App to map field drains?
- Thread starter Stuart J
- Start date
- Location
- Boroughbridge, york
I used a garmin car sat nav and recorded all the coordinates on paper, including the coordinates for a manhole cover as a calibratition
went back a few years later and managed to get within 2m of drain in a 100acre field
went back a few years later and managed to get within 2m of drain in a 100acre field
Drainage contractor SHOULD supply a set of plans showing the installed drains I know we do for every job we carry out.
- Location
- Near Beeston Castle
I'd say that was just luck because a sat nav just isn't that accurate.
- Location
- Aberdeenshire
Trying to dig up old drains, I've always found that you can be within six inches of a pipe and still not find it for ages. So two metres either way is not much use to me, to be frank, and it would have to be plus or minus 10 cm.
opininionated
Member
How do you know if it was the drain you were looking for? You might have been further away than you thought and found the next one in the scheme....
massey765
Member
- Location
- nr clitheroe lancs
Cartoon type of map and a welding rod ......find most drains easy enough
7600-four pilot
Member
- Location
- Yr Hen Dref........
Happened to find some old drains from 6 years ago on Google earth, amazing what you can find on there! Do our own drains here but maps from the Drainage board are not that accurate. Iv'e taken photos, done measurements etc but find Massey 765's idea the best. Always put a lump of metal at the head of the drain, no bigger than my fist at around two foot down, helps to find it later on in years with a metal detactor
- Location
- Boroughbridge, york
How do you know if it was the drain you were looking for? You might have been further away than you thought and found the next one in the scheme....
I can find the manhole first time everytime
Maybe it was luck but its better than lining up a point between that tree and that pole in the distance.
I think a bit of lateral farmer thinking is in order.
1. Get a measuring wheel use a fixed point and measure the drain ends out. You can create good paper versions from this. Which I am sure you could also create digital one from.
2. Use a tractor with sat nav it's good to 50mm........
As I don't have one, so I am not 100% how that turns into field maps but I am sure it can be done.
3. Finally Tect o track app for android phones can log your movements very well it's a metal detecting logger, but it outputs your movement files to google earth so in theory if you walk the paths of the field drains as a detecting path you can pick the colour and even take pictures and it records the location with a star ( just select record find it records the location and a picture) if used for land drains the pictures would act as reference when back on the ground looking for them.
I use it for detecting on our land I find it's very good for what it's for, but I can see it doing your job as well...... hope that helps
You can get GPS systems that are good for 10mm But they are very expensive......they require a base station to supply an extra signal refrance and correction data to get to that level, if you use tractor navigation it may be an investment, worth it long term. Depending on its range a group of farmers could share the cost. As far as I can tell any GPS that is comparable will benefit. It's just that the ones in people's cars are not normally compatable, neather are phones but they use phone masts to boost accuracy.....
1. Get a measuring wheel use a fixed point and measure the drain ends out. You can create good paper versions from this. Which I am sure you could also create digital one from.
2. Use a tractor with sat nav it's good to 50mm........
As I don't have one, so I am not 100% how that turns into field maps but I am sure it can be done.
3. Finally Tect o track app for android phones can log your movements very well it's a metal detecting logger, but it outputs your movement files to google earth so in theory if you walk the paths of the field drains as a detecting path you can pick the colour and even take pictures and it records the location with a star ( just select record find it records the location and a picture) if used for land drains the pictures would act as reference when back on the ground looking for them.
I use it for detecting on our land I find it's very good for what it's for, but I can see it doing your job as well...... hope that helps
You can get GPS systems that are good for 10mm But they are very expensive......they require a base station to supply an extra signal refrance and correction data to get to that level, if you use tractor navigation it may be an investment, worth it long term. Depending on its range a group of farmers could share the cost. As far as I can tell any GPS that is comparable will benefit. It's just that the ones in people's cars are not normally compatable, neather are phones but they use phone masts to boost accuracy.....
- Location
- Near Beeston Castle
I have one field where the horsetail clearly marks the drains better than any map ever could.
- Location
- South Molton
Welding rods for divining?
Docks are on ours....can see them from across the valley easy
I tried an app called X marks the spot last year, it was good for about 10-20 meters radius but maybe because I only have 2G signal. 3&4G may give a more accurate measure?
I didn't use it in the end, as it wasn't accurate enough. But it would let you save and name a target, then give a distance and bearing to get back to it. Perfect in theory, but on poor signal, not much use
I didn't use it in the end, as it wasn't accurate enough. But it would let you save and name a target, then give a distance and bearing to get back to it. Perfect in theory, but on poor signal, not much use
- Location
- South Molton
Field area measure is an app i have and is pretty dam accurate with average signal
Allows you to draw lines and save them
Allows you to draw lines and save them
Dave6170
Member
- Location
- Watten, caithness
Drone photo would help
glasshouse
Member
- Location
- lothians
Hire a drone or microlight and take a pic
Drone will map it properly
glasshouse
Member
- Location
- lothians
- Location
- Dumfries & Galloway
We just go in with the digger and divining rods... brother and I argue for 10 mins then sink the digger bucket in. Argue some more then widen the trench until he hit water.
Never usually more than 3-4ft out
The other method is to leave drains alone until water is bubbling up. Your guaranteed 100% success when you dig then
Never usually more than 3-4ft out
The other method is to leave drains alone until water is bubbling up. Your guaranteed 100% success when you dig then