Hi All
I am just testing that this group address works but it also seems a good
opportunity to restate the proposal I put forward at the Hidden Earth
conference. If we could agree this as a statement of direction we can
begin to flesh it out into a detailed proposal leading hopefully to a pilot
scheme. All comments welcome.
USER DEFINED SURVEYS
It is proposed that end users of mine and cave surveys should be able to
plot them themselves by downloading survey data from a central source.
Users would be able to exercise discretion over the following elements of
the survey:-
- the plotting system used and its various functions
- the scale and dimensions of the plot
- the use of colour
- which part of the cave/mine is to be plotted
- the data to be plotted.
Data would be structured to meet the needs of specific types of users.
That is it in a nut-shell. If it is agreed as a way forward then
everything builds upon it.
I noted with interest the report on Toughprint in the last issue of
Descent. This is water/tear/mud proof paper which can be put in an ink
jet A4 printer or a photocopier. Ideal for User Defined Surveys I would
think.
Getting ahead of myself a bit I can visualise the need for at least ten
cave-specific true type symbol fonts.
You load them into your PC's font directory and can then select the font in
any program that handles text. When you then depress a specified letter
of the keyboard a logo appears on the screen. You can then exercise the
usual options on pointage, colour,boldness and so on.
The logos have to be simple line drawings - no fancy shading.
I am going to priduce an initial font called CAVE_M. The M stands for
mining. My proposed list of symbols is offered for debate. as follows.
There is plenty of scope for additions if wanted.
q = open shaft
w = shaft with removable cover
e = closed shaft (including blocked and capped shafts)
r = open adit or drift entrance
t = adit/drift entrance with barrier which can be passed
y = permanently closed adit/drift entrance
u = boundary of walled section of passage or shaft
i = boundary of traversable collapse
o = blocked passage
p = boundary of run of roof props
a = unsurveyed passage
s = unentered passage
d = location of significant graffiti or carving
f = location of artefact
g = work face
There will be other fonts dealing with geology/water/hazards etc.
(text/plain)