Environmental Mapping Software: The One-Two Punch
It’s always slightly amusing for me to look back through hardcopy reports and see hand drawn maps that predate yours truly. They are usually not to scale, smudged, somewhat faded and yellow, with lines as straight as Steve Buscemi's teeth.
I am so glad there is software to make my life easier (and also to save me from unnecessary humiliation). If I had to hand draw a map, I’m certain that it would be a bit like returning to kindergarten. Back then, I’d run home with a very obvious (to me) picture of a space alien scrawled in green and purple magic marker, only to have my mother say, “What a beautiful flower!” Misinterpreting what is hand drawn for a high profile UST release would have far more dire consequences than a 5-year-old stomping off to his room.
Maps can be complicated, and those of us in the environmental consulting industry are often tasked to use a few known points, which represent monitoring wells, to create an accurate account of groundwater flow direction and contaminant plume distribution.
Some of the most comprehensive mapping programs that money can buy include:
Down side of these programs? They are extremely expensive! And if you aren’t working on a federal contract that dictates a specific graphics package, then why spend so much money on what will eat into your project’s profitability?
For those of you working on projects with slimmer (or nearly nonexistent in this economy) profit margins, there are two software programs I’d like to highlight for the express reason that they can work together to create a one-two punch of aesthetics and accuracy, and they certainly won’t break the bank: Canvas and Surfer.
Canvas
Canvas, produced by ACD systems, is marketed as a precision technical illustration tool. It’s quite simple and easy to use. The most current release, Canvas 12, has an optional GIS module.
Features include, but are not limited to:
- Technical illustration and enhancement with greater control
- Ability to edit both vector objects and raster images in one environment, at the same time
- Ability to create visuals from both raw and technical data
- Precision drawing
- Ability to draw and edit paths and curve segments using the control points that define them
- Ability to edit object path data
- Ability to apply filters to images, text, and vector objects
- No need to use a separate word processor or layout program
- Different document types for different purposes: Illustration, Publication, Animation, and Presentation
- Seamless integration: ability to import over 100 different file formats, including DICOM, RAW, Binary filters, Scientific Imaging filters, CGM, and DWG (CAD)
- Fits seamlessly into professional AutoCAD5 3D workflows
- Ability to accurately place objects
- Ability to add on-the-fly illustration objects
If you are interested in learning more about Canvas (including a 30-day free trial) visit: http://www.acdsee.com. Cost for a license? About $600, or $900 with the GIS add-on.
Surfer
Surfer, produced by Golden Software, is a 3D visualization, contouring, and surface modeling program. Its main function is the creation of topographic maps; however, we have also been able to use this software to create contaminant plume maps and groundwater flow maps.
Features include, but are not limited to:
- Contour maps
- 3D surface maps
- Shaded relief maps
- Post maps
- 3D wire frame maps
- Vector maps
- Base maps
- Multi-layer maps
- Stacking maps
- Map projections
- Superior gridding
If you are interested in learning more about Surfer (or to try a free demo) visit goldensoftware.com. Cost for a license? About $700.
Using Canvas and Surfer together, you can create detailed, accurate figures, including potentiometric surface maps and contaminant plume maps, in 1 to 2 hours.