I have to run new fence lines thru very thick woods and along several grown over pastures. Wondering if anyone has used and had any success using handheld GPS units . I already have a survey however markers on the actual land are long since gone.
GPS for running fencelines
- Thread starter wolfgreyt
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tawilson
Platinum Member
I got one this fall before hunting season and was surprised at how much it could d
ne slick feature is it let's you mark waypoints in the woods and then will import them into Google Earth. Also, my county has an online taxmap which shows arial views with the property lines drawn in. Not survey accurate but close enough for most needs.
ne slick feature is it let's you mark waypoints in the woods and then will import them into Google Earth. Also, my county has an online taxmap which shows arial views with the property lines drawn in. Not survey accurate but close enough for most needs.
Scooby074
Super Member
it can be done, but the accuracy of consumer hand helds is lacking compared to commercial units.. For something like a fence, where you could be putting something permanent on a neighbors land, id look for something a little more precise.
The lack of accuracy of consumer units is extra bad when their is a overhead canopy of trees to try and get signal through.
Just something to think about, because you'll be responsible if you cross onto a neighbors property.
If this is within your own property (ie not directly next to a neighbour) then using a consumer unit would be perfectly fine.
The lack of accuracy of consumer units is extra bad when their is a overhead canopy of trees to try and get signal through.
Just something to think about, because you'll be responsible if you cross onto a neighbors property.
If this is within your own property (ie not directly next to a neighbour) then using a consumer unit would be perfectly fine.
tawilson
Platinum Member
That is true. Mine has an accuracy reading on it. Best I've seen is 5-10', sometimes it's 50 or 60. If you are building a fence you will be doing some clearing. I've had good luck using flags tied to whatever was available and line of sight, starting at the first two stakes on the line. That's providing you can find the first two and the line is a straight one.
Thanks for the input, I did the ribbon tying thing on trees with a very long tape measure and the survey. Its enough for the start , I hear ya on the property line thing, I don't want any issues.I have not tried any of the newer handhelds so I was wondering about the accuracy. Actually found some very old rotted fence posts but will have to wait for spring to verify everything they may be unrelated to the property line..Then I'll hammer in some t-bar markers. The plan is to run a road along the line for a horse driving trail. Some of the land is a forested cedar swamp thats hard going in spring and summer .
I use GPS all the time at work. Form the handheld WAAS corrected Garmin units to commercial grade trimble units. From our experience you typically can get 5-10' accuracy positional (not elevation) accuracy with a handheld unit with clear view of the sky. This is based off of countless comparisons between hand held units and commercial grade RTK units.
This level of accuracy is no where near good enough for building a fence. If your neighboor is in agreement you might could use the handheld to mark where the fence goes and then clear it out so you can use another method of actually positioning the fence.
This level of accuracy is no where near good enough for building a fence. If your neighboor is in agreement you might could use the handheld to mark where the fence goes and then clear it out so you can use another method of actually positioning the fence.
Thanks for the info ! For now I think we are just going to clear a swath thru the bush , a joint effort between my current neighbour and me. I will use it as a driving trail for horses. We have alot of hemlock and cedar to move.The fence will have to wait until an accurate line can be re-confirmed. I was considering one of the Garmin handheld units, any opinions on them or a particular model?
2009 New Holland 4060 w/loader/4wd
2009 New Holland 4060 w/loader/4wd
MMagis
Veteran Member
How sure are you that the corner marker pins aren't there? Have you checked with a metal detector?
Redneck in training
Elite Member
The newer high sensitivity units keep accuracy even under vegetation cover.
If you are in WAAS (Wide area augmentation system) area the accuracy can be up to 3ft. You can take several measurements and then take the average. To verify it take measurement of known location.
If you are going to buy GPS get high sensitivity WAAS capable one.
schmism
Super Member
you need to pay attention to the position accuracy. I dont care if it thinks your within 3' of the point you wanted, if the position accuracy is currently saying +-15' guess what, that "within 3'" number is useless.
but putting aside the issues of accuracy associated with any hand held GPS
theres also the issue of generating the points you need to set the line. finding corners are one thing, but setting points along the way is entirely different. you need to know for certain what your end pts are, then useing those coordinates, using math generate the new pts along the way.
doable but not easy.
but putting aside the issues of accuracy associated with any hand held GPS
theres also the issue of generating the points you need to set the line. finding corners are one thing, but setting points along the way is entirely different. you need to know for certain what your end pts are, then useing those coordinates, using math generate the new pts along the way.
doable but not easy.
newbury
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None of this GPS stuff really matters, for a legal boundary you need an accurate survey agreed on by the adjoining property owners.
/edit not necessarily approved, but usually lawsuits settle everything
Surveyors and lawyers are usually involved.
Now if you and your neighbour agree on a boundary line then it's the defacto line.
One of my best discoveries was where a certain forestry company "overstepped" their line in a swamp. Got a GREAT wife out of that one.
/edit not necessarily approved, but usually lawsuits settle everything
Surveyors and lawyers are usually involved.
Now if you and your neighbour agree on a boundary line then it's the defacto line.
One of my best discoveries was where a certain forestry company "overstepped" their line in a swamp. Got a GREAT wife out of that one.
aczlan
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tawilson
Platinum Member
Sounds like somebody had to forfeit their oldest daughter.
A handheld unit is definately not accurate enough for establishing a Fence (property) line.
How old is the Survey? Has there been anything going on around the corner locations, i.e. clearing land, road grading, ditches cut? They are usually monumented with iron pipes, rebar, or 4" x 4" concrete monuments. Those monuments should be intact unless something disturbed them. Borrow a metal detector and start there.
The information on your Survey is probably given in Bearing and Distances and, the coordinates are more than likely a State Plane Coordinate System not Lattitude & Longitude. They can be converted so you can use a handheld to aid in finding your "corners." Also be aware of additional corners along a line, a jog in the boundary.
Surveyors are starving for work these days. Contact the Surveyor that preformed your survey, he might be willing to recover the line needed and place stakes along the line for a small fee. That would be cheaper and easier than moving a fence or clearing too much property.
Just a few suggestions.
How old is the Survey? Has there been anything going on around the corner locations, i.e. clearing land, road grading, ditches cut? They are usually monumented with iron pipes, rebar, or 4" x 4" concrete monuments. Those monuments should be intact unless something disturbed them. Borrow a metal detector and start there.
The information on your Survey is probably given in Bearing and Distances and, the coordinates are more than likely a State Plane Coordinate System not Lattitude & Longitude. They can be converted so you can use a handheld to aid in finding your "corners." Also be aware of additional corners along a line, a jog in the boundary.
Surveyors are starving for work these days. Contact the Surveyor that preformed your survey, he might be willing to recover the line needed and place stakes along the line for a small fee. That would be cheaper and easier than moving a fence or clearing too much property.
Just a few suggestions.
buckeyefarmer
Epic Contributor
It's been a few years, but when my excavator took out a property corner marker it cost me $300 for the original surveyor to come back and reset the point.
Carykong
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I just had a professional surveyer relocate my boundary pins on 25 acres packed with secondary woody growth with few lines of sight. He found the corners and some of the inline iron pins in about an hour and charged me $75. Granted this was not a re-survey but my surveyer was confident that we had located the markers. As he located the markers,I painted the nearby trees and,also, logged the lat/log with the function application on my buddy's I-Phone. I would consider GPS application as a good back up and nifty way to relocate survey markers. There is no substitude for verified markers with a professional survey particulary when boundary fences are desired.
Gary Fowler
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We had a professional surveyor relocate the land lines on the farm and found that the fence the previous owner put up is off on one corner by over 75 feet. The surveyor said that we may have trouble moving it if the adjoining owner contested it since the fence had been there for over 20 years. My contention is that since it is now my fence, and I built it in the wrong spot, I can move it to the correct land line. It the neighbor had built it and the previous owner didnt object, that would be a different story.
MMagis
Veteran Member
Your surveyor is right. The neighbor COULD make a big deal of it if they wanted.They may or may not get their way, but either way it could be a hassle for you.
Bartcephus
Gold Member
like the Garmin e-trex Legend HCX. High sensitivity receiver, color screen built in barometer and electronic compass, and long battery life. Unfortunaltely mine was stolen by some burglers this past summer....
Pops15
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I think it varies by state. Here in IL if you occupy and maintain the property for a certain number of years you can claim it. A friend in Washington state lost some of his ground that way. He spent more on legal fees than the land was worth fighting it, and ended up losing. I looked into claiming some land behind a rental property I used to own. It was a no mans land between my property and state owned property. I decided not to pursue it because it would have increased my property taxes. There would be some red tape involved but I suspect your neighbor could claim that piece of your land. You should talk to a real estate lawyer before you move the fence or talk to the neighbor.
I'm in the same situation with some property I own. The back fence is off by 20-some feet. I doubt if my neighbor will try to claim it though.
