GPS 4-H:

USING THE GLOBAL

POSITIONING SYSTEM
IN 4-H PROGRAMMING
MIKE CLIFFORD
GPS WOULD HAVE SAVED HIM !!!
 Global Positioning System
A network of satellites that continuously transmit coded
information, which makes it possible to precisely identify locations
on earth by measuring distance from the satellites.
THE GPS SATELLITE CONSTELLATION

From GPS Land Navigation by Michael Ferguson

 GPS and GIS DEFINITIONS
GPS is short for Global Positioning System which is
"a network of satellites that continuously transmit coded
information, which makes it possible to precisely identify
locations on earth by measuring distance from the satellites".
Of course, many users also refer to their hand-held GPS
receivers as "my GPS" ... as in the statement "my GPS'
batteries went dead and I got lost!"
GIS is short for Geographic Information System(s). "In the
strictest sense, a GIS is a computer system capable of
assembling, storing, manipulating, and displaying geographically
referenced information , i.e. data identified according to their
locations. Practitioners also regard the total GIS as including
operating personnel and the data that go into the system"
( from: http://www.usgs.gov/research/gis/title.html ).
 The NAVSTAR System

24 Satellites
6 orbital plates
11,000 miles up
12 hour orbit

from GPS Land Navigation by Michael Ferguson

THE EARTH: Latitude & Longitude

from GPS Land Navigation by Michael Ferguson

 ERROR SOURCES
Multipath interference
LINE OF SIGHT Atmospheric
Geometric DOP
Clock
Ephemeris
S.A. (now turned off)

from GPS Land Navigation by Michael Ferguson

 ACCURACY
STANDARD CIVILIAN RECEIVERS
(Selective Availability OFF)

HORIZONTAL ACCURACY TO
15 METERS (49.2’) OR BETTER

VERTICAL ACCURACY (altitude)

TO 100 METERS (328’)
DIFFERENTIAL GPS (DGPS)
SYSTEMS TO IMPROVE POSITION ACCURACY

•Coast Guard
•Commercial Ground
& Satellite Based
Correction
•Wide Area Augmentation System
(WAAS)
WIDE AREA AUGMENTATION SYSTEM
FAA SPONSORED
GEO-STATIONARY SATELLITES
FREE ACCESS
ACCURACY TO 3 METERS
INSTALLED ON MOST NEW (2001+) GPS MODELS
 SOME GPS APPLICATIONS
COMMERCE & RECREATIONAL
GOVERNMENT ❧ HIKING
❧ MILITARY ❧ HUNTING
❧ NATURE STUDY
❧ MARITIME
❧ FISHING
❧ AUTOMOTIVE
❧ BOATING
❧ SURVEYING ❧ BIKING
❧ AVIATION ❧ SKIING
❧ FORESTRY ❧ SNOWMOBILING
❧ ENVIRONMENTAL ❧ GEOCACHING
❧ PUBLIC SAFETY ❧ GOLF ! ETC.

❧ ETC.
 HOW CAN WE UTILIZE GPS IN 4-H PROGRAMMING?
EDUCATIONAL & OPERATIONAL USES
WILDLIFE MAPPING

HIGH ADVENTURE

LEADER TRAINING
SEARCH & RESCUE
BIG TREE
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY SEARCH

HUNTER EDUCATION

TRIP PLANNING & SAFETY

ENVIRONMENTAL FISHING & CANOEING

EDUCATION

AND LOTS MORE !

 NAVIGATION BASICS
1. KNOW YOUR POSITION
2. PLAN YOUR ROUTE
3. STAY ON YOUR ROUTE
4. RECOGNIZE YOUR DESTINATION
BASIC NAVIGATION INFORMATION
PROVIDED BY GPS UNITS . . .
YOUR CURRENT POSITION
•COORDINATES (LATITUDE & LONGITUDE, UTM, MGRS, ETC.)
•ELEVATION (0R BETWEEN WAYPOINTS)

DIRECTION TO SPECIFIED WAYPOINTS

DISTANCE TO SPECIFIED WAYPOINTS

(0R BETWEEN WAYPOINTS

YOUR SPEED OF TRAVEL

YOUR DIRECTION OF TRAVEL

. . . AND OFTEN MUCH MORE
MAPS
TIME OF DAY
CROSS TRACK ERROR
ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL
ESTIMATED TIME ENROUTE
COORDINATES OF CITIES & TOWNS
ETC.
USING
THE
GARMIN

eTrex
ENTERING COORDINATES TO CREATE
A NEW WAYPOINT IN ETREX

❧ FIND “ MENU” PAGE

❧ SELECT “MARK”
❧ NAME IT & SELECT SYMBOL (optional)
❧ ENTER ELEVATION (optional)
❧ ENTER COORDINATE DATA
❧ SELECT “OK” AND YOU’RE DONE
PROJECTING COORDINATES TO CREATE
A NEW WAYPOINT IN ETREX
YOU CAN ALSO CREATE A NEW WAYPOINT BY ENTERING A
BEARING AND DISTANCE FROM YOUR CURRENT POSITION OR
AN EXISTING WAYPOINT

❧ ON “ MENU” PAGE SELECT “WAYPOINTS”

❧ SELECT AN EXISTING WAYPOINT AND ENTER
❧ SELECT “PROJECT” AND ENTER
❧ NAME IT & SELECT SYMBOL (optional)
❧ ENTER DISTANCE
❧ ENTER BEARING
❧ SELECT “OK” AND YOU’RE DONE
SPEED
TRIP ODOMETER
TRIP TIME
SUNSET
SUNRISE
LOCATION
ELEVATION
BEARING
HEADING
MAX SPEED
AVERAGE SPEED
TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS
AERIAL PHOTO TOPOGRAPHIC MAP
 HIGHWAY MAPS

VIRGINIA ROAD MAP ALEXIS ROAD MAP

Latitude-Longitude coordinates & grids UTM & MGRS coordinates & grids
Map Symbol Quiz
TOPO MAP MARGIN INFO: BOTTOM CENTER
TOPO MAP MARGIN INFO: BOTTOM LEFT
TOPO MAP MARGIN INFO: BOTTOM RIGHT
TOPO MAP MARGIN INFO: TOP LEFT
TOPO MAP MARGIN INFO: TOP RIGHT
 MAP DATUMS
❧ WGS84 World Geodetic System 1984
Default datum on Garmin and most other GPS receivers.
Most accurate datum, but not yet in wide use on maps.
❧ NAD27 (NAD27CONUS) North American 1927
Older datum used on most USGS topographic maps.
(We will be using this datum for the workshop)
❧ NAD83 North Amerian Datum 1983
Very similar to WGS84. Used on newer USGS maps.
● and hundreds of others!
 COORDINATE SYSTEMS
❧ LATITUDE / LONGITUDE (ANGULAR)
DEGREES - MINUTES - SECONDS
❧ UTM / UPS (RECTANGULAR, METRIC)
UNIVERSAL TRANSVERSE MERCATOR (WE
WILL BE USING UTM IN OUR FIELD EXERCISES) UNIVERSAL POLAR
STEREOGRAPHIC
❧ MGRS (UTM USING ALPHANUMERIC I.D.)
MILITARY GRID REFERENCE SYSTEM

OTHERS …
TOWNSHIP & RANGE, STATE PLANE COORDINATE, ETC.
USING A
MAGNETIC COMPASS
from GPS Land Navigation by Michael Ferguson
from GPS Land Navigation by Michael Ferguson
 FOUR COMPASS STYLES ...

BASEPLATE - MIRROR - LENSATIC - SIGHTING

 FEATURES OF THE
“ORIENTEERING STYLE”
BASEPLATE COMPASS
 LENSATIC COMPASS

From A Comprehensive Guide to Land Navigation with GPS by Noel Hotchkiss

From A Comprehensive Guide to Land Navigation with GPS by Noel Hotchkiss
Compass Only

1. Select an on-route landmark. Hold compass level and

point the Direction of Travel Arrow at the landmark.

2. Find your heading to the landmark by turning compass

dial until the N aligns with the Red end of the Needle.
Read heading at the Index Line.

3. Keep the Needle aligned with the N. Sight and move

toward your landmark. Repeat procedure until you
reach your destination.
The Brunton Company
Compass & Heading

1. When given a heading in degrees, turn the Dial so

the heading is set at the Index Line. Hold compass
level with the Direction of Travel Arrow pointing
straight ahead.

2. Turn your body until the Red end of the Needle

is aligned with the N on the Dial.Travel in this
direction.

3. Pick out a landmark in line with your heading.

Move toward it. Repeat procedure until you reach
your destination.
Compass & Map

Hold the compass level in front of you with the Direction of Travel Arrow pointing straight
ahead. Turn your body until the Red end of the Needle is directly over the Red Orienting
Arrow. Look up. Find a landmark. Move to it. Repeat until you reach your destination.

1. Place compass on map with baseplate edge connecting where

you are (start “A”) and where you want to go (finish “B”).

2. Turn the compass Dial until the N aligns

with Magnetic North (MN) on map.

3. Hold the compass level in front of you with the Direction of

Travel Arrow pointing straight ahead. Turn your body until
the Red end of the Needle is directly over the Red Orienting
Arrow. Look up. Find a landmark. Move to it. Repeat until
you reach your destination.
The Brunton Company
The Brunton Company
The Brunton Company
THE END