GPS/GIS Mapping A Workshop to Develop the Skills Required to Construct Maps in Arcmap. Presented by Neil Gray, Teacher-in-Charge, Columboola EEC, (EQ), HOD (Env Ed) Miles SHS, September, 2007.

Sample ArcMap Arcmap of student field work for Dulacca SS, Winner 2006 SSI-STiS award, primary school division

Yuleba SS – locality map. Map produced from student’s survey data, for a district mapping project.

Components Garmin GPS and mapping software (MapSource) DNR Garmin extension software GIS software (Arcview 9) Base Data (Geo-referenced Files)

Using ArcGIS in the Classroom Garmin GPS 60

Garmin GPS “Garmin” GPS required for interface with the DNR extension. “Garmin MapSource” software required for manipulation of field data. Data collected as either; Points, tracks or routes.

Sample Screen - MapSource

DNR Garmin Extension Freeware available from the internet. Links Garmin GPS unit data to ArcMap. Data collected as either points, tracks or routes. Displays data automatically into ArcMap upon saving as a raster. Calculates errors, point averages and adds a hyperlink if required. Allows projected point, line or shape data to be sent back to the GPS from ArcMap. Only links directly to the GPS or uses shape and text files.

Sample Screen-DNR Garmin Extension

ArcMap

Map Creation Process Plan field exercise and GPS survey process. Teach students GPS use and basic survey techniques (see surveying techniques ppt). Collect field data using GPS units. (This is only position data but it can be linked to any digital data in a quality GIS.) Save data as points, tracks or routes. Collect other data concurrently. (Digital images, data logger readings etc.) Remember that GPS data collected is only recreational use accuracy and is only useful for recreational or school educational purposes. If data gathered is to be used in fine detail applications at small scale, or displayed as a layer on top of such accurate data (rasters or satellite imagery at 1:25000 scale or less), it may need to be collected or processed using more accurate techniques than can be covered in this workshop. This is because of the errors inherent in this level of GPS service, that is even though the unit states that it has an accuracy of plus or minus 4m, this is not really true. Factors beyond our control such as clock errors, SV constellation formation, atmospheric factors and other sources of interference, and plain human error, can all conspire to render your readings unusable if compared to very accurate spatial data.

Recording The Tree’s Position

With the GPS unit on, open up the DNR Garmin extension program. It will automatically search for a GPS unit attached to the computer via an open port. Use the track, route or waypoint option to download the corresponding file. This will bring up a data list in DNR Garmin. Map Creation Process

Map Creation Process (Cont.) With the GPS on, download from the GPS, using the right icon. Click on ‘Waypoint’ button to get waypoints.

Map Creation Process (Cont.) Open ArcMap Send to ArcMap via the save function under the file icon.

Map Creation Process (Cont.)

The waypoints have now been transferred into Arcmap and have therefore been mapped. This process can now be followed from the start to add more features to your map. The regular functions of Arcmap can now be used to generate a map of publishable quality (adding a legend, grid, north arrow, title etc.) ArcMap skill building is another workshop. If your ArcMap skills are developing well it might look like this effort.

Yuleba SS Tree Mapping North Arrow Legend Title Scale Bar GPS data –school grounds GPS Data - building DCDB Data

Miles Town Map for Miles SHS yr 10 SOSE Unit

Map Creation Process (Cont.) Note that if you are producing a map based on a blank page the projection used is not important. The default of WGS (World Geodetic System) 84 is OK. If you are using an underlying raster data set layer, or satellite image you will need to match projections and maybe even calculate position errors and adjust the data accordingly. Hyperlinks to other digital data can be included in the map projection for each data set. This is a handy feature for digital presentations.

The Final Word The release of the DNR Garmin interface for Garmin GPS to Arcmap has revolutionised the nature of generating maps from field data, and its free availability means that even primary school students can now record the results of their field work as a quality map. Compare that to pencil and paper mud maps! The Dulacca SS project required a term for the entire exercise, and only the map produced has been used here. The students produced a brochure including photos, information and the map for the surrounding major vegetation types. About 6 hours of class time was spent learning to use the GPS units, a day of field work, 1 full day to make the map and 6 weeks of timetabled class time to research and make the brochure. This project won the 2006 SSI award in the Primary School Division. The reserve map is the result of about 3 days of intensive field and Arcmap work. The result is infinitely better than the old hand drawn map and useful too. ! In eastern Qld where quality base maps are available this map generation process is even easier. I can now project orienteering points onto the digital map and print individual course maps! The students use their GPS units to find each loaded waypoint in a rogaining style event and monitor the map screen to help claim a “find”. The GPS units track the students for every step that they take, and when this is downloaded to MapSource on their return, I can see the exact route taken on screen, as well as whether a waypoint was “found”. I can even print out the exact track that they walked on the map as a record of their achievement. Yuleba SS recorded the position of trees in the grounds and produced simple maps for inclusion in their multi-media presentation for the unit. The GPS units and software have also been used in GPS orienteering in Yr 8, 9 & 10 HPE at Miles SHS, in Senior Maths A in the mapping and surveying section of the curriculum and during the Senior Biology Field trip to map the Tin Can Inlet and give a spatial reference to transects and profiles. Columboola EEC now “owns” a geocache and caching is included in our curriculum. GPS and spatial ICT’s have revolutionised the way geographic information can be used in the HPE, Maths, Science and SOSE curriculum areas out here in the Miles Cluster.