How do you survey and map complex terrain?

1 Define the purpose

Before you start surveying and mapping complex terrain, you need to define the purpose and scope of your project. What are the objectives, deliverables, and specifications of your survey and map? Who are the stakeholders, clients, and users of your data? How will you manage the quality, cost, and time of your project? These questions will help you plan and design your survey and map according to the needs and expectations of your project.

2 Choose the methods

When surveying and mapping complex terrain, there are several methods to choose from depending on the purpose and scope of your project. Conventional surveying is accurate and reliable, but it can be labor-intensive and limited by the visibility and accessibility of the terrain. Photogrammetry is fast and flexible, but it can be affected by the quality, resolution, and coverage of the images. LiDAR can produce high-resolution and accurate data, even in areas with dense vegetation or low contrast; however, it can be expensive, complex, and sensitive to environmental factors.

3 Select the tools

Once you have chosen the methods of surveying and mapping complex terrain, you need to select the tools that will enable you to collect and process the data. Ground-based tools, such as tripods, rods, prisms, targets, markers, handheld devices, and GPS receivers can be used to support and reference the surveying instruments on the ground. Additionally, airborne tools like drones, helicopters, planes, satellites, sensors, controllers, and software can be used to carry and operate cameras and laser scanners in the air. Lastly, desktop tools like computers, software, hardware, networks, servers, and cloud platforms are necessary for storing, processing, analyzing and visualizing data as well as sharing and accessing it.

4 Prepare the fieldwork

Before you go to the field, you need to prepare the fieldwork that will ensure the success and safety of your surveying and mapping operations. This includes reviewing site conditions, hazards, and regulations; obtaining necessary permits, permissions, and clearances from the authorities and landowners; creating a field plan that outlines objectives, tasks, roles, and responsibilities; gathering and testing equipment, materials, and supplies; and coordinating and communicating with team members, clients, and stakeholders. Taking these steps is essential for a successful fieldwork experience.

5 Conduct the fieldwork

When you are in the field, it's necessary to conduct the fieldwork that will collect and verify the data for your survey and map. This involves setting up and calibrating surveying instruments, cameras, and laser scanners according to the manufacturer's instructions and project specifications. Additionally, you need to establish and measure control points, reference points, and checkpoints that will provide the basis and accuracy of your data. Capturing and recording data using the appropriate methods and tools for your project is also essential. Furthermore, you should check and validate the data for completeness, consistency, and quality before transferring it to a secure storage device or platform.

6 Process the data

Once you have collected the data, it's time to process it in order to create and refine your survey and map. This involves importing and organizing the data into a suitable software or platform, correcting and adjusting the data for errors, distortions, and outliers, combining and integrating the data from different sources and methods, analyzing and interpreting the data using tools such as statistics, models, and algorithms, and finally visualizing and presenting the data using formats such as maps, charts, graphs, and reports.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?