Mapping Methods

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What method do you use to draft maps

Poll ended at Jan 8, 2012 3:30 pm

Pen/Pencil and Paper/Mylar
6
14%
Walls and Illustrator
10
24%
Walls and Xara
0
No votes
Compass and Illustrator
6
14%
Compass and Xara
0
No votes
Therion
13
31%
Survex and something
4
10%
ArcGIS
2
5%
I don't know, looking to learn Paint someday when the survey is finished
1
2%
 
Total votes : 42

Mapping Methods

Postby Spike » Dec 9, 2011 3:30 pm

I'm wonding what methods folks prefer to use to make maps of caves.
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Re: Mapping Methods

Postby MUD » Dec 9, 2011 6:38 pm

:grin: Good question! I'm slowly learning the art of using the computer. I was for many years a pen/mylar kinda guy.

:big grin: I'm wondering though, Compass or Therion? Jeff? Martin? :laughing:

Just kidding guys as I love the exchanges on the ins and outs of each! :waving:
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Re: Mapping Methods

Postby Jeff Bartlett » Dec 9, 2011 7:00 pm

People still make cave maps?
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Re: Mapping Methods

Postby trogman » Dec 12, 2011 10:26 am

I didn't see my method listed. I use a combination of AutoCad and hand-drawn. Sort of what you might call mixed methods. It works good for me. The CAD is good for the line plot and the text and reapeatable items. It also helps because it makes it much easier to accurately scale the map and move things around on the layout.

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Re: Mapping Methods

Postby Spike » Dec 12, 2011 2:37 pm

I thought I would miss a method or two, but I should have placed Autocad on the list, since I've seen a fair number of maps made that way.
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Re: Mapping Methods

Postby Dwight Livingston » Dec 12, 2011 9:26 pm

I'd describe my method as Compass/Carto/Photoshop/Illustrator

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Re: Mapping Methods

Postby Thomas Holder » Dec 13, 2011 7:18 am

I use Inkscape/Survex/Therion
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Re: Mapping Methods

Postby Daniel Ballesteros » Dec 15, 2011 2:10 pm

I use Compass and ArcGIS to elaborate the cave survey.
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Re: Mapping Methods

Postby Jeff Bartlett » Dec 16, 2011 12:25 am

I record passage dimensions with a topofil, divining rod and sextant. I carve the data into a soft plank of wood, then reduce that data at home with my Little Orphan Annie decoder pin and ink the final map onto random Samoan men in the traditional style with a "Sausau" mallet.
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Re: Mapping Methods

Postby jlillest » Dec 26, 2011 8:59 pm

Do you submit these Samoan men to the map salon? I've heard they're not very good at standing still.

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Re: Mapping Methods

Postby Jeff Bartlett » Dec 28, 2011 8:09 am

jlillest wrote:Do you submit these Samoan men to the map salon? I've heard they're not very good at standing still.

Of course! I pay handsomely, and allow bathroom breaks.

PS: I can't help but notice that "Therion" is winning the above survey. I hereby formally propose that the name of this forum be changed from "Survey and Cartography Forum" to "Therion Forum."
"Although it pains me to say it, in this case Jeff is right. Plan accordingly." --Andy Armstrong
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Re: Mapping Methods

Postby NZcaver » Dec 28, 2011 4:09 pm

Jeff Bartlett wrote:I can't help but notice that "Therion" is winning the above survey. I hereby formally propose that the name of this forum be changed from "Survey and Cartography Forum" to "Therion Forum."

I hereby formally propose the name of the "report post" button be changed to the "report Jeff" button. :woohoo:
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Re: Mapping Methods

Postby Extremeophile » Dec 28, 2011 4:21 pm

I'm also disturbed that there are so few votes for Compass and Illustrator. Sad that pen and paper has more votes. My theory on the popularity of Therion is that there is more voter apathy in the U.S., not that it is more widely used.
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Re: Mapping Methods

Postby jlillest » Dec 28, 2011 5:26 pm

Jeff, you're a riot!

Can we weight the results by number of maps drawn, length of caves drawn, etc?

I think people that are trying to into cave cartography are drawn to Therion because of it's perceived ease of completing maps. I made several maps in Therion before realizing (and wasting more hours than it was worth....) that I could only make simple caves with the software. That's about the time that I came across an article about Illustrator by Jeff and have been drawing maps (~20 or so) in Illustrator ever since.

I think it's also interesting to note that total votes for Illustrator (whether you use Compass or Walls) is equal to the number of votes for Therion. Just like in Therion where it doesn't matter what survey software crunches your data, the same should apply for Illustrator. Maybe the poll should be modified to only include the actual drawing programs that are used in making your maps.

Here's a potential list:
Hand-drawn (non-software, even if you scan into a PDF)
Paint, or other simple raster-based software program
Xara
Illustrator/Inkscape (ok, I know the pursist will hate to see the combination of the two, but they're almost identical these days)
Therion
Others?

In a separate debate (I'll sit this one out), we can discuss the merits of individual survey software packages. FWIW, I use Walls, Compass, Survex and some new dive survey program on a semi-regular basis in the projects that I'm involved in. I've come to the conclusion that we're never going to completely agree on a single cave survey software package so I've just learned each one as I go....
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Re: Mapping Methods

Postby Jeff Bartlett » Jan 1, 2012 9:26 am

NZcaver wrote:
Jeff Bartlett wrote:I can't help but notice that "Therion" is winning the above survey. I hereby formally propose that the name of this forum be changed from "Survey and Cartography Forum" to "Therion Forum."

I hereby formally propose the name of the "report post" button be changed to the "report Jeff" button. :woohoo:

HAHA! I second this request.
"Although it pains me to say it, in this case Jeff is right. Plan accordingly." --Andy Armstrong
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