GPS

Global Positioning System

 GPS Mapping Projects
5 Steps Required for Success
1. Field Reconnaissance
2. Mission Planning
• Create a project
• Build a data dictionary
• Check satellite availability

• Equipment Setup
• Data Collection/Data Update
• Data Processing
 GPS Data Collection
Steps Required for Success
1. Plan for conditions, availability and
project goals
2. Practice sound file management
3. Use appropriate data collection
techniques
4. Download and process data ASAP
 GPS Data Collection

1. Prepare for weather, terrain and access

2. Plan a route
3. Keep project goals in mind
 GPS Data Collection
File Management
1. Prepare folders
2. Where will files be saved?
• X:\LRES357\PFData\Project
• Raw and corrected GPS data
• Data dictionaries
• Satellite availability graphs
• X:\LRES357\AVData\Project
1. Exported shapefiles
2. Supporting files (aerials, GIS layers, etc.)
 GPS Data Collection
File Management
1. File types (Appendix F)
1. SSF – Standard Storage Format
• Rover files
• Base files
2. COR – differentially corrected SSF files
3. DDF – data dictionary files
4. TIFF/TRW – Tagged image file format
• Background files
5. SID/SDW – Multiresolution Seamless Image Database
1. Background files
 GPS Data Collection
Techniques
1. Positions – data describing a location
• Part of a feature
• Non-feature
2. Points
• Positions averaged to a SINGLE pair of
coordinates
3. Lines/Areas
• Set of positions forming a line or polygon
• EACH position has a pair of coordinates
 GPS Data Collection
Techniques
1. Pause/Resume
1. Stops/continues logging positions
2. Uses
• Go around an obstacle without logging
positions
• Deal with a distraction/interruption
 GPS Data Collection
Techniques
1. Continue a line or area
1. Picks up a line or area after closing the
feature
2. Uses
• Map another feature
• Finish mapping after a break/next day
 GPS Data Collection
Techniques
1. Segment a line feature
1. Allows portions of a single line to have
different attributes
2. Uses
• Creates a single line feature with different
attribute values (paved, dirt, cobble, concrete)
 GPS Data Collection
Techniques
1. Offset
1. Creates a point/line/area at a stated
distance and direction from mapping
location
2. Uses
1. Avoid poor mapping conditions (multipath,
#SVs, low PDOP)
2. Avoid unsafe or uncomfortable environmental
conditions (traffic, water, etc)
 GPS Data Collection
Techniques
• Repeat – records the same set of
attributes as the last feature mapped
• Averaged Vertices (line/area)
1. Averages a set of positions for an
important location along a line or area –
corners, intersections
2. This is not a point feature!
 GPS Data Collection
Techniques
1. Velocity filtering (lines/areas)
1. Uses direction and rate of travel to log the
next position – must be moving
2. Uses
1. Multipath conditions
2. Straight lines and areas
 5 Things to Take Away Today

1. Plan for conditions, availability and

project goals
2. File types and locations are important
• Lost data is a waste of time
3. Data collection techniques affect project
outcomes
4. Download and process data ASAP