Wasteland Survivalist: A Scientific Guide to Post-Apocalyptic Survival

Gu Lang spent an hour aligning the photos and correcting distortion.

Fragmented aerial photographs were gradually pieced together into a complete orthophoto.

On this base map, use the pen tool to manually draw contour lines along the terrain undulations.

The coordinates and relative elevation differences of each important location were marked.

Such as reservoirs, dams, power plants, dormitories, access roads, communication base stations, campsites, as well as the surrounding main ridgelines and high points.

After completing the first version of the topographic map, Gulang began to draft the construction plan for the camp.

The campsite has a clear advantage: it is located on a mountainside plateau and is surrounded by cliffs on three sides.

With only one mountain road connecting it to the outside world, it is naturally easy to defend and difficult to attack.

There are also communication base stations nearby, and water, electricity, and power lines have already been laid, so there is no need to start from scratch.

However, a problem remains: the electricity supply is entirely dependent on the hydroelectric power station at the foot of the mountain.

Lacking planting and breeding facilities, they cannot achieve long-term self-sufficiency.

There were no fortifications along the mountain road, so once the suspension bridge fell, it was only a matter of time before the city fell.

Gu Lang listed these problems on paper and then considered solutions to them one by one.

The most important issue is energy supply, although in the early stages, electricity can be supplied through hydroelectric power stations.

However, relying on a single energy source and being dependent on others for a long time is a very dangerous thing.

He recalled a classic saying in the outdoor and military survival communities.

"One is none, Two is one, Three is the real backup."

Having one is as good as having none; having two is enough to make one usable; having three is true insurance.

This is the so-called "three-times redundancy rule".

At the heart of this engineering mindset is to prepare three different solutions for key functions.

Ensure that no single point of failure will cause the system to fail completely.

The essence of "triple redundancy" is not simply stacking up quantities, but rather complementary functions.

Simply preparing three identical items is completely useless.

In order to produce the desired effect, there must be "three levels" or "three dimensions" of backup.

For practical examples, the four key elements of wilderness survival are: navigation, fire making, drinking water, and signal.

To avoid getting lost, the first step is naturally to use a GPS device and offline maps on your phone.

Modern electronic technology is the most precise and effortless.

But it is also the most vulnerable, afraid of water, falling, power outages, and systemic paralysis.

Therefore, the second level requires a compass and a waterproof paper map.

They will also learn to correct magnetic declination, calibrate maps, and interpret contour lines.

These traditional physical tools are durable and require no electricity, but they still rely on the tool itself.

Therefore, the final third level is natural navigation skills, which requires learning to observe the sun's position and vegetation distribution to determine direction independently.

When electronic devices fail or maps and compasses are lost, the human brain becomes the last navigator.

Making a judgment by observing and analyzing the surrounding environment is the final "trump card," and it will never be lost.

Similarly, if you want to start a fire for warmth, the first step is a gas stove and a lighter.

The fire source is stable, but it is prone to failure under unexpected circumstances.

The second level requires preparing magnesium flint or windproof and waterproof matches.

The third level involves learning to use shoelaces and sticks to start a fire by rubbing them together, or using a condom filled with water to create a convex lens to focus sunlight.

To obtain drinking water, the first step is a water purifier, and the second step is a water filter tablet.

The third level involves collecting seepage water, transpiration water, or plant water in the wild.

When it is necessary to send a distress signal, the first level is a flashlight, headlamp, and wireless equipment.

The second level consists of a flame burner, a smoke generator, a signal reflector, a high-frequency survival whistle, and a flag.

The third level involves arranging miscellaneous items to form the SOS symbol, or even burning trees to produce thick smoke.

Similarly, there must be at least three solutions for the energy supply of the shelter.

Gu Lang focused all his attention on that communication base station.

During his initial site visit, he discovered that the equipment inside the base station was well-preserved.

In particular, the power cabinet filled with lithium iron phosphate battery cells is a very valuable energy storage device.

By installing wind power generation equipment on signal towers, wind energy can be stably converted into electricity.

Although there is currently a severe lack of sunlight, it is worth considering collecting photovoltaic panels to prepare for the future.

In addition, there are a large number of trees in the surrounding mountains that can be cut down and stored.

The camp has a stable water source, and you can make your own pot-and-cart machine.

The generator is driven by boiling water.

It can also be used to make wood gas generators, which produce carbon monoxide by burning charcoal to drive generators.

After considering this, Gu Lang filled in the form with the equipment he needed to collect next.

As for the future development of the camp, Gulang plans to center it around the log cabins.

Continue to expand the house to increase living and storage space.

Add rainwater collection pipes to the roof to increase water storage capacity.

Next, they used the surrounding open space to build independent planting greenhouses and breeding huts.

However, these are things that need to be considered in the mid-to-late stages.

The most urgent task is to first establish a basic defense system.

Gu Lang shifted his attention from the camp to the entire hydroelectric power station area.

The existing defense system of the hydroelectric power station relies heavily on suspension bridges, trenches, and walls.

It's sufficient to deal with scattered intruders, provided they don't have firearms.

If it were a well-equipped and organized raiding force, this defensive line would be far from sufficient.

The thin wall surrounding the factory area was designed to only keep out wild animals and ordinary people.

If the suspension bridge, a weak point, is breached, enemy vehicles could even penetrate directly into the core area.

Fortunately, the hydroelectric power station has a good foundation, and the surrounding mountains are perfectly suited to build a "mountain fortress".

The terrain reminded him of the impregnable mountain fortresses of ancient Goguryeo and Japan.

Unlike the ancient "Pingcheng" of the Dragon Kingdom, this was a comprehensive city that integrated politics, economy, and military.

The mountain town is a purely military fortress, similar to the castle in Ouzhou.

They are often built against mountains, making full use of steep mountains, cliffs and other natural terrain for defense.

To create a multi-layered and functionally distinct three-dimensional defense system.

The aim is to delay and wear down the attackers, exhausting them before they even reach the core of the territory.

The factory map has a distinct Shogunate feel to it at first glance.

The gate of the suspension bridge is the outermost part.

The temporary prefabricated houses are called San-no-maru, which can serve as the second layer of defense.

The power plant is the Ninomaru, the third layer of defense core.

The three-story dormitory building next to the factory was a military camp and arrow tower.

The campsite on the mountain, like the main keep, is the last line of defense.

As for the communication base station on the mountaintop, it is complemented by a tall iron tower.

That's practically a castle tower, high up and serving as both a watchtower and a command post.

All that's needed is to build high walls, pile up obstacles, dig trenches, and construct fortifications within the factory area.

By combining this with the long guns and short cannons at hand, one can quickly improve overall defensive capabilities.

Most importantly, Gulang will choose to stay in the mountain campsite, which is the safest and most advantageous location.

When danger strikes, a mere furrow of the brow is enough to shield everyone in front of him.

Simply fantastic.