The Survey Form

Below is the survey form that I use in the field for collecting data on the monuments.  It is adapted from several others I have seen before and you are welcome to further adapt it for your own needs.  Since I am also the one entering the data, I use abbreviations liberally.  If I have circled "Granite" with an M and "Concrete" with an A it means it is a Granite Monument with a Concrete Apron.  I usually make notes describing any problems as to location and severity.  I use the back of the paper if I need more space to transcribe multi-person or complex monuments.

If you have multiple surveyors you should have a place to indicate which one did the survey.  I originally had a line for a photo reference, or even space for an attached photo, but I discovered that it is easier to do all the surveys for a section at one time, and concentrate on the photography another time.  It doesn't make much difference which is done first.  Photos tend to be difficult to do in sequence because of the changing light conditions for different facets.  As long as you work on a specific section at a time, and label and store photos by section, it's not that difficult to keep track of them when you compile the data.

Monument Last Name____________________ Lot #_________ Plot #__________ Date___________

Circle all that apply, make notes as necessary:

Inscriptions:
Write exactly what you see on all surfaces. Use punctuation, upper, lower case as it appears. Indicate facing direction for each facet with an inscription – E, W, N, S, or T (top). For top-facing stones indicate which side you read it from, i.e. TE for "Top reading from the East". Use the back if needed. Describe any decorations or pictures.