type:
post
published:
Nov 27, 2024 at 4:23PM
updated:
Dec 31, 2024 at 12:44AM
words:
2,103
stats:
1 links
4 code blocks
1 h2

Hudson Valley Systems & Trail Mapping Project

The Hudson Valley Systems & Trail Mapping Project aims to create more than just a set of maps. Our goal is to develop a multi-faceted tool that strengthens our communities' ability to explore, understand, and care for the landscapes we call home. By weaving together detailed geographic information, emergency response resources, and local knowledge, these maps will serve as a foundation for building resilient physical and social infrastructure.

At its core, this project recognizes that our trails, radio waves, and local knowledge are more than just lines on a map or frequencies in the air. They represent conduits of connection - ways for people to engage with the natural world, share knowledge and resources, and support each other in times of need. By mapping these networks and making that information accessible to everyone, we enable more people to plug into and strengthen the systems that sustain us.

For recreational users, these maps will provide the confidence to venture further and the wisdom to tread lightly. Detailed trail information, land navigation aids, and safety resources will empower hikers, ecologists, and explorers to immerse themselves in the landscape while minimizing their impact and risk.

For emergency responders and community organizations, the maps will serve as a critical coordination tool. Comprehensive coverage of access points, infrastructure systems, and water sources will enable faster and more targeted responses to incidents. Radio communication data will ensure responders can stay connected and informed even in challenging terrain.

The approach embodied in these maps - one that recognizes the interdependence of natural and human systems - aligns with the anarchist principles of mutual aid and community resilience. By emphasizing the connections between the land, our infrastructure, and our social fabric, the maps encourage a holistic view of community wellbeing. They remind us that by caring for our environment and its resources, we create the conditions for our own collective freedom. The maps invite us to think beyond individual survival and toward the creation of resilient, regenerative communities. By revealing the hidden potential in our landscapes and the power of decentralized coordination, they inspire us to build systems of mutual support that can weather any storm.

For groups operating on principles of autonomy and direct action, these maps offer a means to put those principles into practice. By decentralizing knowledge of the land and its resources, they enable independent action and reduce reliance on official authorities.

In times of civil unrest, when the facade of social stability cracks, it is often these grassroots, community-based groups that hold the line and provide the most immediate and effective support. By equipping them with detailed, holistic understandings of their environment and its potential, we invest in the resilience and autonomy of our communities. We create the conditions for mutual aid to flourish, even in the most challenging circumstances.

In this sense, the maps become more than static representations - they are invitations to engage with the land as a living system that supports and responds to us. They challenge us to think beyond individual uses and interests and to recognize our role in a complex web of relationships. They remind us that by caring for the land and each other, we strengthen the resilience of both.

In the spirit of the open-source software (OSS) movement, the process of creating these maps is as important as the maps themselves. By carefully documenting our methodologies, data sources, and design decisions, we create a template that can be adapted and replicated by other communities looking to map their own landscapes of resilience.

Just as fungal networks quietly and persistently weave through the underground, sharing nutrients and information across vast ecosystems, the open-source sharing of cartographic insights can create a resilient, decentralized network of local knowledge and empowerment that puts us ahead of our adversaries. Each independent mapping project becomes a node in this network, adapting our shared template to its unique local context while also feeding back its learnings and innovations into the collective knowledge base.

This approach offers a powerful tool for building autonomous, resilient information sources. By creating and sharing these maps, they not only strengthen their own local capacities, but also contribute to a larger ecology of resistance and mutual aid.

1. Scoping & Requirements Gathering

  • Define project area (Hudson Valley region)
  • Identify primary use cases and user groups
    • Hikers, Search & Rescue, Emergency Preparedness
  • Establish data requirements
    • Topography, trails, radio coverage, emergency resources
  • Set target map scales and sizes for each use case
  • Choose print specs (paper, inks, folding, etc)

2. Data Acquisition & Processing

  • Acquire base datasets
    • Digital Elevation Model (DEM) - 1m resolution
    • OpenStreetMap (OSM) data - roads, trails, POIs
    • Land cover data - vegetation, built-up areas
  • Process datasets
    • Merge and clip DEM tiles to project extent
    • Filter and style OSM data for each use case
    • Derive hillshade and contours from DEM
  • Integrate radio data
    • Compile repeater locations and frequencies
    • Model theoretical coverage (viewsheds)
    • Incorporate field-reported coverage and dead zones
  • Add emergency preparedness data
    • Helispots, water sources, rally points
    • Escape routes and safety zones
    • Offline copies of comms plans and protocols

3. Cartographic Design & Layout

  • Develop map template for each use case
    • Define page size, margins, legend placement
    • Choose fonts, colors, and symbology
    • Optimize for legibility and ease of use in the field
  • Create detailed map layouts
    • Arrange map elements (title, scale, declination, etc)
    • Compose map frames for desired coverage
    • Add ancillary info (comms plans, safety tips, etc)
  • Produce overview maps and indices
    • Generate index maps showing map sheet extents
    • Create overview maps for context and navigation between sheets

4. Review & Refinement

  • Internal review of draft maps
    • Check for completeness and accuracy
    • Proofread all text elements
    • Ensure consistent styling across series
  • Stakeholder review
    • Gather feedback from SAR teams, dispatchers, trail clubs
    • Incorporate suggestions and corrections
  • Field testing
    • Print prototype maps for field evaluation
    • Test with users in real-world conditions
    • Assess durability, legibility, and usability
    • Identify gaps or inaccuracies in content
  • Refinement
    • Implement changes from stakeholder and field feedback
    • Optimize and troubleshoot print production (folds, inks, etc)

5. Production & Distribution

  • Final quality assurance check
    • Review proofs from printer
    • Check alignment, colors, text
  • Printing
    • Produce print-ready files per printer specs
    • Manage print production (quantities, materials, timeline)
  • Packaging and fulfillment
    • Organize maps into sets or bundles
    • Package with any supplemental materials (guides, indices)
    • Label and prepare for shipping or local distribution
  • Distribution
    • Deliver to local agencies, visitors centers, outdoor shops
    • Fulfill direct orders or requests
    • Publicize availability to user groups
  1. Project Setup:
- Create new QGIS project
- Set CRS to EPSG:26918 (UTM Zone 18N, good for Hudson Valley)
- Save project with descriptive name
  1. OSM Data (using QuickOSM plugin):
- Key queries to run:
  - "highway" (gets roads and trails)
  - "natural=peak"
  - "natural=water"
  - "leisure=park"
- Boundary box coords for Storm King area:
  41.4026, -74.0165, 41.4458, -73.9589
  1. DEM Data (best source for Storm King):
- Download from NYS GIS Clearinghouse
  (http://gis.ny.gov/elevation/NYC-LiDAR.htm)
- Look for "Hudson Valley 1-meter DEM" tile
- Storm King is in tile: HudsonValley_DEM_2014
  1. Basic Styling:
- DEM: Use "Hillshade" renderer
  - Altitude: 45°
  - Azimuth: 315°
  - Z-factor: 2
- Set transparency: 50%
- Add contour lines (Vector → Terrain Analysis → Contours)
  - Interval: 20m

Hudson Valley Radio & Trail Mapping Project

  • DEM: Check NYS GIS Clearinghouse quarterly for updates
  • OSM: Monthly full area refresh

Layer Organization

Base Layers
  1. DEM Hillshade
  2. Contours (multiple resolutions)
  3. OSM Base Features
Radio Layers
  1. Repeater Locations
  2. Coverage Predictions
  3. Field Reports
  4. Dead Zones
Trail Layers
  1. Official Trails
  2. Unofficial Routes
  3. Access Points
  4. Field Notes

Workflow for Updates

Regular Maintenance
  1. Monthly OSM data refresh
  2. Add field observations after each trip
  3. Update radio coverage based on actual tests
  4. Backup project files
Field Data Collection
  1. Record GPS tracks
  2. Note signal strength points
  3. Mark potential emergency setup locations
  4. Document trail conditions
Style Management
  • Save styles separately for each layer type
  • Document color schemes & symbols
  • Keep style history for seasonal variations

Documentation Practice

For Each Session
  1. Date of work
  2. Data sources updated
  3. New areas added
  4. Signal reports collected
  5. Problems encountered
For Field Observations
  1. Date & conditions
  2. Equipment used
  3. Signal reports
  4. Access notes
  5. Potential hazards

Future-Proofing

Data Export Schedule
  • Monthly: Full project backup
  • After major updates: Style files
  • Quarterly: Full data archive
Compatibility Notes
  • Keep original source files
  • Document coordinate systems
  • Note QGIS version for each major update
  • Store style files in both current & legacy formats

Emergency Preparedness Elements

Critical Locations
  1. High points for radio coverage
  2. Emergency access routes
  3. Helicopter landing zones
  4. Water sources
  5. Safe zones
Communications Data
  1. Repeater coverage maps
  2. Backup frequencies
  3. Emergency channels
  4. Contact points

Project Goals & Metrics

Short Term
  • Complete base mapping for Storm King area
  • Establish basic layer structure
  • Document initial radio coverage
Long Term
  • Full Hudson Valley coverage
  • Verified radio propagation models
  • Comprehensive emergency response points
  • Seasonal variation documentation

Resources & References

  • ARRL repeater database
  • Local club frequencies
  • Emergency services channels
  • Trail maintenance contacts
  • Local radio club contacts

Remember: Document everything as if you're writing for your future self. What would you want to know six months from now?

This structure allows you to:

  1. Build systematically
  2. Track changes over time
  3. Maintain data quality
  4. Share with others if needed
  5. Keep emergency info current

Forestpunk OSM Contribution: Mapping for Mutual Aid

Why We Map: In the Forestpunk ethos, maps are more than tools—they are acts of care. Every updated trail, repeater location, or water source is a gift to those who walk after us. By contributing to OpenStreetMap (OSM), we strengthen the invisible networks that sustain freedom, resilience, and connection in wild places. Mapping isn’t just preparation—it’s a form of decentralized empowerment.

The Forestpunk Approach to OSM

  1. Decentralized Knowledge: Your updates make critical local data accessible to anyone, breaking reliance on centralized systems.
  2. Regenerative Action: Each contribution enhances the land’s role as a resource for safety, exploration, and mutual support.
  3. Radical Connection: By mapping, you weave the forest and digital realms together, ensuring technology whispers rather than controls.

How To Start Contributing

  1. Create an Account:
  2. Learn the Basics:
    • Use the iD Editor (in-browser) for beginner-friendly edits.
    • Install JOSM (advanced) for GPS tracks, bulk edits, and detailed tagging.
  3. Collect Field Data:
    • Record GPS tracks with a smartphone (OsmAnd, Gaia GPS).
    • Take geotagged photos or notes using apps like Mapillary or StreetComplete.
    • Annotate printed maps with field observations (Field Papers).
  4. Follow Best Practices:
    • Tag accurately: Use OSM tagging guides to classify features (e.g., highway=path, amenity=drinking_water).
    • Validate edits: Check for errors before uploading.
    • Document changes clearly in your upload description.

Contributing With Purpose

  • Trails: Map every path, junction, and reroute—add tags for visibility, difficulty, and seasonal conditions.
  • Emergency Resources: Mark radio repeaters, helispots, and water sources for SAR and preparedness.
  • Local Knowledge: Share the wisdom of the land—POIs, shelters, or hazards.