Mappers Blog: Some perspectives of a mapping project

The most demanding mapping project I ever made is about to end. Here I share some perspectives.

fig.1. Planning tool. I spared the easy and isolated parts of the map for the last. Stepped from demanding with old map (1-2) to difficult with old map (3) to demanding without old map(4) to run-in (5-6). Going towards winter, the idea was to do all demanding stuff before it got to cold.

fig.2. DRAMA! :-)

fig.3. A basemap ...

fig.4. ... and the fieldnote.

fig.5. My orienteering friends marked many of the really important features they wanted to have on the new map. :-)

fig.6. Rain was a no go with my actual setup.

fig.7. Disclaimer (not serious!). But yes I really tried to keep the map as general as possible in spite working in the "laser-age"

fig.8. Black spots and red spots show places with bad laser coverage. After a while you realize that it is always where it comes to steep rock formations. Obviously the Swedish authority uses similar building removal algorithms as the swiss do.

fig.9. Did I publish that before? My final setup was about 40g for the base plate plus 40g for the compass.

fig.10. Some comparisons with the old map by Vidas Armalis: before ...

fig.11. ... and after.

fig.12. Before ...

fig.13 ... and after.

fig.14. Before ...

fig. 15. ... and after.

fig.16. Before ...

fig. 17. ... and after.

fig.18. Excerpt of my moving pattern. Pattern density depended primarily on the object density and the visibility.

fig.19. And here the entire moving pattern.

fig.20. The longest contour line 14km

fig.21. The time it takes to digitize per km2 for different parts of the map. The crucial factors are the object density and the field note quality (the amount of additional interpretation while drawing).

fig.22. The total time per km2 for different parts of the map. The heaviest parts take up to 130 hours per km2, then there is normal for about 100 hours per km2 and easy for around 40 hours per km2. Main factors here are the visibility, the relief and the object density.

fig.23. Mapping is about searching for objects in the forest. Besides what I call Easter eggs (big stones in the nowhere, where you though this area is about to be done) there is different kinds of waste (former camp-sites, disposed cars, bicycle dress and helmets, sewing machines, buckets, buckets, buckets, fridges a.s.o.), berries and mushrooms to be found. This chair a Höganäs Chair No.1, was pretty special because it is the same model I use for my long-term project portraying the offspring of my grand-parents.