
In a previous article (3. Site Visit – What Is the Purpose?) I briefly discussed the requirements for a site visit to be completed by one or more Qualified Persons (“QP”) in a 43-101 compliant study. Unfortunately the entire study team cannot participate in a site visit; however the next best thing may be Google Earth.
Lets fly around with Google Earth
Gather your team around their computers and fire up screen sharing software like Glance, GoToMeeting, Skype, or Cisco Webex. Here are some of the things your group can do with Google Earth:
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It can be used to fly-around the project site examining the topography.
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It can be used to view regional features, regional facilities, land access routes, and existing infrastructure.
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It has the capability to measure distances, either in a straight line or along a zigzag path.
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It provides the capability to view historical aerial photos (if they exist) to show how the project area might have changed over time.
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It can import GPS tracks and survey waypoints. If a member of the study team has visited the site with a GPS, they can illustrate their route and their observations.
I have yellow pins all over my Google Earth to mark locations of projects. I find it useful to orient a project with respect to infrastructure and to get approximate distances to highways, towns and ports.