project

Originally the project was prompted by the choice of South Weald Park as the venue for the cross-country mountain bike events in the 2012 Olympic Games.
Since the project began the venue has been changed.

A recent announcement that the Mountain Bike events are now being moved to a different site in Essex has removed one of the motivations for the project. It does, however, still have a strong educational value for club members and will be equally useful as a reference tool for the wider community.
Weald Park is an extremely attractive and ancient country park that should be treasured by all Essex and Brentwood residents in particular.
Because all of the long term benefits of the project still remain, it has been decided to continue with the work and the existing team will maintain their leadership of the various areas.

The project is to provide a map-based computerised database of information (pictorial, factual etc.) on the park in its present condition.
The development of the map-based database will serve to widen the experience of club members whilst potentially providing a useful service to the wider community.

1. Establish what information needs to be included (other than photographic) and where it can be obtained.

2. Since this information will be related to the geography of the park, develop a mapping information capability i.e. a Geographic Information System (GIS).

3. Decide location points within the park area to which the captured information (especially photographic) relates. These are then uniquely identified on the ground using a satellite navigational system.

A feasibility study of these proposals has been successfully completed and all techniques involved have been tested satisfactorily. We have now proved that we have the technical capability to gather the photographic and other information into a database and to present the results on a website.

Below you will see a “link to site” which if “clicked” will reveal a new website, this has a menu with links to the various pages. The page named “Map showing detailed view---“ reveals a map of the area concerned with sensitive points indicated by red markers which, if “clicked”, shows pictures, panoramas and a grid reference that identifies the exact location of the marker.

Project co-ordination	David Harman
Webmaster	Don Colley
Photography	Don Colley, John Norman, Roland Neville
Archaeology	Fred Green
Wildlife	Len Oughton