A record before a result
Record the instrument, operator method, coordinate reference and observation time before processing a station. An unlabeled coordinate pair cannot be safely compared with a terrain raster, even when it appears to land near the expected river.
Horizontal and vertical references
A horizontal EPSG identifier does not fully describe elevation. Orthometric heights, ellipsoidal heights and local benchmarks require separate treatment. Record the transformation model whenever heights move between vertical references.
Review at multiple scales
Inspect a broad catchment overview, then return to channel crossings and wooded banks at the finest supported resolution. A smooth regional map can conceal tile seams, interpolation artefacts and misplaced bridge decks.
Using the archive responsibly
This is an independent reference publication, not a survey authority. Station names and numerical examples illustrate a documentation method. The diagrams are original schematic drawings and do not establish legal, cadastral or navigational boundaries.