Attempting to survey miles of historical dry stone walling using a free-text notebook is an exercise in data degradation. When an archaeologist or civil surveyor is out on a wind-swept moor, the difference between a "Mostly Intact" section and a "Partially Intact" section cannot be left to subjective memory. If the condition of the "Hearting" (the core fill) isn't explicitly tied to a specific GPS coordinate, the entire structural assessment becomes useless for conservation planning. This Memento system forces an unyielding, metric-driven matrix onto ancient architecture.
The Problem with Unstructured Field Notes
The inherent chaos of environmental surveying is that physical structures change rapidly across short distances. A wall might be pristine at the gate and completely collapsed ten meters away.
This database solves the location-drift problem by locking the primary header data immediately: "Date", "Project #", and the exact "dGPS ID". It categorizes the entire span before the tape measure is even pulled out, forcing the surveyor to define the "Wall Direction" and the specific "Wall Type" (e.g., "All Stone (Double Face)"). By establishing these rigid parameters upfront, every subsequent data point is tethered to a precise geographical and project-level context.
The 5-Meter Transect Matrix
The brilliance of this template is its segmented, cyclical structure. It doesn't treat the wall as a single entity; it breaks the assessment down into strict, repeatable 5-meter transects: "0-5m", "5-10m", "10-20m", and "20-25m".
For every single section, the surveyor is forced through a brutal diagnostic checklist. They must categorize the "Condition" and "Intactness" from a predefined multi-choice list, entirely eliminating subjective field terms. They then record the hard geometry: "Length", "Base", "Cope (Top)", "Height", and "Courses". This creates a flawless digital cross-section of the wall's taper and batter at specific intervals.
Diagnosing the Anatomy of the Build
Beyond simple geometry, the system demands an audit of the internal construction techniques. For each transect, the surveyor must evaluate the presence and state of "Stone Grading", "Plugging", "Throughstones", and "Foundations".
This isn't just about noting if the wall is standing; it's about documenting how it was built and where it is failing. If modern farming has interfered, the system captures it through dedicated fields for "Posts" and "Wires", backed up by a section-specific "Photo". When this data is aggregated, you don't just have a map of a wall; you have a highly detailed engineering failure-analysis report ready for conservation bidding.