I am attempting to learn surveying. Having limited formal education and no advanced mathematical skills, I am finding the idea of plotting with polar coordinates appealing. "On Station," however, deems such an approach unworthy for any but the smallest of caves. I have a few questions.
Is plotting with rectangular coordinates significantly more difficult than polar once the concept is well understood? Keep in mind that I am doing the plotting without the aid of any software.
Is there mapping software available that I could use from a slow dialup internet connection, or is purchasing a disk the best option?
How concerned should I be over survey error? I understand the need to be correct and I know that my personal satisfaction would greatly diminish if my map was extremely innacurate. However, in the smallish caves that I am surveying for mainly recreative purposes, should I panic over slight error if my map is still a clear, understandable representation of the cave?
After all, in caves that are not that complex, what real practical purpose does a map serve? Outside considerations of artistic excellence then, should I feel like I am wasting my time if a 1200' survey is off by a yard or two?