Jump to content

New Category - New Brunswick Control Monuments


Recommended Posts

Hello,

 

I have been looking at the category “Measurement Standards > Canadian Benchmarks” and I would like to make a new sub-category under "Canadian Benchmarks" called "New Brunswick Control Monuments" or something similar to that. I would like to pre-populate the category with ~25,000 records from the New Brunswick Control Monument database. Control monuments are often partially or completely hidden so it does not make sense to expect geocachers to notice the control monuments and to post their finds to the proposed category. If this category can be pre-populated it will:

  • significantly increase the number of waymarks in New Brunswick
  • help to identify monuments that are damaged or destroyed
  • provide updated photos of monuments and their surrounding environment

 

This category would be a good way to crowd source information about New Brunswick's control monuments. I have looked at the guidelines for proposing a new category but I wanted to outline my proposal here first in case my plans do not conform with Waymarking.com.

 

Thanks,

Bernie.

Link to comment

Hello,

 

I have been looking at the category “Measurement Standards > Canadian Benchmarks” and I would like to make a new sub-category under "Canadian Benchmarks" called "New Brunswick Control Monuments" or something similar to that. I would like to pre-populate the category with ~25,000 records from the New Brunswick Control Monument database. Control monuments are often partially or completely hidden so it does not make sense to expect geocachers to notice the control monuments and to post their finds to the proposed category. If this category can be pre-populated it will:

  • significantly increase the number of waymarks in New Brunswick
  • help to identify monuments that are damaged or destroyed
  • provide updated photos of monuments and their surrounding environment

 

First question would be: What exactly do you have in mind when you say you intend to "pre-populate the category "?

 

Keith

Link to comment

By "pre-populating" I mean a bulk upload directly into the Waymarking.com database. I am hoping that will be possible. Perhaps I may need to communicate directly with Groundspeak to see if a bulk upload is possible. As far as reviewing is concerned all of our data for control monuments is very homogenous so reviewing a small sample of the 25,000 records should suffice.

 

Bernie.

Link to comment

Even a sample review would be time consuming. Many of those control monuments are already Canadian Benchmarks waymarks. The pre-populated waymarks should not replace those that already exist. Perhaps I could be promoted to officer in the Canadian Benchmarks category to assist with the review workload.

Link to comment

The Canadian Benchmark description has a listing for several types of Control Marks and Benchmarks, along with links to databases for further information. Those listings in and of themselves aren't creating waymarks. Members still have to go out into the field, get their readings and pictures, and create the actual waymark. The member asking the question regarding the "subcategory" has never posted nor made a visit to a waymark. Waymarking isn't about a batch dump of data from a GIS database that a member has not personally taken the photos and/or hasn't obtained the GPS coordinate data - it's not within the spirit of Waymarking. What needs to happen would be to allow access to the database to allow all members to create content, if the member didn't personally take the photo. ...and yes, each and every waymark gets reviewed. Sorry for the rant, I think it's great someone wants to participate in Waymarking. I would hope, however, one would try to crawl before trying to out-sprint Usain Bolt... As you can tell, this smells of a personal category that no one would be able to participate in and if it comes up for a vote in this format, it will be a most resounding "no" from me.

Link to comment

Whatever you try to achieve with this database, Waymarking is probably not the place for it. Your idea does not fit in the procedures and spirit of Waymarking. There is no batch-upload, there are no sub-categories of user categories and the local communities are too small to hope for any crowd source data. This game is not made for something like that.

Link to comment

I read on the geocaching.com website that all of the NGS benchmarks in the US were loaded into the geocaching.com database as geocaches. Since Groundspeak made the exception at geocaching.com I thought it might also he possible at Waymarking.com too. But if the community is against it I'll look elsewhere for my crowd source solution.

 

Best regards,

Bernie.

Link to comment

I read on the geocaching.com website that all of the NGS benchmarks in the US were loaded into the geocaching.com database as geocaches. Since Groundspeak made the exception at geocaching.com I thought it might also he possible at Waymarking.com too. But if the community is against it I'll look elsewhere for my crowd source solution.

 

Best regards,

Bernie.

 

Groundspeak uploaded a portion of the NGS database into their geocaching.com many, many years ago (before 2005 when I joined) and it has never been updated. That load from the NGS database aren't counted in one's tally of found geocaches; it is again a totally separate way to get out with one's GPSr and enjoy the outdoors without having to lift another lamp skirt or figure out how to write on soggy paper. Waymarking is a totally different animal than geocaching, and one really has nothing in common with the other EXCEPT being under the Groundspeak umbrella - again, as I explained in my first post, you really need to post a waymark to truly understand WHY and WHAT we are saying about the incompatibility of Waymarking and a massive data dump. Again, making the New Brunswick database available to the average Joe Blow waymarker to access like other databases under the Canadian Benchmark category description would accomplish EXACTLY what you are trying to accomplish and would allow waymarkers; if THEY so desire, to go out and capture those waymarks and give them a resource for the writeup. Again, my "Loonies" worth.

Link to comment

Benchmarking seems to be getting more popular, even the alternative site is planning on offering BM's as a cache type. I have several of my BM finds listed there as well as here on the Waymarking site. However, using an existing data base to stock the pond and calling it a category is not Waymarking. :( It's just what it is, a data base to use as a reference. :)

 

Geocaching HQ has a Benchmarking forums, maybe there is a better place to present your idea. :D

Link to comment

It is highly unlikely that a Waymarking sub-category in Canadian Benchmarks will be created. It is also highly unlikely that Groundspeak will allow pre-populated waymarks. Nevertheless, I would be pleased to assist your attempts to add New Brunswick control monuments to the Canadian Benchmarks Waymarking category.

Link to comment
Again, making the New Brunswick database available to the average Joe Blow waymarker to access like other databases under the Canadian Benchmark category description would accomplish EXACTLY what you are trying to accomplish and would allow waymarkers; if THEY so desire, to go out and capture those waymarks and give them a resource for the writeup.

 

The New Brunswick Control Monument Database is available to the Average Joe as a CSV download (so not very user friendly). In the near future we will be building an online map/index for the New Brunswick Control Monument Database so perhaps at that time we can add the info to the Canadian Benchmark category description.

 

Thanks all for your input. I'll do some more investigation into other options and discuss with my colleagues here at the office.

 

Best regards,

Bernie.

 

P.S. If you ever need support for coordinates, mapping, GIS, Land Registry or GPS in New Brunswick please get in touch - geonb@snb.ca

Link to comment

To is, this looks like a desire to create a redundant subcategory of a broader category: think Texas Benchmarks as a subcategory of US benchmarks. We love benchmarks, but we could not support that.

 

I agree that this NB BM data could be a great addition to Canadian Benchmarks if other WM guidelines are followed (personally-obtained photos, etc) :)

 

That's a cool project to make the data more accessible and thanks for doing it :) It would have helped us in Saskatchewan Manitoba and Ontario, that's for sure.

Edited by Benchmark Blasterz
Link to comment

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...