Introduction:
Fierljeppen is a sport that evolved from ditch-jumping with a pole-vault. This was traditionally the fastest method of moving through fields that were frequently intersected by ditches and streams.
Fierljeppen has since become a mature sport in which competitions and matches are held at a high level.
From 2006 to 2008, within a partnership of Geomaat Landmeten and MultiGeo, ideas were conceived and concepts developed to push the way the length of jumps was measured (with sticks and ropes) into the 21st century.
Presentations were made to the board of the Frisian Fierljep Association, which initially rejected the concepts, but did begin using digital measuring devices.
In implementing these, however, they ran into barriers and the processing of measurements, although now accurate, remained very time consuming.
In 2013, the Holland Fierljep Association also switched to digitally measuring jumps and subsequently asked MultiGeo for assistance to remove these barriers.
The earlier concepts were further developed and simplified and a first working version of the new measurement software was used during competitions in Holland in 2014.
Not long after, the software was also introduced in Friesland and at National Championships.
In the years that followed, the software was further expanded and updated and results of jumps could now be displayed in real time on scoreboards, the webpages of competitions and on commentator's screens.
A module was also added to allow quick and proper certification of jump ramps.
Deviations from the ideal line are made visible in both the horizontal plane and height, so it is immediately clear whether a ramp meets the requirements.
Further information:
On the website of Geomaat there is a nice article about the more recent developments in Friesland: Geomaat - Digital Measurement Fierljeppen
Geomaat also sent out a newsletter on this subject: Geomaat - FLB
Of course a lot of information about the sport can also be found on the websites of the various fierljep clubs and federations as well as on YouTube and Wikipedia: