Estimating terrain percentages

Tom Norford

13 May 2021 09:00

Hi, I was wondering what methods surveyors are using to record and estimate the percentages of different terrains on their routes? My technique is pretty low tech and I'd like something more elegant. I've been printing maps then physically measuring the gpx route in centimetres with a ruler. Then I walk the route, annotating the map with different terrain types. Then when I get home I get my ruler out again and measure the total lengths of the different terrain types that I've recorded, thus coming up with some rough percentages. There must be a better way!

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  chrisboucher

  17 May 2021 12:42

  Marking and measuring on a paper map is a very good way of doing it.

  I use the gpx data, which records position, time, elevation, etc., and photos. I match time on the image metadata to the gpx point corresponding to the same time. Distance is calculated between two image points/times. So even 'elegant' techniques are time consuming and complex. I calculate the distance for every image in the first place, load it into a spreadsheet and add a text comment. It take hours - much more time consuming than putting the same information onto OpenStreetMap.

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  Lynn Jackson

  07 June 2021 07:30

  I use the geolocation data on my photos, which you can see when you look at your photos with iMaps or Google Maps. This can then be aligned with your GPX data. 
  
  I’m not sure about phones, but I set waypoints on my Garmin for start and end points of terrain types and calculate distances using those.

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