feltmåling

Feltmåling, or field surveying, is the practice of collecting geospatial measurements in the field to determine positions, elevations, distances, and other quantities needed for maps, plans, and models. It is a core activity in surveying, civil engineering, and geographic information management, linking real-world conditions to coordinate systems and digital representations.

Measurements in feltmåling typically include horizontal distances, vertical differences, and angles between points. Instruments commonly used are total stations, theodolites, GNSS receivers, and levels. Techniques include traversing, triangulation, precise leveling, and GNSS-based surveying, as well as modern methods such as terrestrial photogrammetry and field LiDAR data capture, often used to collect dense point clouds or surface models.

Data handling and processing are essential after fieldwork. Observations are adjusted to compute coordinates within a reference system, with consideration of instrument errors, atmospheric effects, and local conditions. Quality control relies on redundant measurements, control points, calibration, and uncertainty analysis. Many countries have standards and regulations that govern procedures, accuracy requirements, documentation, and reporting.

Applications of feltmåling span land boundary determination, construction layout, topographic mapping, infrastructure design, mining, forestry, environmental monitoring, and archaeological recording. The resulting field data are typically integrated with geographic information systems (GIS) and computer-aided design (CAD) workflows to produce maps, 3D models, and spatial analyses that support planning and decision making.