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oldgreygary
United Kingdom
40 Posts |
 Posted - 04/04/2011 : 16:21:54
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Hello,
This is really another question with regards to technique. Most of the wildlife surveys I do are based on transects. As an example this can be a 1km route. This would be broken down into stops and walks. Every 100m there is a stop. The in between gaps i.e. the 100 metres are the walks. For each stop or walk the location i.e. x,y reference is used to record what is found.
The route is not a straight line. I have not got GPS to plot this route.
What I have been doing in MM is to draw a line to the required distance on the route. After that I then go and use the measuring tool and place markers at 100 metre intervals. This is ok as a temporary solution. But problems such as having to go and work the x,y locations again is a bit of a nuisance.
I was just wondering if there might be a better way? I suppose I could draw a 100 metre line as the walk and then add a polygon as the stop. Not sure if that sounds particuarly good either.
If anyone has any ideas or has done this sort of thing then I would be interested to hear your thoughts.
Cheers for now
Gary
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Philippe
France
295 Posts |
Posted - 04/04/2011 : 18:55:59
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Hello Gary,
I've some doubts that I would draw polygons...
1) what if you would resample your lines (to 100m segments, see Live layer actions - Tidying - 3710) and save them as Walks in a "Lines" layer)
2) what if you would explode your lines into points and save them as Stops in a "Points" layer (see Live layer actions - Basic operations -3207).
3) if needed, roads intersections, what if you would create points at line intersections (LLactions -Tidying - 3720 Line intersections as points)
4) and may be, LLactions IDs & labels 3507?
Do you manage attribute data as well? Where you store (x,y) locations?
Let us know.
Bon courage!
Philippe |
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oldgreygary
United Kingdom
40 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2011 : 09:06:20
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Hello Philippe,
Thanks for your response.
The question you ask about managing the attribute data x,y fields. I basically run MM for mapping and I record species/survey information on an sql server database this would include location details in my case this is in UK OS format.
Briefly, I use MM to do initial research to work out suitability of area for surveying. I then use that to go out into to the field and check. Then amend as necessary. After the survey I use the details from MM i.e. x,y co-ordinates to record in the sql server database. Once these are there I can then use all that data to create a type of distribution map.
I don't think MM can integrate with Sql server so these process's have to be done manually. As an example I create Excel spreadsheets from the sql server database to generate .loc files that I can use in MM to show distribution. Again, not sure if that is the best solution.
I haven't explored possibilities of exchanging information on a more integrated basis. But, as my knowledge grows then I will be better equipped to find solutions.
The end goal for any of these functions is to produce accurate, clear and usable information. That either I can use or potentially can be distributed for others to use.
I will look at your suggestions and see how they work. I think that I need to create some time where I can 'play' with the system to see what is possible. I know things like GPS would make it easier but at this point it is not an option.
But, MM seems to be flexible and its just a case of finding a way of doing it. I suspect that there are easier ways than how I do some of these process's but that's the way to learn about it by trying and see what I can do and what the limitations are.
Cheers for now
Gary
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Philippe
France
295 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2011 : 14:37:58
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Hmmm?
SQL Server database?
Why don't you use a simple DBF which you could structure as you want and manage with MM?
Cheers
Philippe |
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oldgreygary
United Kingdom
40 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2011 : 15:46:55
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Hello Phillipe,
The sql server database is part of a software package called Recorder 6 which here in the uk is a widely used piece of software for biological recording. It is an excellent product with a great deal of flexibilty. It's one weakness for me anyway is that the built in mapping is not very good. Hence using MM. I might have to think about creating some sort of extract from the Recorder system and then storing that in a database on MM.
A sort of regular snapshot of relevant data that could be put on MM to be used specifically for mapping? Somrthing else to think about!
Cheers for now
Gary |
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Drawing lines as transects
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