Hi All,
For the cave survey training course this weekend we will be meeting at the Hunters Lodge Inn for 9:00am on Saturday. The content of the course is going to be roughly as detailed at the end of this email (but tailored to suit the needs of the group as we go).
The Training location does not have internet access, so although we
will try to bring everything that we need, to get the most from the
weekend it would be good if people could have as much as possible
prepared in advance. This is mainly software loaded onto your
computer. We can probably help with most Windows and Linux problems
between us.
Equipment to bring
Laptop computer (you need one to do all the drawing up hands on
exercises we will be covering over the weekend). Preferably one each,
but sharing one between two people is possible.
If you have a DistoX V1 or V2 then bring it, along with:
Clear plastic bags and insulation tape, plus a box to take it
underground are very useful (not critical for the part of Peak Cavern
we will be surveying)
If you have a DistoX, then also bring a Windows mobile PDA.
If your PDA is not ruggedized then also bring a box or bag to put it
in that you can still use the screen with, and a pen pointer to write
on the screen. One of the one piece plastic pens
are best, most PDAs come with metal and plastic mixed ones that do not
survive underground so well.
A quick search gives lots of results, the box some people use is no
longer made. Aquapaq cases work, but the newer material versions (made
from TPU) tend to be a bit stickier for the stylus to draw on, so it
tends to jump across the screen (unless their is a little water on the
case!). You may find cheaper PVC cases for phones or Kindles work
better. So long as you PDA fits inside and you can draw on the screen
through the window then you will be fine for this course. A ziplock
plastic sandwich bag will do for an easy walk in cave.
http://www.google.co.uk/search?num=50&hl=en&site=&source=hp&q=waterproof+pda+bag&oq=pda+bags
We will try to have a few spares with us (bags, PDAs and DistoXs for
those who have not got their own yet).
Memory cards, usually SD, for the PDAs would be good.
Installed on the PDA, you must have the following software:
PocketTopo (v1.372)
Download from this site
http://paperless.bheeb.ch/
Direct download link:
://paperless.bheeb.ch/download/PocketTopo.zip
For PocketTopo to run, you will also need the dotnet framework on your
pda, which can be hard to find so we have put the DotNet_cabs here:
http://www.ubss.org.uk/__Files/
Unzip and put them on an SD card. Pick the correct one and run it on
your PDA (I have found no easy way to work out which one to run, but
getting the wrong one seems to just gives an error, so I just try them
in order until it works).
Installed on your computer, you must have the following software:
Therion (current version is 5.3.16, released on Dec 30, 2014)
Download from this site
http://therion.speleo.sk/download.php
TopParser (v 1_2_3)
Windows exe file is here (needs unzipping):
https://bitbucket.org/AndrewA/topparser/downloads
For Linux (or Windows if you have python (and mac)), you can get the
python source to run directly (I'll assume you know what you are
doing!):
https://bitbucket.org/AndrewA/topparser/overview
Nice to have additional software:
Survex
http://survex.com/download.html
gmapcapture
http://code.google.com/p/gmapcatcher/
Downloads links on the left of that page.
Terraintool
http://www.ubss.org.uk/terraintool/terraintool.php
This needs Java to run, see instructions on the webpage.
If you can arrive with all this installed ready for Saturday morning
then we can get straight into showing you how to use it all. But don't
worry if you struggle to get any of this sorted out, we can help you
get set up on the day if needed.
Any problems then just ask!
We are looking forward to a great weekend,
Footleg
General course content and timings:
Day1
Principles of Surveying (9.30-10.30)
Centreline and Stations ? tape, compass, clino
Passage dimensions LRUD (2 main conventions) and/or splays
splays can measure many features including corners.
Drawings ? plan, extended elevation, projected elevation, cross sections.
Grades.
Avoiding magnetic influences.
Overview of the files and folders for a single surveying (10.30-10.55)
Outputs
Many outputs, main ones are
pdf ? plans and elevations
3d ? mainly used for centreline data, but can do other things
lox ? 3D solid model with surface.
Also kml, vrml, sql, txt and more
Break (10.55 ? 11:05)
Use of repositories (11:05 ? 11:30)
The distoX and PocketTopo (11.30 - 12.30)
Cave Practical - in Swildons Hole Entrance Series (after lunch)
Calibration
Splays
Legs
Plan
Cross sections
Extended Elevation
Collect own data, return and get the data into Therion.
Produce 3d (17.30 - 19.00)
Day 2
Drawing up the survey
Include
Points (including passage slope
Lines
Areas
Maps
Pillars
Cross sections
More advanced features
Co-ordinate systems
Entrances
Surface overlays
