Location Plotting and Mapping

[jo5030]

I am not sure if this is the right area for my query, or even if this is the right forum. Anyway, here goes.

I am trying to map the location of trees, and some descriptions about them, over an area of about 15 acres. The trees are generally well spaced (5 or 10 yards apart). I want to be able to take my iPhone (or another product) to a tree, obtain the Grid Ref from it using GPS, add some information about the tree, and then move to the next one and do the same. I should finish up with a database of trees and locations (Grid References?)

I would them like to add a boundary, and then print out the plan with tree names or some reference to an index.

So - can I do this? The thoughts that occur to me are:

1. Will the GPS readings be accurate enough to discriminate between trees 5 - 10 yards apart
2. Is there an application of some sort that I can use, or would I need one application to create the database, and another to draw the plan
3. This is the wrong forum - in which case can anyone suggest an alternative
4. Do I stand any chance of doing this?

[sussamb]

You'll fall at the first hurdle I'm afraid

1. No
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Where there's a will ... there's a way.

[M8TJT]

GPS is pretty accurate, especially in measuring relative positions close together and over a shortish period of time. I would think that should be easy to log positions 5-20 yards apart. The absolute accuracy would not be as high though. Having said that, I get consistently the same location for my back garden on my Android phone. You would have to do it on a day when the trees are pretty bare though, as the canopy might possibly decrease accuracy. It's the rest I know nothing about.
If you have the phone, try it out and see if the readings are consistent/accurate enough. That would be my first tack. Then, if they are, look for some tracking software.

Record the position of a few trees, then return there a bit later to see if the relative positional readings are the same, or at least 'good enough for government work'.

[jo5030]

M8TJT - thanks - 'good enough for government work' is fine - what I really need is position relative to other trees. Absolute position is not so vital. What application can I use to test this?

And any suggestions as to database applications and mapping?

[M8TJT]

I have an app called GPS Status on my Android phone which, amongst other data, gives your lat/lon and GPS accuracy. There must be a similar app for the iThing provided it has a GPS receiver. As for the other stuff you need, I've no idea. There are several GPS tracking apps for Android, mostly free, so I would have a look for one for your iPhone.
I am surprised that some of the ramblers here haven't chimed in with some suggestions already.

[AliOnHols]

My initial response is to do it manually and return to tape measure and triangulation but that would be an awful lot of work and, ironically, the trees would get in your way. 15 acres, about seven football pitches, with trees every 5-20yds is a lot of trees, do you need to log every tree or just a few "special" trees in and amongst the rest?.

The old Classic Google Maps has a MapLabs feature where you can hover over the map (the satellite version would be best) and drop a Lat/Long marker. You could plot the coords into a spreadsheet (x and y's) and then print a graph from the results.
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