Australian Cave Survey and Map Standards Commission

The following article by Ken Grimes was originally published in "Australian Caver" No. 135, 1993, the Members Manual and Annual Report edition of the journal of the Australian Speleological Federation Inc., pages 20-21.

The ASF Cave Survey and Map Standards Commission was established in 1974, under the convenorship of Edward G Anderson, and grew out of an Ad Hoc committee that was created in 1971.

The terms of reference were and still are:

• To co-ordinate the systematic integration of cave surveys and the adoption of the Australian Map Grid for cave mapping.

• To co-operate with other commissions particularly the Handbook (now the Documentation Commission), in compilation and dissemination of surveying and mapping data and information.

• To foster liaison and communication and provide technical advice and assistance in all cave survey and mapping matters.

• To advise the Federation on problems arising from integration of surveys and the implementation of the survey and mapping standards.

• To encourage adherence of the survey and mapping standards, by the design and dissemination of standardised documentation and recording forms.

I took over the commission in 1983, by which time most of the immediate objectives had been achieved, and I was left with the role of providing continuing advice and co-ordination in survey and mapping standards. The main output for the Commission has been the publication of the ASF Survey and Map Standards. The current version was prepared by E.G. Anderson and others in 1978 (ASF Newsletter 79), and reprinted with some addition in the Australian Karst Index (Matthews, 1985, pages 18.1 - 18.20)

The published standards cover:

• Units (metric).

• Map scales (multiples of 10, 100, 1000, etc., of 1:1,1:2, or 1:5).

• Map sheet sizes (Metric A4, A3 etc.).

• Survey datum (Aust Map Grid and Aust Height Datum or local datum).

• Map (grid use and spacing).

• Standard cave map symbols (surface features, entrances, walls, floor and roof details deposits, hydrology etc.).

• Survey and map detail grades (e.g., ASF Grade 53C).

• Terminology (what is a "developed Longitudinal Section").

• Information required on a map (identification, credits, map number, north arrow, scale bar, etc.).

Related documents which were prepared by the Documentation Commission, and which are also published in the Australian Karst Index, are the 'Cave and Karst Numbering Code' (1984), the 'Map Numbering Guide' (1985), both by Peter Matthews. Peter has also prepared a paper; on a 'Modular Method of Surveying and Mapping' using standard A4 size sheets which was published in the Proceedings of the 12th ASF Biennial Conference. (WACCON, 1980, p.l00-111).

For the future, the main challenge will probably come from the growing use of Computer Aided Design Drafting (CADD) programs.

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