Strange challenge for you experts - Use my car to measure distance.

gutteruu

So I need to survey a lot of roads. This involves driving along roads, stopping every few meters to note locations of items for risk assessments (overhead lines etc). I start at one end, usually put a measuring wheel out the window and drive along stopping every few meters to see reading. Its a pain in the arse because I could have 100km of roads to survey and arm is dead checking the reading every few meters.

Is there any to use the cars odometer to see the distance. Maybe something that plugs into OBDII port, using an app or whatever, and shows distance at meter accuracy. Needs to be reasonably accurate (within 10m ish). The car does it anyway for my odometer so I'm hoping there is a way to see this reading in real time.

Car is a '07 avensis if that makes any difference.

Whatwicklow

I have never seen a car odo to measure to 10 meter increments, does yours?

Surely that's problem #1 of using the car?

gutteruu

I don't know. I know it increments in 100m on my dash, but presumably thats just a software calculation? So thought maybe there is an app or something to show it going up in smaller increments. I have no idea. Just said I'd ask.

granturismo

Map your route:

https://gb.mapometer.com/

Hope you have a risk assessment that allows holding a measuring wheel out the window of a moving car, even for a passenger.

Del2005

A hand held GPS would be a better option where you can input waypoints. Would taking pictures on your phone with location enabled be accurate enough? Even better just get a dash cam with a few cameras, 1 pointing ahead and 1 pointing out each side, and GPS then just drive at normal speed and watch the video later.

Has this job being risk assessed? I'd love to see where driving down a road with a measure wheel held out the window and stopping every few meters is safe? Even stopping every few meters is dangerous on most roads and you're doing it for 100s of km!!

gutteruu

A handheld GPS unit would be good if I could start at a certain point and it begins counting as I move. Even thought about bolting the measuring wheel to the car and wire the display into cab 😀. I only use it at walking speed with big flashing lights on on quiet roads. Its to save the hassle of walking back for the car which doubles overall distance/time. Safer too.

kaahooters

if its within 10m, use google maps and map the route that way, if it actually needs to be accurate, theres ways to do it you should have been supplied with.

gutteruu

Waypoints are known points though? I won't know where I'll be stopping as I'm just stopping at anything I see as a risk (manholes, bridges, overhead lines etc). I usually record my voice and shout out the reading and risk. Then go back to office and transpose it into excel. I would need to just see a counter adding up the distance as I drive.

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121456507#Comment_121456507

And this is done in your private vehicle? How can you even concentrate on the road or drive close to the speed limit if your constantly looking for risks and stopping every time you see one? Sounds quite dangerous for other road users.

gutteruu

ok

mikeecho

You could either:

1- Get a calibrated speedometer.

2- Get out of the car and do your job as it supposed to be done.

I can't see any other safe solution.

nelly17

Drive, Stop Drop a pin on google maps and flag your hazards in the note and build your own customised map on google maps

Magown3

Download MayMyRun app.

Start your "workout" at the start of the road and it will track your distance via gps to nearest 10m.

You would have to do some tests to make sure it's 100% accurate. It should be.

Del2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121456419#Comment_121456419

I was coming out of Rosslare last week and they where replacing the cats eyes on a wide road. They had 2 traffic controllers on quads doing a rolling road block so that the workers could safely stop and replace the cats eyes. The workers where still protected by massive trucks with loads of beacons

You're driving on roads not paying attention to what's happening on the road, as you have to note hazards at the side of it!, and stopping at random points on a road with no warnings and no traffic control. You are the hazard on the road.

Again has this job been risk assessed? What you are doing is incredibly dangerous to yourself and other road users. Who signed off on you driving holding something out the window? Have you got Class 1 insurance? A flashing beacon doesn't mean that you drive without due care and attention, if you are involved in an RTC you could be in big trouble.

gutteruu

It's done using proper TM signage, on local tertiary roads, marked vehicle with beacons going only 3kph!! This is done because it's a lot less dangerous that walking dangerous roads twice. I get everyone's concern, but a few are getting hyped up with their own ideas of whats happening.

Thanks to others for suggestions. Mapmyrun would work perfect.

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121459697#Comment_121459697

Your post is a bit misleading when all you mention about the vehicle is that its an 07 Avensis. Never seen one of those as a marked vehicle with beacons.

mikeecho

Just do your job as you're supposed to do it, rather than finding a lazy way.