LRUD (was Re: Roadmap)

[Olly Betts]

On Wed, Apr 03, 2002 at 04:12:07PM +0100, Olly Betts wrote:
> There have now been 4 releases since 1.0.0.  There are likely to be a few
> more, but increasingly these will be bug-fixes and very minor tweaks.  The
> more major changes which may still go in are:
>
> * Backsights and repeat readings (unless the changes required to fit it in are
>   much greater than I anticipate).

I've made a start on this.  Backsights are pretty much certain to go in.  I'm
less sure about repeat readings, but probably.

> * Improved PLT export so the files produced are actually capable of being read
>   by Compass rather than only by Carto (someone else is looking at this, so it
>   depends how they get on).

They should now be readable by Compass, though I've not tried.  I'd be
interested to hear if it works or not if someone else gives it a try.  And
there's scope for further improvement - at the moment all the survex data
appears in a single Compass survey.

> * Perhaps moving some of the aven options into a "Configuration" dialog.

I'll move a few options from one menu to another which will probably do for
now.

> * Hopefully release a MacOS X version.  This now builds successfully, but I
>   know next to nothing about the expected structure of a MacOS X application,
>   and packaging is harder than seems necessary.  If any budding MacOS X guru
>   can lend a hand it would be appreciated.
> 
> * Look at building aven for MSDOS.
> 
> * Produce a CDROM distribution with all the versions on.

These are still to do.

> * Passage dimensions (LRUD), and drawing of "solid" cave models using it.
>   I'm going to write a separate mail about this.

For now, the model for a passage cross section is that it's represented by 4
perpendicular measurements (e.g. left, right, up, down), all of which lie in
the same plane.  This plane isn't necesarily vertical (e.g. a cross section on
a pitch would probably be horizontal).

The plane can be represented by a single vector perpendicular to it.  This can
be tied to a single leg, or a pair of legs, which covers the common conventions
for measuring the dimensions.

This can easily be extended to allowing an arbitrary non-intersecting
2D-polygon (or curved shape even) lying in a plane at a later date.
Other ways of measuring the shape of the cave can be added later too -
Initially I want to keep it fairly simple, but still useful for the majority
of surveyors.

Here's roughly what I expect the data would look like in the .svx file:

First the interleaved case (since it's easy):

*data normal station l r u d newline tape compass clino
1 1.0 0.5 2.0 1.5
   1.23 234 +14
2 0.0 1.4 1.5 2.0
  11.46 220 -03
3 0.0 1.2 2.0 2.0

For non-interleaved data, there are two possibilities:

*data normal from to tape compass clino froml fromr fromu fromd
1 2  1.23 234 +14  1.0 0.5 2.0 1.5
2 3 11.46 220 -03  0.0 1.4 1.5 2.0
3 -   -    -   -   0.0 1.2 2.0 2.0

Probably also allowing "tol" ("dimensions at the to station") and "newl"
("dimensions at the station not mentioned in the previous leg, or from if
neither station was").

The other alternative is:

*data normal from to tape compass clino
1 2  1.23 234 +14
2 3 11.46 220 -03

*data lrud station l r u d
1  1.0 0.5 2.0 1.5
2  0.0 1.4 1.5 2.0
3  0.0 1.2 2.0 2.0

I'm undecided which is better at present.  Both may be allowed.

Cheers,
Olly