1. Digital Leveling Section Eight Writing Descriptions

2. Purpose of Writing Descriptions To make geodetic data available to surveyors, engineers, cartographers and general public To facilitate finding the mark To correctly identify the mark To use the mark for new surveys To preserve the mark for future generations

3. History Hand-written/typed-different formats for horizontal and vertical control points WDDProc-DOS-unified format-printed WinDesc-Windows-D-File format-web

4. The Description Header Key fields: SSN, DNR code, Rec code Enter from left to right from the top down Some boxes populate subsequent boxes Contains most mark attributes Data must meet stringent NGS standards Data will be loaded and stored in separate tables/fields in the NGS IDB Used to generate the official NGS Datasheet

6. Descriptive Text Must be easily readable Use 3-paragraph format-location, to reach, reference distances/mark details Go from the most general to the most specific Use proper grammar Check spelling Avoid personal phone numbers May contain special notes

8. Descriptive Text - Do Use 3-paragraph format-Approximate location, to- reach, and objects Get at least 5 reference distances Format all descriptions Spell check all descriptions Use Windesc tools to help create descriptive text

9. Descriptive Text – Don’t Don’t use slang Don’t omit articles (a, an, the, etc.) Don’t duplicate text Don’t use the term ‘standard disk’ Don’t use bearings in descriptive text Don’t put positions in descriptive text

10. Positional Information Latitude and Longitude to 0.1 seconds for bench marks via hand-held GPS measurement Include horizontal datum Include source, order and technique May include other information for use with other geodetic software such as Translev Used for geodetic computations and corrections Used to plot mark in Google Earth and other plotting software

12. Processing Sequence Create project directory structure Copy digital photos to photo directory Create a new.des file and enter project info Import description data from NGS Renumber points if needed Create or edit descriptions Spell check all descriptions Format all descriptions Run neighbor and discrep

13. Recommended Directory Structure C:\L12345\ Adj\ Desc\ Obs\ Photos\

18. Sample Neighbor Listing

19. Sample Discrepancy Listing

20. Processing Sequence (cont.) Export to.dsc file Check.dsc file Fix errors in.des file and re-export Rename photos Resize photos if required Insert labels to photos Create.dsc file CD Create photo CD

24. Description Checklist Hand-held GPS positions for all marks 3-5 Digital photos for all marks – name and label Measurements from 5 reference objects for each mark Format all descriptions Spell check all descriptions Run neighbor on all marks Run discrep on all marks with PIDs Export and check the.dsc file

25. Wrap -up Send comments, suggestions, bug reports to: marchershee@gmail.com