The Central Ohio Grotto
of the National Speleological Society

Survey Section

In order to survey, you need to have the appropriate gear. You need a sighting compass, way of measuring the inclination, a tape to measure the distances and something to write all of the measurements down on.

The following measurements are made

Distance	Use the tape to measure the linear distance between two stations.
Compass Bearing	Use your compass to read the offset from magnetic north to determine the direction the cave is heading. The COG generally does fore and back sites for accuracy and for a sanity check.
Inclination/Declination	Use your clinometer to determine the angle between the 2 stations. This reading will give you the depth of the cave and allow you (with some trigonometry) to determine the true length of the cave. Again, the COG generally does fore and back sites.
Right, Left, Up & Down	Use the tape to measure the size of the passage at the station. Sometimes the distances have to be estimated.

In order to survey, you need to have the appropriate gear.

Compass

Some popular compasses used in surveying are:

Brunton Eclipse
Brunton Pocket Transit
Brunton SM360La
Silva Ranger
Suunto Eclipse
Suunto Compass

Clinometer

Some popular Clinometers used in surveying are:

Brunton Pocket Transit
Brunton Clinometer
Suunto Clinometer

Reel Tape

You need a Reel Tape (preferably fiberglass) to measure distances.

Reel Tape

Survey Book

You need a Survey Book to record your measurements

Survey Book

Pencil or Pen

You need to be able to write with something, don't you?

Mechanical Pencil
Wood Pencil
Pen

Station Marker

You need to be able to mark the station, preferably with something non-toxic.

Chalk
Chalk Holder
Pencil
A Handy Rock	--
Carbide Lamp

Last Modified: Sunday, February 15, 2004 06:20:44 PM