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paperless [2018/03/29 21:40] – [PDA Booking] Start, Continue, Connect Here brucemutton | paperless [2018/12/08 19:55] – [Paperless Survey] under construction brucemutton | ||
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=====Paperless Survey===== | =====Paperless Survey===== | ||
- | Here are some ideas that are developing as I try out our DistoX and PocketTopo with Therion. (See http:// | + | '' |
- | As an alternative | + | Here are some applications that facilitate collection of cave survey data without the need for pencil and paper. |
+ | The following pages are not intended | ||
- | **Disclaimer:** I have no experience or qualifications in paperless cave surveying. | + | |
+ | * [[: | ||
+ | * TopoDroid | ||
+ | * SexyTopo | ||
- | I welcome any insights you may have. Add them to this page. | ||
- | =====DistoX & PocketTopo > Therion===== | + | Feel free to make changes or comment |
- | For PocketTopo 1.22, 1.34-1.36 and Therion 5.3+ \\ | + | |
- | + | ||
- | Some ideas to minimise confusion and data loss. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | ====DistoX and Survey Sequence==== | + | |
- | ===DistoX usage in general=== | + | |
- | *Remember (distoX1) that each button has at least two functions, one when it is pressed for a short time only, the other when it is pressed and held. Taking shots requires that the DIST button be pressed and released straight away. This is a silent process. | + | |
- | *For DistoX2, it is better to press+hold the DIST button, as you are less likely to shake the device right when it is trying to stabilise the sensors for measurement. | + | |
- | *The above is almost impossible while wearing gloves and with the DistoX in a transparent drybag. | + | |
- | *It is normal to use DistoX with diplay up. But if you'll use it with display on left side if the station is below DistoX, on right side if above, etc., you may use [[http:// | + | |
- | + | ||
- | ===DistoX with PDA=== | + | |
- | * When arriving at a station take all the splay shots (what used to be LRUD) BEFORE taking shots to the next station. Make sure the pda/person booking has recorded points and knows what they are after every 2 or 3 splay shots BEFORE taking any more shots. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | * When taking shots, imagine you are the pda operator trying to progress the drawing based on what you have already done. For large passages, chambers or wherever you are inspired to collect lots of detail, this might be something like; | + | |
- | - **define cross section** It it important to do it first, because all measured splay shots will define only the cross-section and nothing else. It prevent you from mess if too many splay shots was measured before. Ie for a quadrilateral section shape, this would be the four corners. For an arbitrary shape take maybe 8 shots around the passage section. | + | |
- | - **define passage plan shape** generally along the line where the floor meets the wall generally in the direction the survey is proceeding. | + | |
- | - **define important plan features** (edge of water, pits, speleothems, | + | |
- | - **define passage extended elevation shape** (long section) shape. Pick up general | + | |
- | - **define important extended elevation features** (ledges, pits, speleothems, | + | |
- | + | ||
- | + | ||
- | * For smaller or relatively featureless passages the process can be simplified. | + | |
- | * To separate each of the above groups of splay shots, you may like to take a short (+-0.2m) dummy reading, horizontal-ish to, say, your hand. This can provide the PDA person with a clear indicator within the data table that a new group has started. | + | |
- | *Three (successful) shots to the same place means it's a survey leg, and the pda assumes you will now move to that place. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | ====PDA Booking==== | + | |
- | ==ALWAYS when stop sketching switch PocketTopo to cave map view mode (middle icon) to avoid unwanted creating of accidental lines near borders of sketching area!== | + | |
- | {{: | + | |
- | ==PocketTopo Key Points== | + | |
- | The key points to note are;\\ | + | |
- | 1. Ensure all files that contain surveys that are connected to each other are in the same folder. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | 2. Main reasons to start a new file are when a new days survey is started, a new survey is starting in a different location, or if the plan or elevation centrelines start overlapping (causing the sketching to become difficult). | + | |
- | This way the centrelines of other surveys remain visible and only the sketches of the currently open file can be seen (reduces confusion). | + | |
- | + | ||
- | The definition of ' | + | |
- | + | ||
- | ==PocketTopo Station Numbering== | + | |
- | *The logic of PocketTopo numbering follows the so-called " | + | |
- | *[[http:// | + | |
- | *[[http:// | + | |
- | *[[http:// | + | |
- | *[[http:// | + | |
- | *The cave survey is divided into a number of " | + | |
- | *The station label //m//.0 is only used when starting at a previously unsurveyed location. | + | |
- | *Each series needs to be stored in it's own separate file. ie You use Menu.File.New when you need to start a new series. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | ==PocketTopo Survey Loops and Connections== | + | |
- | I break these rules (for numbering and series) regularly, and don't seem to suffer too many consequences. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | *The series MUST NOT cross itself. This means that loops can ONLY be formed at the start or end of a series. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | *The series are linked at start or end points. That is, each series can ONLY attach to the start or end point of a different series, or to somewhere in the middle of itself. A series can also start or end without attaching to another series (but must be attached at one end if there are more than one series in the cave, unless of course you know the co-ordinates for a point in the ' | + | |
- | + | ||
- | *This means that each survey station has one and only one number/ | + | |
- | + | ||
- | + | ||
- | {{: | + | |
- | {{: | + | |
- | + | ||
- | This is why series 4 (yellow) ends when it gets to station 1.4, and continues as series 5. Similarly for series 7 (green) to series 12, and series 8 (purple) to series 9. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | As mentioned above, the rules above on station numbering, loops and connections seem to be overly restrictive and in my experience PocketTopo works just fine 98% of the time when i ignore them. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | ===PocketTopo on Trimble Recon=== | + | |
- | *Our Recon PDA is set up so that the; | + | |
- | left soft button restores PocketTopo\\ | + | |
- | right soft button restores File Explorer | + | |
- | + | ||
- | *Within PocketTopo, all files (series) stored in the same folder relate to the SAME CAVE. The folders MUST BE created in root of directory structure. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | *Note that the Recon (or PocketTopo? | + | |
- | + | ||
- | *Use // | + | |
- | + | ||
- | *__Before you start surveying__, | + | |
- | *Make a note of < | + | |
- | | + | |
- | *Note Survey team members and roles | + | |
- | *(If you edit this information after you have done some survey shots, it will not be associated with those shots already completed - you can manually over-ride this once you get the data into Therion however). | + | |
- | + | ||
- | *Make lots of comments for fixed points and survey legs in the data table, record the station the comment relates to as the comments are linked to legs, not stations!! | + | |
- | + | ||
- | *In data view if a station is selected, use the + - buttons to change the station number, rather than the keypad! | + | |
- | + | ||
- | *If drawings get cluttered due to passages running over top of each other, then // | + | |
- | + | ||
- | *Back bearings are very easy, so it is possible to use inaccessible or magnetic stations within a traverse line provided there is a ' | + | |
- | + | ||
- | To create branches in your surveys... | + | |
- | - Assuming you are starting a new survey trip, connecting to an existing survey, Select the existing survey station you are starting from (in the data table, either the FROM or TO fields). Use // | + | |
- | - Now, if the passage you are surveying ends, and you wish to start surveying from an earlier station in the same trip file, select that station, then use // | + | |
- | - Lastly, if you completed a loop and surveyed back onto a previous surveyed station, once you have done that, right click onto the original station, and select // | + | |
- | I don't think PocketTopo actually closes the loop graphically, | + | |
- | + | ||
- | ====Data Transfer from PocketTopo to Therion==== | + | |
- | You're going to need to make sure your PDA can talk to your big computer (and or use a memory card; see tip in next paragraph). | + | |
- | Assuming a Trimble Recon and Windows XP, you'll need to [[http:// | + | |
- | + | ||
- | //PDA data storage tip: It is highly recommended to save PDA data < | + | |
- | + | ||
- | //Modifying Footleg' | + | |
- | + | ||
- | This next bit generally encapsulates getting to step 4 ' | + | |
- | + | ||
- | *Remember to tidy up any data table comments and drawings before transferring data from the pda (Older PocketTopo versions only allow drawing modifications when used on a touch-screen device). | + | |
- | | + | |
- | *Open PocketTopo & Export filenames as follows; | + | |
- | | + | |
- | | + | |
- | | + | |
- | + | ||
- | *Now get these files into Therion; | + | |
- | //(As an alternative to the description below, you can generate .th and .th2 files directly from PocketTopo .top files using TopParser by Andrew Atkinson. This inserts the leg and station comments for you. See https:// | + | |
- | + | ||
- | | + | |
- | | + | |
- | | + | |
- | *In the ' | + | |
- | *You can add multiple xvi files, or multiple copies of the same xvi file to a single .th2 file. The trick to doing this is to untick the visibility property for all of the existing background images before inserting a new one. | + | |
- | *The other trick is that they all insert at the same location within the Map Window (seems to have been fixed in 5.3.9). | + | |
- | + | ||
- | + | ||
- | * If you have used an alpha survey prefix, add it to each survey centerline with // | + | |
- | This saves a lot of typing. See [[drawingchecklist# | + | |
- | station-names AA[] | + | |
- | + | ||
- | You can change the prefix or suffix (or both) sequentially by inserting new station-names statements throughout the file. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | Scraps drawn over the xvi files will automatically record the ' | + | |
- | Get Therion to add the prefix and suffix (@SurveyName) to each station automatically by adding the following options to each SCRAP. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | // | + | |
- | + | ||
- | eg | + | |
- | + | ||
- | \ -station-names 23 @23-EntranceSeries -author 2009.11.20 "B Mutton" | + | |
- | + | ||
- | This approach requires some modification when a scrap is comprised of stations with differing prefixes or suffixes. | + | |
- | eg | + | |
- | + | ||
- | revise AA-EntrancePlan-s1 -station-names AA @AA-EntranceSeries | + | |
- | point 1063.22503937 587.2462992 station -name 9.4 #Therion will see this as AA9.4@AA-EntranceSeries | + | |
- | revise AA-EntrancePlan-s1 -station-names JH @[] # [] to indicate no suffix | + | |
- | point 1140.29503937 519.4162992 station -name 9.3@jh1 #Therion will see this as JH9.3@jh1 | + | |
- | + | ||
- | Now you can compile to test it works, then open the file with XTherion and continue drawing in the normal way. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | ===Sketch inserting and scaling tip=== | + | |
- | If, in the Insert background image open dialog you cannot find your exported PocketTopo files, then in the 'files of type' box select ' | + | |
- | + | ||
- | Now once you have selected the file and closed the dialog, Xtherion will ask you for the xvi properties. | + | |
- | scale 1:200 | + | |
- | resolution 200 dpi | + | |
- | grid 1m | + | |
- | + | ||
- | These seem to be fine for small cave passage, but for larger cave passages a scale of 1:500, 100 dpi seems to give a better zoom range in Xtherion. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | + | ||
- | ===CAUTIONS=== | + | |
- | * Declination is not transferred from PocketTopo to Therion files. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | * PocketTopo stores the declination (and trip information like the date and the surveyors etc) that is set at the time a shot is received with that shot, and this association cannot be broken. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | * This effect can be used to advantage if you want to make sure the text in your 2D pdf maps will be aligned properly when the finished map is to be rotated. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | ==== Troubleshooting Data Transfer==== | + | |
- | + | ||
- | We've been (early to mid 2010) having trouble with frequent communications blackouts between our distoX and Trimble Recon pda (tentatively mostly resolved early 2011). The distoX usually indicates it has a blue-tooth connection (the icon flashes on and off) but the data transfer does not proceed. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | ^ Here is what we have tried... ^ compared with the degree of success... ^ | + | |
- | | Maintain the devices within 1m of each other and wait| Somewhat successful, definitely better than if they are 5m apart | | + | |
- | | Gently thrust them towards and away from each other while humming a mantra | As above | | + | |
- | | Avoid passages with dimension less than 1.5m, especially if the walls are wet | Usually works | | + | |
- | | In PocketTopo toggle Connect/ | + | |
- | | Turn distoX off and shut down PocketTopo. | + | |
- | | In PocketTopo save the file | Sometimes successful | | + | |
- | | __Change distoX batteries__ well before you need to | In combination with the above seems to be most successful, even though Beat assures me that this should not affect performance. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | **Tip:** Well before your batteries die, pre calibrate a fresh set in a comfortable location during fine weather, mark the ends (see page 1 of [[http:// | + | |
- | + | ||
- | \\ | + | |
- | We corrected a problem whereby the pda was not recognising the backup CF flash card because it was in the ' | + | |
- | + | ||
- | Any further enlightenment will be gratefully received. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | Here is Beat's suggested progression for restoring stalled communication. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | - Normally it suffices to switch off the Disto for a few seconds. | + | |
- | - The next step would be to restart (warm boot) the PDA. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | If this does not help then we are heading towards a troubleshooting approach; | + | |
- | - Check the disto is not in ' | + | |
- | - Try to connect the Disto from the Bluetooth manager. | + | |
- | - Disconnect from the manager and try to connect from PocketTopo (Menu: | + | |
- | - If the connection works but no data is transferred, | + | |
- | + | ||
- | ==== Troubleshooting Erroneous Measurements ==== | + | |
- | These are more warnings to be cautious and observant, rather that troubleshooting as such. | + | |
- | ===Battery Changes=== | + | |
- | ALWAYS carry out the accuracy | + | |
- | < | + | |
- | calibrate compass 0.5 # half of largest difference in accuracy test | + | |
- | calibrate clino 0.2 | + | |
- | </ | + | |
- | Think carefully about the sign of the correction! | + | |
- | + | ||
- | ===Distance=== | + | |
- | We've noticed that spurious distance measurements are more common than we would like, maybe 2% of shots?? | + | |
- | + | ||
- | This can manifest a little bit like the sticking of compass or clino (see below) except that the erroneous measurements are usually not identical - so leading you to believe it is a normal measurement discrepancy. | + | |
- | One explanation is that the laser is bouncing off nearby walls. | + | |
- | I suspect this problem is more frequent when the batteries are getting low, down to their last 1000 or so shots (although Beat has assured me that this is unlikely). | + | |
- | + | ||
- | ===Compass and Clino=== | + | |
- | Both the compass and clino sensors seem to stick sometimes. | + | |
- | Ferrous objects and magnetic fields will affect the compass of course. | + |