Drainage Channel Survey at Chapel Mere, Cholmondeley Castle
The survey was one aspect of an environmental impact assessment in relation to the plans to create an SSSI at Chapel Mere. This required a detailed topographic survey of drainage channels into and out of the Merea and downstream to the River Weaver.
It also required levels and positions of various monitoring points around the site to be measured and all which were required to OS Grid and Datum.
Utilising Topcon Hiper SR GNSS equipment primarily and Topcon Total Station in areas where GNSS coverage wasn’t available we were able to conduct a thorough job, although the thick vegetation as a result of the wet conditions did hamper progress a bit.
With waders donned it was a long day of walking along drainage channels, probing ahead to check the depth and surveying points at regular intervals to enable the client to create good sections for their analysis. In other areas the thick vegetation meant cutting regular sight lines across the ditches to create the plans.
After three days on site the work was finished and there was a bit of time to appreciate Cholmondeley Castle estate over a well earned cup of tea once the van was packed up, if all jobs were like this everyone would be doing it!
The Gauge Board measurements needed some creative set-ups
When the GNSS couldn't receive satellite data the Total Station came out
The site is an SSSI and when you find a snake skin you can see why, a first for me
