Cemetery Mapping – Understanding pricing
Are you in charge of a private or public cemetery? Do you have missing or incorrect records that are causing major issues? Digital cemetery mapping services could be the answer you’re looking for. There are numerous affordable cemetery mapping options, using state-of-the art equipment and software, that will help manage and develop your memorial grounds.
The pricing for mapping services varies greatly between cemeteries and is dependent on several factors. Size of the cemetery has the biggest influence on the cost for digital cemetery mapping. Additional factors that are often considered when generating a proposal include age of the cemetery, grave density of the cemetery, tree cover, and accessibility. Mobilization expenses vary greatly from one provider to another, depending on their geographic range. The overall cost of services will include these factors and also the provide for maintaining equipment and software needed to generate the cemetery mapping.
Not All Cemetery Mapping Services Providers Are the Same
Having a current and accurate cemetery map is a key tool for cemetery managers, but budgets for most cemeteries are not an unlimited resource. For cemeteries that are actively adding new burials, it becomes more of a challenge to keep the map up to date. When contracting with a company, it’s important to address your current needs, future plans, and also enable ongoing updates to the cemetery map in order to optimize the money spent. In addition, does the cemetery mapping services provider have experience with GPR, GPS, and building cemetery maps on a GIS platform?
How to Optimize Your Cemetery Mapping Budget
The first goal of cemetery mapping is to document the current state of the cemetery through a combination of GPR and GPS. Another important goal of the project is to help improve the day-to-day operations of the cemetery and also provide a process for keeping the cemetery data information up to date.
Every cemetery is unique, and the approach to cemetery mapping should be focused on individual customer needs. A services provider should start by having a conversation about your needs and then provide you with a detailed proposal that explains how the services will help you achieve your goals.
A basic cemetery mapping package includes:
- GPR: Ground penetrating radar scans of all relevant areas of the cemetery to identify unmarked burials and significant underground anomalies.
- GPS: GPS collection with GNSS-enabled, high-accuracy GPS equipment to map all existing burial markers, coping areas, fences, decorative features, and other pertinent features of the cemetery. The GPS point of each burial monument and relevant feature are collected, and burial markers and physical features are photographed.
- GIS: The data from GPR and GPS data collected in the field is processed to create a custom, interactive and dynamic online map of the cemetery on a GIS platform using GPS and photographic data collected onsite.
- Dynamic, interactive, and easily shared burial plot map: The finished digital cemetery map is made available to the client via URL/online access and will be accessible from any device that has internet access. Print capability will be enabled to facilitate pdf/paper printouts on demand at various scale settings. In addition, large-format architectural size maps will be created and provided to the client via pdf files.
Optional value-added comprehensive cemetery mapping services include:
- Digitizing existing plot ownership information: Pertinent plot ownership information from existing records is incorporated into the digital cemetery map to enable visibility of ownership status for empty plots.
- Optimizing available space for additional burial plots: The open spaces in the cemetery are evaluated for availability of additional burial plots, and the digital cemetery map and large-format prints are updated to include the newly available plots.
- Design and pinning of new cemetery mapping sections: A burial plot layout is designed for new or undeveloped areas of the cemetery. The burial plot layout will be consistent with existing cemetery layout and plot numbering system. A pinning layout is developed, and aluminum survey pins are installed in the cemetery to provide guidance when excavating new burials. The newly designed burial plot layout and pin locations are incorporated into the digital cemetery map and large-format prints.
- Periodic Updates: New burials are added to the digital cemetery map and large-format prints at a frequency determined by cemetery management
These additional cemetery mapping options add substantial value and provide cemetery managers with the information and documentation needed to enable growth, plan for the future, and maximize the value of cemetery mapping investment dollars.
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