Module 1: Collecting Field Data Using Handheld GPS devices

1. Module 1: Collecting Field DataUsing Handheld GPS devices Class Materials posted at: https://drive.google.com/a/nps.gov/?tab=mo#folders/0B03Sh0M9Jh3eNmh2blgxY1IxX3c

2. Module 1: Collecting Field DataUsing Handheld GPS Devices, cont.

3. GPS Module Objectives • Set-up a Garmin GPS receiver • Review best practice for collecting tracks and waypoints • Download data from GPS using DNR GPS • View data using Google Earth • Provide quality data to the SIT unit

4. GPS Set-Up The receivers configurations are in Main Menu and Setup Menu Access by pressing Menu – Menu Then select Setup and press Enter The setup items of primary interest include: 1- System 2- Units 3- Time

5. GPS Set-Up – System Menu Use GPS with WAAS ‘Enabled’ in the US About WAAS in US.

6. GPS Set-up - Datums Verify which datum & coordinate system are being used When receiving orproviding coordinates, ALWAYS verify to which datum those coordinates are referenced When plotting coordinates from a map, reference the map legend to determine the datum to use. Manually enter coordinates into a GPS receiver in the same datum and format as the map

7. GPS Set-Up – Units Menu - Datum WGS84 is the primary map datum used by the Global Positioning System Position coordinates are converted ‘on the fly’ to the datum selected in the Units Menu Choose your datum to match the datum used on incident maps NAD83 is the GIS mapping standard but if old topo maps are being used, you may have to select NAD27 CONUS (Continental US)

8. GPS Set-Up – Units Menu – Position Format Also in the Units Menu you can select the format of how you want the position coordinates to be displayed Lat/Long: Decimal Degrees Degrees Decimal Minutes Degrees Minutes Seconds OR UTM in which coordinates are reported as Easting and Northing values Choose your position format to be compatible with incident maps

9. GPS Set-Up – Time Menu Coordinated Universal Time UTC - Greenwich Mean Time GMT Offset: Determining UTC Offset HOW TO COLLECT DATA IN ARIZONA?? Is it Mountain Time Zone with DST turned off or is it Pacific Time Zone?

10. Collecting waypoints Delete existing waypoints Find/List – Menu – Delete – All – Yes Average waypoints for a count of 30 Name new waypoints

11. Naming waypoints Rename waypoints when saving with a naming convention to better distinguish types of data being collected. Waypoint Naming Suggestions (or come up with your own naming convention) AS Accident Site MP Milepost BR Bridge MV Medivac Site CA Camp OP Observation Point DB Division Break PR Protected Resource DP Drop Point RH Rehab Site DL Dozer Line RJ Road Junction FL Fire Line RS Radio Site FO Fire Origin SA Staging Area GT Gate SC Stream Crossing HA Hazard SF Spot Fire HB Helibase ST Structure HS Helispot SZ Safety Zone IC ICP WS Water Source IR Infrared Hotspot Example: “DBXY” = X – Y Division Break

12. Collecting Tracks Delete/clear existing track logs Uncheck Wrap When Full option Set the appropriate Record Method If using Time, select appropriate interval based on the mode of travel Turn track log on/off to produce cleaner data Save tracks to isolate smaller sections

13. Download data from GPS using DNR GPS Set projection Connect GPS Download data Or load data

14. Saving GPS Data and giving to SIT Unit • File – Save To – File • File – Save To – ArcGIS – File • Use Projected file type option • Select output shape • Use standard naming convention • YYYYMMDD_IncidentName_IncidentNumber_ • See GSTOP document for file naming convention at: http://gis.nwcg.gov/(see p. 28 of Draft GSTOP document for suggested file naming component abbreviations)

15. Google Earth Save data as KML View in Google Earth

16. Wrap-Up • Set-up a Garmin GPS receiver • Review best practice for collecting tracks and waypoints • Download data from GPS using DNR GPS • View data using Google Earth • Provide quality data to the SIT unit • Questions?

17. Links for GPS & Training & Info • BLM - ‘Using Garmin GPS Receivers:http://www.ntc.blm.gov/krc/viewresource.php?courseID=477&programAreaId=80 • GPS for Fire Management & ICS – 2011http://gis.nwcg.gov/training_gps.html