Best Way to Measure Elevation Profile of Land?

walker450 · Sep 29, 2013

I have a 2 acre clearing that I would like to get a very accurate elevation profile of so I can model it in 3D. I will be using the free Google Sketchup program. I want to virtually build my house, shop, and driveway before I actually build it.

I want to do this myself to save money. I have done this on small scales by simply using very long hoses and making "water levels" and recording everything on a piece of paper. This was on areas big enough to build a shop on.

I have GPS on my iphone but I'm not sure if I could trust it to be accurate enough. I was thinking about taking elevation readings in a 20'x20' grid then entering them in the computer.

A laser level on a tripod would be great but I don't know anyone with one of those. Maybe I could do some searching and borrow or rent one.

Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

BeezFun · Sep 29, 2013

I'd rent a rotary laser. If you're really a spartan, you can tape a laser pointer to a 4' level and shoot grade at night. I've used water level for fairly large areas, but it's pretty flat here.

Egon · Sep 29, 2013

Get a hand level and a 1x3x8 ft. Piece of wood for a rod and you are all set.

(Kinda old fashioned but cheap and
It works)

BHD · Sep 29, 2013

could probably use Google earth, for a quick estimate

with these Colorado floods, my son was in the flood plane, and with the forecasts of the river crests, I used Google earth and estimated the flood waters and conclude it would be about 10 feet from there house, and the water came to with in 10 feet of there house,

and planed the exit rout via road ways and what roads would be under water first, for there evacuation orders,

it was very close.

walker450 · Sep 29, 2013

Egon said:
Get a hand level and a 1x3x8 got piece of wood for a rod and you are all set.

I have done this before for small area... I would have to layout a grid first to make sure I'm measuring in straight lines. Whatever I do, I'll post results here.

walker450 · Sep 29, 2013

BHD said:
could probably use Google earth, for a quick estimate

For some reason Google Earth shows large hills on my property that aren't there at all. However, I was very impressed with the accuracy on other land we were looking at before we bought our current piece.

Egon · Sep 29, 2013

walker450 said:
I have done this before for small area... I would have to layout a grid first to make sure I'm measuring in straight lines. Whatever I do, I'll post results here.

Well, the grid you need anyway. And you surely know how to do it.

forgeblast · Sep 29, 2013

https://play.google.com/store/search?q=elevation&c=apps&hl=en is a list of different apps that might work if you have a smart phone.

newbury · Sep 29, 2013

What is the grid density you need for the critical items? What is the range of elevations? How big a house and driveway?

If you can get by with the approximately 200 points based on your 20'x20' grid that would seem cost effective and accurate. I don't know how you did it in the past but if you don't have GREAT variation a transparent tube attached to a PVC stake could give you great accuracy. And would be easy to densify with a smaller grid for critical areas.