Open-source tool for automatic import of coded surveying data to multiple vector layers in GIS environment

This paper deals with a tool that enables import of the coded data in a single text file to more than one vector layers (including attribute tables), together with automatic drawing of line and polygon objects and with optional conversion to CAD. Python script v.in.survey is available as an add-on for open-source software GRASS GIS (GRASS Development Team). The paper describes a case study based on surveying at the archaeological mission at Tell-el Retaba (Egypt). Advantages of the tool (e.g. significant optimization of surveying work) and its limits (demands on keeping conventions for the points’ names coding) are discussed here as well. Possibilities of future development are suggested (e.g. generalization of points’ names coding or more complex attribute table creation).