North Carolina Benchmark Maps

[ArtMan]

The North Carolina Geodetic Survey has useful maps for Tarheel State benchmarkers.

 

From the homepage, click on Digital County Maps, then choose a county to download a map.

 

The maps are in the Autodesk DWF format, and there is a link to download a free viewer.

 

The maps include both benchmarks in the NGS (and therefore the Geocaching.com) database, and others that are not. (Datasheets for both are available.) The maps show major and numbered secondary roads, bodies of water, air fields and a few other features, but they are not terribly detailed otherwise. Here is an example of a small segment of the Gaston County map, where I've highlighted station TIME (FA3245).

Note that the marks are labeled with the designation, not the PID.

 

The symbol used tells you whether it's horizontal or vertical control, and how derived (GPS, traverse, etc.)

 

The maps are designed to be printed very large format, so unless you have a plotter available, you'll have to use several sheets, reduce it (possibly to the point of illegibility), or just view it on the screen. There are several printing options available.

 

-ArtMan-

[+PFF]

The maps are designed to be printed very large format, so unless you have a plotter available, you'll have to use several sheets, reduce it (possibly to the point of illegibility), or just view it on the screen. There are several printing options available.

 

For new users, here's a technique that makes the maps more useful:

 

Scrolling up with the mouse zooms in. You can PRINT VISIBLE to get a small portion of the county. But as ArtMan pointed out, it may take several sheets of paper to cover the area of interest.

 

Although the NCGS database is not being actively updated, it still is wise to check it before heading out on a hunt. Call up a station and compare the text to the NGS version. Quite often, you will find pre-1993 notes that amplify the situation surrounding a mark.

 

When reporting North Carolina benchmarks, NCGS prefers that you post your find to NGS, only. It is not necessary to send a duplicate to NCGS. [Per Gary Thompson, December 2004.]

 

-Paul-