Importing GPS Data

1. Importing GPS Data Lecture 13

2. EasyGPS • Free software for downloading waypoints • EasyGPS (http://www.easygps.com)

3. Connecting GPS Unit • Connect GPS unit to the desktop computer using the USB cable • Mini USB port is on the back of the Garmin GPSmap60 • USB port is on the side of the PC tower • Turn on the GPS unit

4. Importing Data to EasyGPS • Open the EasyGPS program • Click on the “Receive” button • Select “Waypoints Only” • Choose the appropriate GPS device • Garmin GPSmap 60 • Select “OK”

5. Save Data • Your imported coordinates will be visible in the EasyGPS map interface. • Save this data in the default file format • GPS exchange file • .gpx • Close EasyGPS

6. Microsoft Excel • Open Microsoft Excel • Click “Open” from the “File” menu • In the “File Types” drop-down box, select “All Files” • Select the file you saved from EasyGPS • (.gpx file) • As an XML list • Schema errors - yes • Import error - ok

7. Open a new workbook in Microsoft Excel • Choose “New Workbook” from the “File” menu

8. Copy the latitude and longitude coordinate columns with the coordinate data • Select the two colums • Choose “Copy” from the “Edit” menu • Or “Control C” • Paste them into the new empty Excel spreadsheet • Select the first two columns • Choose “Paste from the “Edit” menu • Or “Control V”

9. Label the first cell of the latitude column with “LAT” • Label the first cell of the longitude column with “LONG” • Create additional field headings for each of the attributes that you want to include in the attribute table. • (e.g. DESCR, CAMPUS_SIDE, RATING) • Type in your attribute data for each waypoint

10. Example of New Excel File

11. Choose “Save as” in the “File” menu • Save as a .csv (Comma Delimited) format • A warning message will be given - click “OK” • A second warning message will pop up - click “Yes” • Close Excel

12. Windows Explorer • Rename the .csv file extension to a .txt file extension • Open “My Computer” • Left click on the file • Single left click on the file a second time • The name will be highlighted • ** If you cannot see the three letter extension “.csv”, follow the instructions on the next slide** • Change the .csv to .txt

13. If you cannot see the three letter extension (.csv) • At the top of the open window. • Tools • Folder Options • View • Uncheck the box in front of • “Hide extensions for known file types” • Click “OK”

14. ArcMap • Click on “Tools”, “Add XY Data” • In the “Add XY Data” window, select the .txt file in the “Choose a table from the map or browse….” box • Assign LONG to the “X field” • Assign LAT to the “Y field”

15. Select the “Edit”button to choose a spatial reference for the input coordinates • In the Spatial Reference Properties box, click “Select” • Choose the Geographic Coordinate System • Select the Datum that you collected the data in • Probably North America, NAD83.prj • Click “OK” • A Shape attribute of type point will be added to your layer list

16. Layer & Shapefiles • To save as a layer • Right click on Event in the layer • (XY Data File) • Choose “Save as a Layer File” • Saves labels and formats • To save as a shapefile • Right click on Event in the layer • Choose “Data”, “Export Data”, “Output Shapefile” • Saves labels and formats, and can be Queried