275 Canada Inc. and Northern Plains Drainage Systems Ltd. "GIS4AG" and "Drain-IQ" are brands under which the Service is provided and are not separate legal entities or corporations. The Service is exclusively provided through Northern Plains Drainage Systems Ltd and gis4ag.com.

4) DATA SOURCES, LICENSING & ATTRIBUTION

Primary Sources. Elevation datasets visualized by the Service are obtained from federal providers:

  • USGS 3DEP (United States): public-domain data (no copyright)
  • NRCan HRDEM (Canada): provided under the Open Government Licence—Canada, permitting use/modification with attribution

Allowed Uses. Your use via the Service is intended to align with those licences. Where attribution is required (e.g., HRDEM), attribution may be shown within exports; you must preserve attribution if you republish or redistribute any data or outputs.

No Affiliation. We are not endorsed by or affiliated with USGS or NRCan. Licences and availability may change; you are responsible for downstream compliance.

5) SERVICE AVAILABILITY & THIRD-PARTY DEPENDENCIES

Upstream Dependency. The Service depends on third-party infrastructure and public data endpoints (e.g., USGS/3DEP, NRCan/HRDEM, CDN providers). We do not control their uptime, performance, rate limits, licensing, or continued availability.

Outages Happen. Endpoints can experience outages, rate-limiting, maintenance, government shutdowns, policy changes, or removals. While outages are usually brief, longer interruptions may occur.

No SLA. The Service is provided without any service-level agreement.

No Liability for Third-Party Issues; No Refunds. You acknowledge that upstream dependencies are beyond our control. We have no liability for unavailability, slowdowns, removals, or licence changes from third parties or force-majeure events. No refunds or credits are provided for outages or upstream data unavailability during any pre-paid term.

6) ACCOUNTS & ELIGIBILITY

  • Eligibility. You must be of legal age in your jurisdiction.
  • Access via URL. Access is typically provided via a custom URL specific to your farm/field package. No traditional account login is required for basic access.
  • Responsibility. You are responsible for safeguarding your custom URL and all activity associated with it.

7) ACCEPTABLE USE

You agree not to:

  • (a) overload, interfere with, or attempt to bypass technical controls
  • (b) violate third-party licences
  • (c) misrepresent outputs as certified professional work
  • (d) use the Service in violation of law or regulation
  • (e) use outputs for safety-critical decisions without independent professional review

8) AGRONOMIC, ENGINEERING & EQUIPMENT DISCLAIMERS

Heuristic Outputs. Algorithmic outputs (flow paths, ponding maps, profile best-fits, etc.) are heuristic and may vary with inputs, parameters, data quality, and method updates. They are suggestive and not agronomic, environmental, engineering, or regulatory recommendations.

LiDAR Accuracy. Typical agricultural field accuracy is 4-6 inches — good enough for planning, but not construction-grade. Field conditions at data collection time (water, crop residue, snow) can affect accuracy.

No Outcome Warranty. We do not warrant yield, profit, environmental compliance, drainage performance, or any outcome from use of outputs.

Professional Review Required. You are solely responsible for validating outputs with qualified professionals (engineers, surveyors, agronomists, CCA) and ensuring compliance with laws, permits, drainage regulations, environmental stewardship, and buffer zones.

Equipment Compatibility. File formats, controller firmware, GNSS accuracy, and machine performance vary. We do not guarantee compatibility with any specific hardware, firmware, or platform and are not responsible for equipment damage, configuration errors, or field operations.

9) DISCLAIMERS

"As Is." The Service and all content/outputs are provided "as is" and "as available."

No Warranties. To the maximum extent permitted by law, we disclaim all warranties (express, implied, statutory), including merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, accuracy, non-infringement, and quiet enjoyment.

Data Quality. Terrain models, LiDAR, imagery, and derived products may contain errors, artefacts, and omissions. You assume all risk for use of any output.

10) NO LIABILITY; HOLD HARMLESS & RELEASE

User Acknowledgment & Assumption of Risk. You acknowledge and agree that:

  • Drain-IQ is provided as an informational planning tool only, not as professional advice or engineering services;
  • You have been expressly informed of data limitations, accuracy ranges, and the need for professional validation;
  • All use of the Service and reliance on its outputs is at your sole risk and discretion;
  • Any decisions, implementations, or consequences arising from your use are beyond our control and are your sole responsibility;
  • We have acted in good faith by providing clear disclaimers, accuracy information, and usage guidelines.

Hold Harmless & Release. You agree to hold harmless and release GIS4AG (17449275 Canada Inc.) and Northern Plains Drainage Systems Ltd, their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, and affiliates from any and all liability, claims, demands, damages, losses, costs, or expenses (including legal fees) arising from or related to:

  • Your use of the Service or reliance on any outputs, data, analyses, or suggestions;
  • Your decisions or implementations based on information from Drain-IQ;
  • Data quality issues, errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in elevation data, flow routes, ponding predictions, or other outputs;
  • Equipment incompatibility, export format issues, or implementation challenges;
  • Regulatory non-compliance, permit violations, or environmental impacts;
  • Any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, special, or punitive damages of any kind.

No Liability. Given your express acknowledgment of risks above, your agreement to hold us harmless, and the informational nature of the Service, there is no liability on the part of GIS4AG (17449275 Canada Inc.) and Northern Plains Drainage Systems Ltd for any outcomes arising from your use. You have expressly released us from all liability.

Severability & Mandatory Law Fallback. The foregoing release and hold harmless provisions are intended to be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law. However, if despite your express release and acknowledgments, a court of competent jurisdiction determines that some element of liability cannot be excluded or released under mandatory consumer protection or other applicable law, then solely and exclusively to the extent required by such mandatory law, and only for those specific claims that a court determines cannot be released: (a) our aggregate liability shall not exceed the amounts you actually paid for the specific Service in the twelve (12) months before the event; (b) any claim must be brought within twelve (12) months after it first accrues or is permanently barred; and (c) we shall have no liability whatsoever for indirect, consequential, special, or punitive damages under any circumstances.

Non-Excludable Rights. Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits any consumer rights or statutory guarantees that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited.

11) INDEMNIFICATION

You will indemnify, defend, and hold harmless 17449275 Canada Inc. and Northern Plains Drainage Systems Ltd (GIS4AG / Drain-IQ) from and against all claims, losses, liabilities, damages, costs, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from: (a) your use of the Service or outputs; (b) your breach of these Terms; or (c) your violation of law, permit, licence, or third-party rights.

12) SUBSCRIPTIONS, BILLING & REFUNDS

Fees. Access to specific farm packages requires a paid subscription; pricing is typically per-acre with annual hosting fees.

Refunds. All fees are non-refundable except where required by law. If you purchased through a Reseller (dealer, marketplace), refunds/credits are handled exclusively by that Reseller. No refunds or credits are provided for outages, upstream data unavailability, rate limiting, maintenance, feature changes, or force-majeure events during any pre-paid term.

13) THIRD-PARTY SALES; RESELLER PURCHASES

Merchant of Record. If you purchase through a third party (dealer, marketplace) (a "Reseller"), that Reseller is the merchant of record. Your purchase contract—including pricing, taxes, billing, refunds—is with the Reseller, not with us.

Use Governed Here. Regardless of point of sale, your use of the Service is governed by these Terms.

Refunds & Credits. For Reseller purchases, all refunds or billing disputes must be directed to that Reseller.

14) USER DATA: CLIENT-SIDE PROFILES & DESIGNS

No Server Uploads. Drain-IQ does not require you to upload files to our servers. All field-specific data (elevation, flow, ponding, contours) is pre-processed by us and hosted at your custom URL.

Client-Side Only. Profile lines and drainage designs you draw are processed and stored only within your current browser session (memory/local storage) and are not uploaded to our servers unless you explicitly export them.

Ephemeral by Design. Closing your tab, clearing browser data, or changing devices may remove locally held profiles/designs. We do not retain or reconstruct these client-side data server-side.

Exports Are Your Choice. If you export profiles, designs, or maps, you are responsible for any distribution, licence compliance, and retention of exported data.

15) EXPORTS & DOWNSTREAM COMPLIANCE

If you export or download data or outputs (PDF, KML, GeoTIFF, CSV, JPG+JGW, BMP+BPW, etc.), you are responsible for: (a) preserving required attribution; (b) complying with applicable licences (e.g., USGS/NRCan), laws, permits, and label directions; and (c) ensuring suitability for your intended use.

16) BETA & CHANGES TO THE SERVICE

Certain features may be labelled Beta or may change without notice. We may modify, suspend, or discontinue features at any time. We may update these Terms; updated Terms will be posted with a new effective date. Continued use constitutes acceptance.

17) TERMINATION

We may suspend or terminate access at any time for violations, misuse, or technical/security reasons. Upon termination, your right to use the Service ceases, except where applicable data licences allow continued use of openly licensed public data already obtained.

18) SEVERABILITY; ENTIRE AGREEMENT; NO WAIVER

If any provision is unenforceable, the remainder remains in effect. These Terms constitute the entire agreement between you and us regarding the Service. Failure to enforce any provision is not a waiver.

19) GOVERNING LAW & VENUE

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Province of Manitoba, Canada, without regard to conflict-of-law rules. Courts located in Manitoba have exclusive jurisdiction and venue.

20) CONTACT

For questions or concerns, please visit gis4ag.com or drainage.farm.


PRIVACY POLICY

Effective Date: January 1, 2025

1) WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?

Data controllers: 17449275 Canada Inc. and Northern Plains Drainage Systems Ltd, Manitoba, Canada.

Contact: gis4ag.com

2) WHAT WE COLLECT

A) Information you may provide:

  • Access data: If purchased through a Reseller, they may share limited details (name, email, field package details) to provision access
  • Support messages: Content you submit through contact forms

B) Technical & usage data (automatically collected):

  • Device/usage: IP address, browser type/version, OS, referring pages, timestamps, feature usage
  • Cookies/local storage: Small files to remember settings, offline cache preferences, and T&C acceptance

C) Client-side data (stays in your browser):

  • Profiles & designs: Drawn profiles and drainage designs are stored only in your browser session and are not uploaded to our servers unless you explicitly export them

3) WHY WE COLLECT IT (PURPOSES)

  • Provide the Service: Load field data, render maps, enable offline caching, and operate core features
  • Access management: Verify and manage your field package/plan
  • Support & operations: Respond to requests, diagnose issues, secure the Service, prevent abuse/fraud
  • Analytics (optional): Understand feature use to improve performance and usability
  • Legal & compliance: Meet legal obligations and enforce Terms

4) LAWFUL BASIS / CONSENT

  • Consent: By using the Service, you consent to collection and use for the purposes above
  • Legitimate interests: Secure operation, fraud prevention, service analytics, improving features
  • Contract: Processing needed to provide features you request

You may withdraw consent for non-essential processing via browser settings; essential cookies are needed to run the Service.

5) COOKIES & TRACKING

  • Essential cookies/local storage: Required for T&C acceptance, offline preferences, and core functionality
  • Analytics (if enabled): Privacy-respecting analytics may measure traffic and feature usage. You can opt out by blocking cookies in your browser

6) PRE-PROCESSED FIELD DATA (NOT YOUR PERSONAL DATA)

The Service visualizes pre-processed LiDAR data (elevation, flow, ponding, contours) that we host for your farm. This is public elevation data processed by us and is not your personal information. It may be unavailable during upstream outages or policy changes.

7) DISCLOSURE TO THIRD PARTIES

We may share limited personal information with:

  • Service providers: Hosting/CDN, error logging, analytics (if enabled), under contract for our purposes only
  • Resellers: For purchases through dealers, we may share minimal technical information to resolve provisioning
  • Legal and safety: If required by law or to protect rights, safety, or property
  • Business changes: If we transfer or licence the Service, personal information may be transferred to allow continuity of service

We do not sell personal information.

8) INTERNATIONAL TRANSFER

Servers, CDNs, and providers may be located in Canada, the United States, or other jurisdictions. Your information may be transferred to and processed outside your province or country. We use reasonable measures to protect personal information regardless of location.

9) SECURITY

We use reasonable technical and organisational safeguards appropriate for a small-team service (e.g., access controls, TLS in transit, hardened configuration). No method of transmission or storage is 100% secure.

10) RETENTION (PERSONAL INFORMATION)

  • Access/plan data: Retained while you have an active package and for a reasonable period thereafter for security and legal obligations
  • Logs/metadata: Retained for a limited period for security and diagnostics
  • T&C acceptance: Stored in your browser's localStorage (not on our servers)

11) YOUR RIGHTS & CHOICES

Subject to applicable law, you may:

  • Access & correction: Request access to or correction of your personal information
  • Deletion: Request deletion of personal information where no longer required
  • Withdraw consent: For non-essential cookies/analytics, via browser settings
  • Complain: Contact us or the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada or your provincial privacy regulator

12) CHILDREN'S PRIVACY

The Service is not directed to minors. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors.

13) THIRD-PARTY PURCHASES (RESELLERS)

If you purchase through a Reseller (dealer, marketplace), they are the merchant of record. Your payment data is processed under their policies. For billing and refunds, contact the Reseller directly.

14) AUTOMATED PROCESSING

Some features (flow path generation, ponding analysis, profile best-fits) use algorithmic processing to produce heuristic outputs. These are suggestive and do not produce legal or similarly significant effects on their own. You remain responsible for professional review.

15) CHANGES TO THIS POLICY

We may update this Policy from time to time. The updated Policy will be posted on this page with a new Effective Date. Continued use after changes means you accept the updated Policy.

16) HOW TO CONTACT US

For privacy questions or requests, visit gis4ag.com or drainage.farm.

Last Updated: January 1, 2025