#Cave Mapping program?
8 messages in this thread
>>>I have three: 3DS, animator pro, and my underwater cave mapping program I
wrote in GW Basic. <G><<<
Don, may I ask what your' "underwater cave mapping program" is??
Will Tait
>>Don, may I ask what your' "underwater cave mapping program" is??
It is a program that takes standard underwater survey data and converts it to a
graphic map of an underwater cave system. I wrote it years ago in BASIC and
later in GWBasic. It is used in the production of my Video Cave Map series I
produce.
You can get more information on this from my web page at:
http://home.aol.com/donlandis1
From their you can click on the hypertext links to the cave maps pages. I'm
continuously updating this so stay tuned as I plan to put the mapping program
up for ftp soon.
Don,
I checked out your site today, pretty interesting stuff you do. How do you
keep the pointer placed accurately on the graphic? GPS? It sounds like you've
got a nice scuba/video setup. Sounds fun.
On your first web page, the image "vcmscn1.jpg" wasn't coming thru to me, but
the others did. (I'm using 32bit Netscape 1.1, running NT, 28.8 access, FWIW)
Let me know if you want me to check it out later on, you're in my bookmarks.
JNJ
>>(I'm using 32bit Netscape 1.1, running NT, 28.8 access, FWIW
Hi John. Thanks for visiting my site. I'm aware of the problem.
Unfortunately, I don't have an answer yet. It's wierd. Some browsers will get
it but netscape does not. I have the latest 1.2 and can't get it. I also have
Mosaic and it gets it fine. At any rate, I was edting the site probably when
you were downloading. Now, there are two pictures on the home page and neither
will come up with Netscape. Here's the difference which may give a clue as to
why. The home page is created by AOL's Personal Publisher program. It links
to the inline pictures and to my other pages which are totally created by me
using HTML 2.0. All the HTML pages and graphics are located on one server/one
directory (users.aol.com). The home page is on a different
server(home.aol.com). I have to specify the complete
path(ftp://users.aol.com/donlandis/private) to the other server for the links
and it works for the pages and their images but not for inline images on the
home page. This tells me there is some sort of bug in the way NETSCAPE sees
paths for the inline images when it has to switch servers for any components of
a page. My plan is to scrap the graphics for the home page and use it as a
base to select my HTML pages. There are a few other options but for now this
seems the best approach. I realize that Netscape is quite popular and even
though I currently think it is a Netscape bug I can do a work around that will
accomplish the BIG picture, which is to get my web pages visible. It could also
be an AOL bug but I have not been able to isolate this as an incompatibility
with netscape yet. I haven't found any other AOL home pages with graphics
using netscape yet either. If I do then it would indicate that I did something
wrong in the home page design. A local programmer told me that Netscape wants
the images on the same server but can be in a different directory. He said he
had the same problem at a local service provider.
For Video Cave Maps the pointer or camera locator is done via an animation
graphic. All this is tied into the survey data and coordinated with a
duplicate video that follows the cave passage but has a depth gauge and compass
in the screen. I then video tape the knotted guide line which gives me my
distance. Repeating the dive without the guages in view and big lights I video
the same tunnel for the production. This is the way I can accurately place the
animation locator to the actual location in the cave. Yes, its a lot of work!
Don,
It's strange that AOL makes you do all that stuff to get your pages working.
Mabe they'll consolodate things onto a single server someday. I can see the
justification of using two slower servers to carry the load of one bigger one.
Yes, I think Netscape has several bugs, and the AOL thing being one of them.
The AOL search engine's graphics don't work as well. But hey, Netscape is the
killer app that everyone needs to work with. It'll be nice when there is a
standard HTML that works well with all browsers.
For your cave mapping thing, why not try out GPS? You should be able to get a
waterproof GPS device to try out underwater. If it works, it'll give you very
accurate data without the reshoot. I'm not sure what else you'd need to
interface with it, some sort of timecode/position recorder I'd think. Mabe you
could rig an old laptop with a few waterproof start/stop keys, and get some
program (or write it yourself) that would log your dives. I'm not sure how
expensive it'd be, but I bet it would save you a bunch of time. (you need to
do two complete dives, right?)
How are the videos doing? They sound great for those who could use that sort
of thing. <g> The Discovery Channel is about as close to diving as I've been.
🙂 Someday I'd like to go, but not sure when that'll be.
JNJ
>>why not try out GPS? You should be able to get a waterproof GPS device to
try out underwater. If it works, it'll give you very accurate data without the
reshoot. I'm not sure what else you'd need to interface with it, some sort of
timecode/position recorder I'd think. Mabe you could rig an old laptop with a
few waterproof start/stop keys, and get some program (or write it yourself)
that would log your dives. I'm not sure how expensive it'd be, but I bet it
would save you a bunch of time. (you need to do two complete dives, right?)
GPS is the magic buzz word for everyone that has never used it in a highly
specialized application. First of all microwave signals are easily filtered by
water. Ever look at a satellite TV signal? As soon as it rains or snows the
signal is gone. Now, not only am I under an average of 100 ft. of water but
also could be under a 100 or more ft of rock and soil. I doubt if any signal
could be detected from the sat, network. Even if it could be detected, the
equipment would be monstrous to carry. I already carry 275 lbs of video and
cave diving gear on some dives. I ride an underwater scooter to assist my
forward movement against sometimes 1 knott current. Once the video survey is
done. I then design the dives to get the best video for the least amount of
diving for the actual production. The second video dives are equally as fast
as the scooter assisted survey dives. I have tweaked my underwater activities
to get the most survey data for the least amount of diving time. In a
traditional survey dive the data collected is typically 30 to 50 data points.
In my method I am able to collect well over 36000 data points as I collect them
on video and get a reading every 1/30 of a second during a typical 20 minute
deep dive. The data is far more accurate and it is much easier to interpolate
and collect.
The finished video products are continuing to sell very well considering most
were done in the late 80's. Since they are a reference series they don't go
out of date like many videos, loosing popularity as they get older. I recently
remastered two of them this year because the 3/4 masters were worn out.
>gps
true, never thought about the rock interference, and didn't know about water
being a problem. 🙂 Sounds like your way is very good, lots of gear.
JNJ