Introduction

This part of the Expedition Handbook is about documentation - recording what the expedition found for posterity and so future expeditions have something to build upon. Mostly this means producing a good survey of each cave, but it also includes writing passage descriptions and taking photographs. Documenting old caves which are refound, and short new caves is covered by the Prospecting Guide. Taking photographs may one day be covered by a better expedition Photography Guide than the current effort. This guide covers essentially everything that goes in the Survey Book on each expedition.

For 1998, this screed was split up into digestible chunks. We hope you will read all of it, but those who have been surveying before may want to skip the introductory material, whilst others may not need to read all of the more detailed topics.

For those new to Surveying:
What is a cave survey ?
Why am I doing this ?
For those carrying out a survey:
Methods: underground
Pitfalls to avoid, hints'n'tips to make life easier
Methods: surface
The laser points
A new cave: Getting a GPS fix
Base Camp: getting it in to the computer
Base Camp: drawing it up, writing the description
Back in the UK: so you thought you'd finished ?

More resources on surveying