Traverse Screen 1 - click to enlarge.

Traverse Screen 2 - click to enlarge.

Overview

The Survey/Map module provides facilities for forestry field note capture, adjustment and display. It can be used with a variety of survey equipment and accuracy requirements, including clinometer/compass, theodolite, level and EDM. A complete range of survey data management facilities from field note entry to production of scaled maps is provided.

Two main screens are available for entering and manipulating survey data; a customized spreadsheet for field note capture (Traverse Document screen) and a plan display window for displaying one or more traverses (Map Document screen).

The user configurable Traverse Document supports a variety of surveys including; open and closed traverses, p-lines and topographic surveys. Traverses can be closed, adjusted, shifted and joined. Raw data, reduced coordinates, closing errors and areas can be displayed and printed. Optional information can be saved with the basic field notes including layer depths, ground types, creek information and comments.

The Map Document screen allows the user to quickly create a plan drawing consisting of one or more traverses. Control is provided for linetypes, symbols and annotation.

Survey/Map is quick, easy and intuitive. It is ideally suited for field personnel. The software is organized to have basic and essential functions at the top level of the menu structure, while more sophisticated features are available deeper within the user interface. Beginners see a straight forward friendly layout and require little or no training. The module includes an extensive tutorial, explaining the program operation in step by step examples. A complete technical reference is also available in the form of On-line help.

Survey/Map is fully integrated with the other Softree modules (Terrain, Cable and Location), providing functions for map production, contouring, profiling and engineering analysis.

Traverse/map windows - click to enlarge

Print Preview - click to enlarge

Field Note Entry

The Traverse Document screen is used to enter field notes. It operates like a spreadsheet, allowing entry or editing of raw data (bearings, distances etc.). Typing in new data is straight forward. After a field is entered, pressing the tab key causes the new field to be verified and the cursor advances to the next cell. Changes can be made at any time by simply clicking on the appropriate cell and editing or retyping the contents. Survey data can also be imported from ASCII files.

The Traverse Document screen is fully user configurable. Column positions, format and sequence of entry can be user controlled. A variety of angle and distance formats are available e.g. vertical angles slope %, zenith angle or inclination. Customized screens can be saved and quickly recalled to accommodate different surveying methods.

Multiple windows are available to simultaneously view several traverses or different portions of the same traverse. Plan and cross section views of a survey are also available while entering notes, to help identify and correct errors. The results of data entry and formatting can be instantly viewed in plan map view. 

Coordinates are calculated as information is entered. Absolute point coordinates can be explicitly set. Coordinates between absolute points are adjusted using the Compass Rule. Traverses can be closed, shifted or joined to other traverses. Closing error and area is calculated and reported. Information can also be "cut" from one traverse and "pasted" into another. In all coordinate adjustments the raw data is never altered, allowing the user to quickly undo any changes.

 Printed reports can be generated with user control of column headings and font size. Output can be reviewed using Print Preview. Traverse documents can be saved directly to DXF format or to ASCII format from which it can be imported into spreadsheets or other software.

Map screen - click to enlarge

Plan Display

A Map Document consisting of one or more traverses can be displayed on the screen or output to the printer at any scale. Traverses can be added or removed from the map. Changes made in the traverse documents are immediately reflected in the map display. 

The user can control the color, linetype and symbols. Automatic labels such as station, distance and bearing are automatically calculated and displayed. Additional information such as creek symbols, and comment labels can be displayed at selected stations. Labels can be selected, moved and rotated using the mouse.

Single or multiple page output can be generated on any Microsoft Windows supported plotter or printer. Output can be rotated to fit the printer page size. When it is not possible to fit the output on a single sheet, a series of pages will automatically be created. All printed output can be verified before printing using Print Preview. Output to DXF is also available.