Question 1

What training or qualifications should a cemetery-mapping service have for GPR work?

Accepted Answer

A qualified cemetery-mapping service employs manufacturer-certified GPR technicians, FAA-licensed drone pilots, and GIS/GPS specialists who follow OSHA safety rules and carry full insurance. Sentry Mapping meets these standards, offering cemetery-only expertise, high-frequency ground-penetrating radar, sub-inch GPS, and turnkey maps for every marked or unmarked grave nationwide.

Ground-penetrating-radar cemetery surveys are only as reliable as the people behind the cart. Look for a provider whose staff have completed manufacturer training—e.g., GSSI or Sensors & Software operator courses—so they can tune high-frequency (400–900 MHz) antennas, filter noise and interpret hyperbolas correctly for accurate unmarked grave detection. Survey-grade RTK GPS skills are equally critical; sub-inch positioning drops every reflection into the right burial-plot polygon, feeding precise digital cemetery mapping and burial plot mapping.

A top-tier team pairs GPR certification with formal GIS competency and can deliver ESRI-compatible shapefiles or load results straight into cemetery management software. Because projects also blend drone photos with radar data, at least one crew member should hold an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot certificate and understand photogrammetry. On-site work also calls for OSHA 10-hour (or higher) safety training.

Sentry Mapping meets every requirement. Our cemetery-only focus means each technician is factory-trained on world-class GPR, versed in heritage-preservation etiquette, and backed by precision GPS with drone imagery. The result is a printable master map plus a no-fee, interactive cemetery GIS web map that shows every marked or unmarked grave—giving you confidence to sell plots, plan future interments, and protect your cemetery’s legacy.

Question 2

What is the difference between a “burial-plot map”, a “web-map”, and a “GIS survey”?

Accepted Answer

A burial-plot map is the precise, static master layout of every grave and available space, produced from a one-time GPR/GPS survey. A web-map is the online, clickable version of that map that staff and families can access online to search from any device. A GIS survey is the underlying field data-collection process that feeds both products.

Think of the three deliverables as steps in one streamlined cemetery-mapping workflow.

1) During the GIS survey, Sentry Mapping technicians walk every row with survey-grade GPS and ground-penetrating radar equipment. The instruments record x-y coordinates, depth readings, and attributes—marked and unmarked grave locations, utilities, pathways, trees—creating a rich spatial database. This is the foundation of professional cemetery GIS mapping and integrates seamlessly with municipal or county GIS systems.

2) We produce the burial-plot map from the GIS survey data. This is the authoritative, to-scale master plan you can print, frame, or keep on the grounds. Every lot line, section number, and interment is plotted in its exact position, so you instantly see which plots are occupied, reserved, or available for sale.

3) We then publish the same data as an interactive web-map so your staff, grounds crew, and even visitors can zoom, search a name, or tap a grave for details on a phone or tablet. The web-map lives in the cloud, receives free updates when new burials are added, and links directly to Chronicle’s cemetery management software for digital record-keeping.

Together, the GIS survey, burial-plot map, and web-map turn outdated paper charts into a living, searchable, digital cemetery mapping system that eliminates double-sold plots, speeds grave locating, and preserves your cemetery’s heritage for generations.

Question 3

What is the average cost per acre for a cemetery mapping project using ground‑penetrating radar?

Accepted Answer

Sentry Mapping provides a free, no-obligation estimate for each project. Every property is unique and the exact cost varies with soil type, terrain, tree cover, and record condition. Quotes include full GPR coverage, high-precision GPS positioning, drone imagery, and the conversion of raw scans into a color-coded digital cemetery map with printed and interactive deliverables.

On a typical project, Sentry Mapping prices cemetery mapping on a per-acre basis, adjusting the rate only when unusual features demand extra field time. Smaller, wooded, or hilly sites sit near the upper end because thick roots, uneven ground, and heavy clay slow data collection. Flat, open acreage with sandy soil processes faster and often lands closer to the lower figure. Per-acre pricing also drops when you survey several adjoining acres at once, because crew travel and equipment set-up are spread over more ground.

The quoted rate covers far more than a quick sweep. Sentry Mapping’s team grids every square foot with high-frequency GPR and sub-inch GPS to detect marked and unmarked graves. Drone imaging captures a current orthomosaic. Our GIS specialists then turn raw scans into a color-coded digital cemetery map that pinpoints each burial plot, labels ownership, and links photos or documents. You receive a printed master map, an interactive web map with no annual subscription fees, and two years of complimentary access to Chronicle cemetery-management software so staff can update records in real time.

Because every property is unique, Sentry offers a free, no-obligation estimate. Most managers find the service pays for itself by preventing lost plots, avoiding costly digging errors, and opening up sellable space revealed during the survey. Click here to contact us today to discuss your site and receive a customized quote.

Question 4

How long does it take to map a municipal cemetery from survey to web‑map launch?

Accepted Answer

Sentry Mapping’s cemetery mapping service instantly turns ground-penetrating radar and high-precision GPS survey data into a clean, scalable cemetery map. Every grave—including unmarked burials—appears in its exact location, and plot boundaries are redrawn automatically, giving you an accurate master map plus an interactive online version within a few days to a few weeks depending on the size of your cemetery.

Professional cemetery mapping with Sentry Mapping replaces time-consuming hand redrawing with automated digital drafting. After technicians scan your grounds with high-frequency ground penetrating radar, they capture accurate GPS points for each marked and unmarked grave. Those coordinates flow directly into GIS software, where AutoCAD-style routines auto-draft fresh lot lines, walking paths, and section labels. The result is a to-scale cemetery plot map that matches reality—no guesswork, no erasure marks.

Need to update a burial record later? Edits made in Chronicle cemetery management software immediately appear on both maps, eliminating duplicate data entry. Municipal GIS officers can also import the shapefiles and attribute tables directly into ArcGIS or QGIS, keeping citywide records in sync. Because the entire drafting workflow is automated from the original survey data, you avoid costly drafting fees and gain a future-proof, digital foundation for perpetual care, plot auditing, and heritage preservation.

Question 5

Can we integrate our cemetery map with management software for staff and visitors?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Sentry Mapping delivers your GPR- and GIS-based cemetery map straight into our cemetery management software. Staff can search plots, update records, and plan burials, while a public portal lets visitors locate graves from any device.

Digital cemetery mapping from Sentry Mapping is designed to plug directly into modern software, not rest in a drawer. After our ground penetrating radar cemetery survey and burial-plot mapping, we upload every coordinate, headstone photo, and document into our optional, browser-based cemetery management software.

Your team can zoom around a high-resolution, clickable cemetery map, filter by owner or date, mark a new interment, or print directions for a funeral in seconds. Because the map lives in the cloud, everyone sees the same up-to-date information on a phone, tablet, or desktop for quick grave locating.

You can also share a public view, so families and historians can search names and walk straight to the correct grave without bothering the office. Need heavier-duty features such as online plot sales, work-order tracking, or multi-cemetery dashboards? Simply upgrade to a full management package when ready and all of your Sentry data flows forward automatically.

If you already run a municipal GIS, we export shapefiles and metadata so your IT team can load the same grave-location layer beside utilities, zoning, or flood data. Bottom line: your interactive cemetery map becomes a living management tool that cuts phone calls, prevents double-selling plots, and gives visitors a better experience.

Getting Started

What training or qualifications should a cemetery-mapping service have for GPR work?

What is the difference between a “burial-plot map”, a “web-map”, and a “GIS survey”?

What is the average cost per acre for a cemetery mapping project using ground‑penetrating radar?

How long does it take to map a municipal cemetery from survey to web‑map launch?

Can we integrate our cemetery map with management software for staff and visitors?