Mulching straight lines

[ALittleDirtWontHurt]

I'm looking for some ideas for an upcoming job mulching straight lines for a forestry project. Topography is not an issue as it is very flat, but line of sight is, due to navigating around larger trees and other obstacles that won't be mulched. Working in fairly dense forest. Can't seem to get a good GPS signal from inside the cab and a good ol' fashioned compass will just take too long (many miles to cut and having a surveyor come in and mark beforehand is just not an option). Anybody run into this before and found a cost effective and reliable method?

 

[Furu]

I will be following this for any good ideas.
My experience has been that I also get no reliable GPS inside my PT-110 as well when mulching. Compass is useless as well due to the mass of metal.

I have run a compass line combined with GPS and used flagging tape for an approximate line.
It is not exact and has errors but as long as you can accept +/- 10 feet it works but does take time for advance work.

My next concept is to set up a transit and use a radio to stay on/near the line. Leapfroging the transit as you go forward. It takes another person or a lot of get out and go back and verify that wondering has not occurred. I suppose you could get more cosmic but the cost would get cosmic as well. Currently I am getting close then running a transit//TS to verify the actual line.

I struggle with the issue. Hopefully someone will come along with a better solution.

Trovenn Forestry Mulching

 

[bcp]

I've found this smartphone app to be useful, but don't know it it would work for your job.

Theodolite iPhone App: Augmented Reality Compass, GPS, Map, Zoom Camera, Rangefinder, Inclinometer

Bruce

 

[rustyshakelford]

Can you take a handheld gps and tape it as you go before getting in the machine?

Brett

 

[sailfast]

There are GPS with external antenna.
For more accuracy some use 2 antenna.

 

[treemuncher]

When I was working on a large subdivision project a few years back, the project manager had a high end handheld GPS unit that would see through the canopy when my Garmin would not. I'll bet that such a unit, combined with external antenna(s) will be the easiest, most reliable solution. If I remember correctly, his unit also had much more accuracy than anything my Garmins had ever had.

I do not know the name brand of the unit. All I remember is that it was dark blue, handheld and about twice plus the size of my Garmin unit.

 

[tonyoz]

Trimble , Topcon or Leca would be the best GPS to use. You client can make a disc/ UBS stick with everything they want cleared , plug it in and Bobs yer uncle. The ones I have seen in the past don't have any screen , just some red lights and one green. I'm pretty sure you can rent them.

 

[Todd727]

GPS, laser, tape

 

[holeycow]

we do this all the time. Literally thousands upon thousands of miles of it. Just use a GPS with an external antenna. You need to mount the antenna in such a way as to protect the cable and antenna from damage. Always have a spare antenna. Watch the satellites (accuracy).

There is a learning curve for an operator...

 

[holeycow]

Can you take a handheld gps and tape it as you go before getting in the machine?

Brett

This would be the safest bet. We call it "flagging". If trespass is a concern this would be best if you have never mulched by GPS before.

 

[Furu]

Any off the shelf GPS will have an accuracy that is not all that accurate in the big scheme of things. For example my Garmin never reports under 10 feet accuracy.

I have measured the same boundary multiple times with the unit reporting +/- 10 feet and gone back later and it shows a different boundary while still reporting +/- 10 ft accuracy.
That maybe just fine however depending upon the boundary that you are dealing with.

Only a survey grade GPS will give a truly reliable accuracy. Even that is greatly impacted by the canopy depending upon the forest that you are working under.

 

[roadhunter]

I agree on GPS units being inaccurate. I use them regularly while hunting and they are off at times. I have also found plenty of fences that are hundreds of feet off property lines, specifically where private land meets BLM/USFS/etc.. The new land ownership chips for GPS units are really nice for following property lines but still probably not quite accurate enough for cutting narrow paths right on the fence lines.

The land ownership for many states can be bought through these guys, onXmaps. In Wyoming for example it shows boundaries and even landowner names for the whole state.

 

[holeycow]

Accuracy depends on whether the gps is being operated autonomously, or with corrections from a known location...a "base".

"Survey grade" gps' are only achieving increased accuracy through these corrections.

Many handheld gps' can also receive corrections.

As stated, the canopy has a huge effect on accuracy; whether radio-linked or not.

If you need sub-foot accuracy to avoid trespass, then an autonomous gps could not be relied upon, especially under canopy.

 

[yellowdogsvc]

Can someone in the know add to this topic on using a GPS in the cab? I've not had good luck with handheld or smartphone.

 

[holeycow]

Guess you haven't read the replies...

At least two mention "external antenna". You need a gps that will accept a wire to connect to an antenna on the top of the cab. Protection and/or strategic placement of both cable and antenna is required, or you'll just rip it right offa there.

Btw, I am "in the know".

 

[mick m]

geo tracker on your smart phone is good for this also records distance , speed , direction and elevation