1. Navigating to Success: The GPS Classroom
Jared Covili
From here, tell the class what your plans are for the day.
Basics of GPS Technology through GPS PowerPoint Presentation – In class
Learn hands-on how to use a Garmin eTrex Legend – In class
Go Geocaching and implement the skills that were taught in class – Out in the field

2. Utilization of GPS Technology
What is GPS? GPS is short for Global Positioning System which is "a network of satellites that continuously transmit coded information, making it possible to precisely identify locations on earth by measuring distance from the satellites". GPS is used on land, at sea, and in the air – anywhere in the world, any weather conditions, 24 hours a day. Originally created by US Department of Defense and military applications. In the 1980’s the government made the system available for civilian use.
Agriculture - helping farmers and agribusinesses to become more productive and efficient in their farming practices. Today, many farmers use satellite navigation to conduct precision farming operations such as chemical and fertilizer application. GPS also provides location information that enables farmers to plow, harvest, map their fields, and mark areas of disease or weed infestation - any time of day or night.
Aviation – This is how pilots navigate. eg - ending up in Wyoming when you wanted to go to Hawaii.
Environment - GPS gives decision-makers the ability to combine accurate position data with descriptive info about the environment, which is gathered across many mi. of terrain. Used to survey disaster areas & map movement of environmental disasters, such as forest fires & oil spills, and how fast they are spreading. GPS mapping of environmental phenomena such as "El Niño" helps save lives and protect property.
Marine - Satellite navigation provides unprecedented accuracy and capabilities for mariners and transportation managers. Underwater surveying, buoy placement, navigational hazard location, and mapping are increasingly being executed through the use of satellite navigation signal data. Commercial fishing fleets use GPS to navigate to optimum fishing locations and track fish migrations. Access to fast and accurate position, course, and speed information saves time and fuel through more efficient traffic routing.
Public Safety - GPS is fast becoming an industry standard for location information used by emergency and other specialty fleets. Location and status info provided to public safety systems offers managers a quantum leap forward in efficient operation of emergency response teams. Increases ability to effectively identify and view the location of police, fire, rescue, and individual vehicles or boats.
Railroads - Many rail systems are comprised of long stretches of single track. Precise knowledge of where a train is located is essential to prevent collisions, maintain smooth flow of traffic, and minimize costly delays due to waiting for clearance for track use. GPS provides a sound position-locating capability for rail traffic management systems, be it to manage the movement of cars and engines in switch yards, or to ensure the safety of work crews. Current technology will also allow for fully automated train control through the use of a differential GPS capability, digital maps and onboard inertial units.
Recreation - Portable GPS receivers allow users to traverse trails with confidence and to know precisely where they are at all times. Outdoorsmen use it to stay apprised of location, heading, bearing, speed, distance, and time. With GPS, outdoor enthusiasts can accurately record any location and return to that precise spot time and again; and they can do it anywhere, and at any time.
Space - Satellite navigation is revolutionizing and revitalizing the way nations operate in space - helping to manage, track, and control satellites in orbit. By using space-borne and specialized algorithms, a satellite will soon be capable of navigating itself, making ground stations simpler and requiring fewer operators. Future booster rockets and reusable launch vehicles will launch, orbit the earth, return, and land, all under automatic control using guidance provided by satellite navigation systems.
Ground Transportation – GPS capabilities, when coupled with communications & modern computerized mngmnt systems, can help meet many of the transportation challenges facing all modes of surface transportation. GPS is being used to add a new dimension for automatic vehicle location and in-vehicle navigation systems.
Surveying - Satellite navigation can be used for simple surveying tasks, such as defining a property line or for complex things like building infrastructure in urban centers. Locating precise points of reference used to be very time consuming. With this revolutionary technology, however, two people can survey dozens of control points in a single hour. Surveying & mapping of roads & rail systems can also be accomplished from mobile platforms, saving valuable time and money.
Timing - With the accuracy of atomic clocks, satellite navigation systems are used to synchronize clocks & events around the world. GPS time & info is extremely precise - to the nanosecond. It is so precise, in fact, that paging companies depends on these satellites to synchronize the transmission of data packets throughout their systems. Investment banking firms also use this service for international transactions to be recorded simultaneously.

3. For those people who are still single and looking for a way to be selective of who they should date I do believe this is the most creative utilization of GPS technology that I have seen yet!!!

4. www.uen.org The first GPS Satellite was launched in 1978
Each satellite is built to last about 10 years – replacements are constantly being built and launched into orbit
GPS satellites weigh about 2,000 pounds and are 17 feet across with the solar panels extended

5. Satellite Rotation
In 1989 the US Dept of Defense launched the first production series of GPS satellites. The full constellation of 24 satellites was declared operational on December 8, 1993.
Right now there are 28 GPS satellites orbiting the earth.
As said before, it takes a satellite just under 12 hours for one full orbit. 11 hours and 58 minutes to be exact.
There are 6 orbits with multiple satellites in each orbit. The goal of the system as it is set up is to always provide at least 4 satellites somewhere in the visible sky from any location on earth. In practice, there are usually many more than this, sometimes as many as 12.

6. www.uen.org At least 4 Satellites are needed for Accuracy.
GPS Signal is measured in Time by the Speed of light to give precise locations
The Atomic Clocks in GPS Satellites have the most accurate time in the world – the reason being is that if the clocks are off by one-thousandth of a second, the distance error would be almost 200 miles. The clocks on the satellites cost between $50,000 and $100,000. Timing is essential for GPS locations and receivers use the fourth satellite for exact time.
It works the same as your math calculations of distance. Distance = Time * Speed
A good example of this is just like figuring how far away the lightning is during Thunder & Lighting storms. After you see the lightning you count to see how far away it is by waiting to hear the thunder. Really this is the speed of sound, but it is essentially the same principle.

7. Signal Transmission www.uen.org
When you are using your GPS Unit, you want to make sure that you are receiving a correct and accurate signal. These are some of the errors that can be received by your GPS unit.
In order to make sure that you do not get blocked signals or multi-path errors, make sure that you are out in the open and not in a canyon, under trees, or next to tall buildings.

8. WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System)
GPS Land Navigation by Michael Ferguson
The Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) uses a system of ground stations to provide necessary augmentations to the GPS SPS navigation signal. A network of 25 precisely surveyed ground reference stations are strategically positioned across the country including Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico to collect and monitor GPS satellite data. There is also a base station in SLC. Two master stations, located on either coast, collect data from the reference stations and create a GPS correction message. This correction accounts for GPS satellite orbit and clock drift plus signal delays caused by the atmosphere and ionosphere. The corrected differential message is then broadcast through one of two geostationary satellites, or satellites with a fixed position over the equator. The information is compatible with the basic GPS signal structure, which means any WAAS-enabled GPS receiver can read the signal.
Currently, WAAS satellite coverage is only available in North America. There are no ground reference stations in South America, so even though GPS users there can receive WAAS, the signal has not been corrected and thus would not improve the accuracy of their unit. For some users in the U.S., the position of the satellites over the equator makes it difficult to receive the signals when trees or mountains obstruct the view of the horizon. WAAS signal reception is ideal for open land and marine applications. WAAS provides extended coverage both inland and offshore compared to the land-based DGPS (differential GPS) system. Another benefit of WAAS is that it does not require additional receiving equipment while DGPS does.
Other governments are developing similar satellite-based differential systems. In Asia, it's the Japanese Multi-Functional Satellite Augmentation System (MSAS), while Europe has the Euro Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS). Eventually, GPS users around the world will have access to precise position data using these and other compatible systems.
Correctional Technology
Increased Accuracy
Improved Integrity
25 Ground Reference Stations
Satellite Numbers 33 and Up

9. www.garmin.com www.uen.org
Conceived in the 1970s, the Global Positioning System (GPS) was originally built for military use. GPS remained a military-only technology until the early 1980s, when President Reagan decided the technology could be adapted for public use, as well. By the early 1990s, civilians could buy GPS equipment that was accurate within only about 300 feet. This inaccuracy was due to the deliberate distortion of the signal in order to prevent civilian gear from being used in a military attack on the U.S. This was called Selective Availability (SA).
On May 1, 2000, President Clinton signed an order ending SA as part of an on-going effort to make GPS more attractive to civil and commercial users worldwide. Now, GPS is accurate within 40 feet, or much better. Military GPS is even more precise and has a margin of error of only a few centimeters.
The end of Selective Availability was a major turning point that has helped GPS to become a global utility, now being used around the world in many different applications.
After the attacks of September 11th, the industry buzzed over the possibility of a return to SA. However, on Sept. 17, 2001, the Interagency GPS Executive Board (IGEB), which governs the GPS system, announced the United States has no intent to ever use Selective Availability again.
Selective Availability was turned off in May 1999.
It just keeps getting better
100 Meters:  Accuracy of the original GPS system, which was subject to accuracy degradation under the government-imposed Selective Availability (SA) program
15 Meters:   Typical GPS position accuracy without SA.
3-5 Meters:  Typical differential GPS (DGPS) position accuracy.
< 3 Meters:  Typical WAAS position accuracy.

10. Garmin’s eTrex Legend www.uen.org
These are the GPS units that are used by Utah State 4-H.

11. Page Button Click Stick On/Off Button www.uen.org
The first time you turn on your unit each day, it must perform a cold start to find the current almanac, current location, and current time. Each time your re-start your unit, it saves the ephemeris data from the last cold start.
On/Off Button: Go ahead and start your unit, but continue to listen to me as it powers up. In order to turn your unit on/off you have to press in the button for 3 seconds. If you press in the on/off button for 1 second, it will turn on/off the display backlighting.
Page Button: This button cycles you through the 5 main pages of your unit: Satellite, Map, Navigation, Trip Computer, and Main Menu.
Click Stick: The click stick works like a joystick. You can move up/down or right/left to move through lists, highlight fields, on-screen buttons, icons, enter data, or move the map panning arrow. You can press and hold the click stick down for two seconds to mark your current location as a waypoint from any screen.

12. Zoom In/Out Buttons Find Button
Zoom In/Out Buttons: When you are on the map page you press them to zoom in and out. When you are on the satellite page you can use them to adjust the screen contrast and when you are on a list, you can press to jump to the first or last item on the page and to page up or down.
Find Button: Press this to access the find button.

13. Main Page Menu Button Options Menu Button Title Bar
Basic info for each screen/function is included in the next slides. However, there is additional information in the eTrex Legend’s manual that will assist in more complex usage.
The title bar, options menu, and main page menu are present on every page.
The title bar tells you what screen/page you are in.
The Options Menu Button provides additional features or allows you to customize the unit to your preferences. To exit these and other pop-up type menus, move the click stick to the left or right.
The Main Page Menu is used to go directly to a main page and as a n alternate to cycling through the main pages. You can double click the on-screen button to toggle between two main pages.

14. The Satellite Page provides a picture of satellite signal tracking, telling you when your unit is ready for navigation and shows your location coordinates.
The Sky view graphic represents a view looking up at the sky from your current location showing satellites and their assigned numbers. Signal strength bars for each satellite are shown just below the sky view. Satellites and their signals appear as hollow shapes until a signal is received and then they appear darkened in. The Stronger the signal, the taller the signal bar. When differential correction data (from waas) has been received for GPS satellites numbered 32 or below, a “d” displays in the signal bar beneath the sky view.
Outer Ring – Satellites on Horizon
Inner Ring – Satellites within 45° angle from vertical
Center – Satellites overhead
The status window tells you when you are ready to navigate and gives you your accuracy reading.
Also, this page gives you your current location and your elevation. However, elevation is the most inaccurate part of GPS technology.
You can manually enter in a new location if you are more than 600 miles from where you last used the unit. This gives the unit reference info and speed satellite acquisition. All you have to do is select “new location” from the options menu and then the “use map” options to approximate your position. You can also manually enter a new, more accurate elevation, if know, to increase position accuracy.
Go to the Options Menu and select Use with GPS Off to use your units inside. Otherwise your unit will continue to search for satellites even through it will not receive a signal inside a building. When you go outside, you will want to go back to the options menu on the satellite screen to turn the GPS back On.

15. The map page graphically shows you map details, your current location, marks your route to a destination with a route line, and leaves a trail (track log) of where you have been.
The map page displays your present position and direction of movement using a triangular “position icon” that is centered on the map.
The map also displays geographic details such as rivers, lakes, highways, and towns.
To allow you to view the map from different perspectives, the scale can be changes from 20 feet to 500 miles. The Zoom in/out buttons on the side of the unit allow you to zoom in or out on the map.
A status window at the top of the page provides you with current satellite tracking and position accuracy information.
If you go to the options menu, you will get a drop down menu like the one on the screen. By selecting Pan Map with your click stick you will be able to move the white panning arrow around on the map. When you press the click stick in on an item on the map it will bring up data about that item. Whenever the panning arrow is placed on a map item, the name of that item will be highlighted. This applies to waypoints, roads, lakes, rivers Nearly everything displayed. You can also add these items to your favorites list, routes, waypoins, or view suna nd moon phase from it.
The two data fields at the bottom of the page can be programmed to provide a variety of travel and navigation info.

16. The navigation page provides active guidance with a rotating compass ring that shows your course over ground while you are moving and a bearing pointer to indicate the current direction to your destination (bearing).
The status window at the top of the page shows you the name of your destination, the distance, and the time to go. You can change the data fields at the bottom according to your preferences.
The important thing to remember that this is not a compass pointing due north. It is only giving you the direction of your desired destination. Also, you have to be moving for the navigation circle to work. If you are standing still it confuses it. It takes points as you move to tell which direction you are heading.

17. The trip computer page displays up to eight different types of navigation data and each field can be changed to your preferences.
By going to the Options Menu and selecting reset, you can reset your trip data. Be careful when you delete the information It is permanent. If you have data and waypoints saved, you will want to make sure that they are not deleted.
When I work with youth I usually have them reset all data and then I take them outside, turn on the GPS, and have them run 200 yards to see how fast they can go. These units are pretty accurate and will work as a speedometer in your vehicle if yours is broken. You can also use it as an odometer if you would like. ;)

18. The main menu page provides access to advanced features for your unit
The main menu page provides access to advanced features for your unit. At the bottom, this page also shows you how much battery power you have as well as giving you a current date and time and backlighting status.
Mark Waypoint – mark current location or map pointer location for future reference
Find – Allows you to locate and go to locations
Routes – Create and store routes for repeated use
Tracks – Access to track log and saved tracks – breadcrumbs
If you go into the Options Menu, you can set Owner Information to come up every time you turn on your Unit.

19. Setup Features Time Time Zones Time Format Units
Position Format (Coordinate System)
Misc. Unit Formatting
Display
Contrast & Backlighting
System
WAAS Enabling
Language
Memory Usage
Setup – Tailor formats and specific GPS setup info
Time: You can change your time format to military time or your time zone to any zone in the world. Also, notice the UTC Offset. UTC stands for Coordinated Universal Time, which is the international time standard. UTC is the current term for GMT or Greenwich Meridian Time which lies on the zero Longitudinal Meridian. At Zero (0) Hours, it is Midnight in Greenwich, England. The offset, is how far ahead/behind that time zone is from the UTC time.
Units: This is where you would change your position format or the coordinate system that you are using. You need to be familiar with this function in case you decide to use coordinates that are in a different format from what you are used to. You can also change unit formatting, such changing to the metric system.
The others are self-explanatory. Additional info is included in the eTrex Manual.

20. Accessories – Access sun and moon data, hunting and fishing info, calendar, calculator, and area calculator

21. www.uen.org These next screens are a couple of my favorite.
Sun and Moon: You can select a date/location to see the current sunrise, sunset, moonrise, and moonset. Notice the moon. This shows you what the moon will look like that day. Also, if you will look at the skyview, you can see the current location of both the sun and moon as the earth rotates around the sun and the moon rotates around the earth. If you push the play or fast forward buttons at the bottom of the screen, you can watch the time and date change, respectively.
Hunt & Fish: Once again you can change the date and location. This gives you a prediction of animal and fish movement. This information can be found in any almanac for your location. Due to the sun, moon, and stars, you could determine this on your own It is just that this is so much easier!

22. Area Calculation Main Menu Accessories Area Calculation
Select “Start” and Walk Area Perimeter
Select “Stop” After Walking Area Perimeter
Resetting Area Calculation
Options Menu Button
Reset
Use Click Stick to Change Area Calculation Measures
Acres
Feet
Miles
Etc.
Area calculation displays in acres, hectares, and square feet, square yards, square meters, square kilometers, and square miles.
Follow the directions listed on the screen to calculate and area.

23. Marking a Location Main Menu Mark Icon Change Symbol
Select with Click Stick
Find Desired Symbol
Name Location
Use Drop-Down Alphabet Menu
Click OK
Change Location
Use Drop-Down Number Menu
Select Desired Option
OK – Save
GoTo – Navigate
Map – Maps Location

24. Finding a Waypoint
Main Menu
Find
Waypoints OR
Find Button

25. The GPS Classroom

26. The GPS Classroom