I've been trying to find any sort of software that I can use to create a 3d or wireframe type map of the bottom of my lake. Does anyone have any suggestions? I'm trying to get something better than a plain-old contour map made without spending a fortune doing it.

TopH20
I read recently of software for lake bottom mapping but can't find the article. I thought it was in Pond Boss magazine. I'll keep looking but I do remember it was very expensive.
Ric

Hey TopH20,
I am taking some classes in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). GIS basically is a computer system that matches data with its location in space. We are using ArcView software with an extension called 3D analysis. This software could be used to make a 3D map of your lake bottom. It is expensive, guessing around $3000 for the software.

What you would have to do is take depth measurements at regularly spaced locations throughout the lake and use GPS to get the location of each depth measurement. Then, you would plug this data into the GIS software and a 3D image would be rendered. The software would interpolate the depths between the measurement locations to come up with the contours.

The only problem is that unless you have the software, the only thing you could view is print-outs. If you have the software, you can look at the contours from different angles right on the screen.

I am just now learning about this, so I am not prepared to take something like this on just yet. But, maybe in a few weeks, you could send me depths/locations and I could try to send you some printouts from various views. If you can't get a GPS unit and your pond is small, maybe you could mark a square around your pond and measure distances from edge of square to edge of pond and then distances to each depth measurement location. That way the general shape of the pond would be accurately represented. You could also include the locations of any other pond features like structures, docks, etc.

I can actually do one better than that, though I haven't gotten around to actually DOING it yet. I've got two different satellite images of the lake, one just as the neighborhood was going up around it. My plan is to print one of these images onto lined graph paper to give me a grid to work with. Then figure a way to calculate the real-world distance represented by one square, and take depth measurements at every intersection... Maybe once it's not so doggone hot!

one problem with GPS is there relative inaccuracy. Depending on the unit and how many satilites it is locked into there accuracy vary between 3 feet and 300 feet. On a big lake its not important but it you are working on just a couple acres it could.

Exactly, which is why I'm going to use a laser rangefinder rather than GPS. +/- 1 yd is much better accuracy.

Does anyone know where to get very recent satellite photos of an area. I have one of my pond area that is 2 years old (prior to building) and would like o see how it looks today.

It's something of a crapshoot as to whether or not any recent shots have been taken of your area. A good starting place is www.terraserver.com

Don't know about satellite photos but here in NC airial photos are taken every 10 years.
Ric

If anyone's interested, I would be willing to send you a small powerpoint presentation file that outlines how I make contour maps for some of of the public waters in my district. Images of the map before, during, and after completion are included. I saved the maps as jpegs and imported them into Powerpoint (office 2000). I make the maps using ArcView software, a GPS unit, and depthfinder. I think the maps turned out rather well. Let me know. I'm new to this site and don't get to visit it that often, so you might give me a couple of days.....it depends on how busy I am at work.

Shawn,
I would be VERY intrested! You can send it to:
rkswaim@hotmail.com
Thanks,
Ric

Same!! toph2o@bellsouth.net

Thanks,
Troy

here too...bballallstar_3@hotmail.com

I'd appreciate it!!!

davidson@theplanet.com

Shawn,
Add me to the list if you can.
Thanks!
keelyb1@yahoo.com

here, here. i've started to map mine and it is difficult. we all appreciate the offer. jbrockey@aol.com -jb