i've been spending a great deal of time mapping the storm drains around my area (north of San Diego). does anyone else do this or is it just me? i'd love to hear from fellow explorers who map underground!

all my maps are done on google earth - i take notes underground about the features which would be visible from the surface (manholes, gutters etc.), their distances and approximate angles, and then trace the paths on google earth. i'll include some pics below, but since i'm not a full member i don't want to post actual locations .. so for the close-up maps i've covered the satellite image with white.

click to view

here's a close-up map of a couple different tunnel systems. the one on the bottom is approximately 1.02 miles long, the ones on top are even longer (and more branchy). dark blue lines are underground tunnel, light blue is open creeks and streams.

"G+M" = gutter + manhole. markers are junction boxes which i've been inside (numbering is so i can refer to each one uniquely). green pushpins are inlets/outfalls or other points of entry. purple pushpins are pipes that continue which i haven't mapped yet.

click to view

(and yes, i'm aware i could probably get the city maps for my area, but that would take the fun out of it, plus city maps are not always very accurate).

Another similar thread on that here:
http://www.uer.ca/...urrpage=1&pp#post5

My response there (which applies here also):

Posted by The Viscount Andrew Dalton I've done a lot of steam tunnel mapping, and the two are similar. Things that helped me: Start with a pre-made map of the ground above it. Make your map on there Look for any manholes, terrain features, etc that can correlate a point above ground with a point in the tunnels. It's easier to connect the dots than to completely draw the map anew. Start by recording the topology only of the map. I.e. where the junctions are, any loops, where it splits off, etc. Getting this down will make it much easier to add lengths/scale later. Measuring distances underground can be tricky, but you can certainly get angles. If this is in a city, you can listen for roads above; give you an idea where you are Take note of which way water flows. Compare this to a topographic map of the city above - usually the two will match up. Check out your municipal archives. Many cities will have them - the public library is usually the place to start. Make friends with the guy who installs your gas line. He has a drawing of everything that is underground in your part of the city - and can access the rest of them.

Deconstrukt doing it in MTL

Done it for melbourne, it's handy to have

I used to use ArcGIS extensively for drain mapping, including georeferencing old printed maps, digitizing rasters, etc.



I even had a GIS server with a lot of my stuff on it.

Nowadays I mostly use Google Earth. It's almost as powerful as a professional GIS and 100% more user friendly.



I'm also a fan of hand-drawn maps for less linear things like caves and sandstone mines:

Posted by Freak I used to use ArcGIS extensively for drain mapping, including georeferencing old printed maps, digitizing rasters, etc. http://drainfreak....s/L13%20Triple.jpg I even had a GIS server with a lot of my stuff on it. Nowadays I mostly use Google Earth. It's almost as powerful as a professional GIS and 100% more user friendly. http://drainfreak.com/maps/kml.jpg I'm also a fan of hand-drawn maps for less linear things like caves and sandstone mines: http://drainfreak.com/maps/cave.jpg

I want to make sweet, sweet love to all of your maps.

Freak, your maps are the best. I wish i had that sort of commitment.

Props to you Freak, there is truly lots of work and dedication behind each of your maps