Caving Karstology

The karstology is a scientific discipline in its own right whose object of study focuses on the phenomena associated with limestone. The cavers bring the results of observations on the surface and in the heart of the karst massive. The contribution of caving to karstology is very important:

The observation and measurements made on the physicochemical parameters of the enclosing cavity, and air and water it contains, can specify the current workings of Karst. Examination of speleothems and the general morphology of the ducts can speculate on the origins and developments of the past cavity. Conversely, the karstology applied to a solid and a set of neighboring cavities will better understand the history and spatial logic of a new cavity being explored on the same mountain, or in the vicinity of cavities previously studied or same nature.

Topography tomb

A recess is really only when its features are described and where its forms and reliefs are represented by planes. Except in special cases, all of this information must be published to ensure a sharing of constructive knowledge, for further exploration of the cavity or solid.

To ensure accurate graphical representation and meaningful explorations and subsequent studies, it is necessary to achieve a topography of the cavity. This topography is done gradually in two main phases: 1 – The survey: the collection of data characterizing the position and shape of different parts of the cavity. 2 – The postponement: the calculation and refund forms corresponding to a graph on a suitable support (paper, screen etc.)

The scales used are variables representation (typically 1/100 for small cavities and 1/1000 for larger cavities) by extending the cavity. With modern methods of calculating the deferral computer, this scale factor can be easily adjusted. In the case of a delay hand, we must choose the a priori factor, on pain of having to repeat many of the calculations and design work in progress.

Besides the scale, we must also mention the drawing: – the position of magnetic north, – the date of the survey (and not the report) needed to account for magnetic declination – the name of the town and locality where the entrance of the cave is – the names of authors (up and report) of the topography – the coordinates and altitude of the entrance – an indication of the level of accuracy of the survey.

Other relevant information (geological, climatic, biological, etc.) can be added to the drawing. Otherwise, they may be mentioned in the written description of the cavity.

Once the cavity has a certain complexity (variable slopes and directions), it is necessary to produce at least two additional views and some cross sections significant conduits.
The coordinates of the entry shall be given in a geolocation system as universal as possible (UTM for example) allowing easy inclusion in GPS. There are many softwares surveying underground desktops.

Most currently known are: TOPOROBOT; VISUAL TOPO and TOPO RI (HADES project). The subsurface surveying tools must be capable of measuring three dimensional parameters defining the ’skeleton’ of the cavity: management in a horizontal plane, the inclination in a vertical plane (’slope’), the distance between two successive points of measurement (’distance’).

When the cavity is substantially horizontal (cave), one can simply estimate the slope. Other additional morphological data, quantitative or qualitative, can draw a ‘dressing’ of duct width, height, presence of obstructions or special reliefs (speleothems, blocks, water inlets etc).