MnGCA

LucidOndine · Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 11:24 pm Post subject:

A Lucid benchmark?? I like the sound of that Laughing

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King Boreas · Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 11:59 pm Post subject:

I'm wondering about the private property issue? Maybe none of these are on private property. If some are, would we have some type of "official" ID that we could show the property owner?

ArcherDragoon · Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2008 8:09 am Post subject:

Ready to help in any way I can...
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rosebud55112 · Geocacher Joined: 03 May 2008 Posts: 90

Sounds great!

Wildflower82 · Geocacher Joined: 12 Aug 2008 Posts: 22

I would be interested in helping with this project.

jonsom · Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2008 5:48 am Post subject:

I would be willing to search in the areas that I am near.
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BenButzow · Geocacher Joined: 14 Oct 2008 Posts: 6

Hello,

After going through your replies, I have found there to be about 6 questions or concerns. There could be more or less.

1) What marks will you be looking for in regards to agency (Mn/DOT, USGS, etc)?
2) Will Mn/DOT provide training? For example, to help with tell the difference between a Reference Mark or Azimuth.
3) Concern was about "better ways to look up benchmark locations." I'm thinking this means by maps and/or descriptions, but I could use some more clarification.
4) What exactly is the Geodetic Unit at Mn/DOT looking for in the project?
5) What is meant by "recovered"?
6) How is a mark on private property handled? Would the geocacher have some sort of ID?

Please let me know if you have further questions. I'll look to answer these questions soon.

Ben

sir_zman · Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 8:55 am Post subject:

With reference to question 3, I know that the map site that currently can be used to lookup benchmark locations is often slow and hard to use, I wouldn't mind (and perhaps this is already available and I just don't know where to look for it) a web page where you could put in a lat/long and it would tell you what benchmarks are around that spot (perhaps you could put in a distance from lat/long, so say 3 miles) also the lat/long of the benchmark, what type of benchmark they are (disc, water tower, etc) date last verified, condition, I believe this info you currently have on hand.

ArcherDragoon · Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 9:14 am Post subject:

I think it is a pretty good list of questions...

In regards to #6...even those on "Right-of-Way" can cause issues with home/property owners...

Regardless, I am still very interested in helping...I have been trying to pay more attention to markers in my area and have found at least four that are not listed as far as geocaching.com is concerned (though it is known the database they use is not up-to-date)...
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EskoClimber · Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 10:18 am Post subject:

Question for BenButzow

Many marks are underground or are flush with the ground and have long since overgrown. Is there an inexpensive metal or magnetic field detector to help locate these wayward waypoints?

Corollary to the last question: Are we allowed to dig for them after locating them?

Kurt Franke · Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2008 2:14 pm Post subject:

I am also interested in helping with a benchmark project.

Kurt
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BenButzow · Geocacher Joined: 14 Oct 2008 Posts: 6

Hey Everyone,

Our National Geodetic Advisory has not let me in on further information about the meeting he has set up in Detroit Lakes next Thursday, December 11, relating to Geocaching. He is in North Dakota the rest of the week and I hope I am able to tell you more Monday when he returns.

In the meantime, I have been trying to answer the questions you have asked in the benchmark forum. I'll have them answered by next Thursday for sure and if we don't meet, I'll post them here.

Here is the link to our online geodetic monument mapping application in case you haven't seen it yet:

http://www.dot.state.mn.us/maps/geodetic/

I have also created hardcopy maps (pdfs) and county datasheets (pdfs) that can be accessed through this link:

http://www.olmweb.dot.state.mn.us/geodetic/geoindex.htm

I'll keep you up-to-date with the meeting next week. Please look at these sites and let me know if you have any questions.

Have a good day.

Ben

ArcherDragoon · Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 4:54 pm Post subject:

Very handy links!!!
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BenButzow · Geocacher Joined: 14 Oct 2008 Posts: 6

Is there any way I am able to post a MS Word document into this forum?

Pear Head · Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 10:34 am Post subject: