Using GPS - Forests Monitor

Using GPS

Introduction to GPS
• Global Positioning System (GPS)
•Used to accurately pinpoint the user’s location
in the world.
•By responding to satellite signals, the GPS
receiver can determine a latitude and
longitude position and therefore the user’s
location.
Forests Monitor ‐ Using GPS

The use of GPS in law enforcement
• To mark the exact locations of the
observed evidence of illegal
operations (abandoned logs,
unmarked tree stumps, infrastructure
built etc.)
• To determine, with the use of maps
later on, whether activities observed
during a mission are occurring in
permitted places e.g. logging in a
community forest
• To navigate in unknown locations
• To report the itinerary of your
mission, in case you need to go back
to re‐check
Taking the location of a felled tree
• To record places where important
events took place, e.g. a road check

UTM coordinates
• The Universal Transverse Mercator
(UTM) coordinate system is a gridbased
method of specifying locations
on the surface of the Earth. It is used
to identify locations on the earth, but
differs from the traditional method of
latitude and longitude various ways.
• The UTM system uses a series of sixty
zones. It uses a model of the shape of
the Earth called the WGS84
Forests Monitor ‐ Using GPS

http://www.colorado.edu/geography/gcraft/notes/coordsys/gif/utmzones.gif
Forests Monitor ‐ Using GPS

The GPS
Power key
Backlight/contrast
Battery power left
Zoom out
FIND key
MARK a waypoint key
QUIT key
Zoom in
PAGE key
ROCKER key
ENTER key
Forests Monitor ‐ Using GPS

The GPS
Auxiliary GPS
antenna connector
USB connector port
External power and
Data connector
Batteries go here
Forests Monitor ‐ Using GPS

To turn on/off
Power
key
Garmin 76 Garmin 60

Satellite aquisition
• When you turn the GPS on, it automatically
starts looking for satellites to fix its position
on Earth
• The first time you ever turn the GPS on it can takes
15 min or more, but after that, only a few seconds
To initialise the GPS:
1. Take the GPS receiver outdoors where there is a
clear view of the sky ‐ satellite signal cannot pass
through solid materials (except glass), or a dense
tree cover
2. Press and release the power key to turn unit on
3. Observe the “power on” page appear followed by
the Satellite Page
4. While the GPS is searching for satellite signals, a
“Locating Satellites” message followed by an
“Acquiring Satellites” appears until enough satellites
are acquired to fix its location
The satellite page

Satellite aquisition
If for some reason the GPS does not initialize,
move slightly to avoid objects that may be
blocking the satellite image
5. Press and release the PAGE key until the
map page is displayed. You are now ready to
start using your GPS
The Map Page

Adjusting the backlight and
If you can’t see the screen very
well:
contrast
1. Press the Power key
2. Press the Rocker key up or
down to increase or
decrease screen brightness
3. Press the Rocker key left or
right to change the screen
contrast. Press Quit to exit.
Adjusting for backlight and
contrast

The status bar
Gives information on:
• Power – if using with
batteries, shows how much
power is left
• Satellite signal status is
shown when searching for
satellites
• Backlighting is OFF usually.
When ON it uses up a lot of
battery power. This icon
shows when it is ON.
Status bar – located at the top of each
page

Viewing the main pages
These are the 5 main pages (or screens) in your
GPS receiver: the Satelite Page, Trip Computer
Page, Map Page, Compass Page, and Main
Menu Page.
To view them:
•Press and release the Page key repeatedly to cycle
through the main pages
•With a page displayed, press the Menu key to
display the list of options for that page

The five main pages
Satellite Trip computer Map
Compass
Main Menu

Entering data
On-screen keypad

Taking a waypoint
A Waypoint is any point
on the Map Page that
you store in memory
The Mark waypoint page
allows you to mark and
record your current
location as a waypoint and
displays a name for that
waypoint
The Mark Waypoint page

Taking a waypoint
To mark your current location as a waypoint:
1. From the Map Page, press the MARK key. The
Mark Waypoint page appears
2. To change the name of the waypoint, use the
ROCKER key to highlight the waypoint name
field and press ENTER to display the On‐screen
keypad. Use the ROCKER key and ENTER key to
select a namfe for the waypoint. If you choose a
name that has already been used, a «Waypoint
Already Exists » message will appear. Press
ENTER to acknowledge and choose new name.
On-screen keypad
Forests Monitor ‐ Using GPS

Taking a waypoint
3. To assign an identifying symbol to
a waypoint, use the ROCKER key
to highlight the symbol block next
to the waypoint name and press
ENTER to display the symbols
chart.
4. To save the waypoint to the Find
Menu Waypoints list, highlight
«OK» and press ENTER
5. If you do not want to save it as a
new waypoint, press the QUIT
key, before pressing any other
key, to cancel.
Assigning a symbol to a
waypoint
Forests Monitor ‐ Using GPS

Editing a waypoint
• A waypoint can be selected from the Find
Feature Waypoints list and edited to change
the map symbol, name, elevation, or to
delete it
To edit a waypoint:
1. Press the FIND key. A screen will come up
with various options, including an icon called
«Waypoints», select and ENTER
2. A list of all the waypoints you have recorded
appears, hightlight and press ENTER to select
the waypoint you want to edit, and make
changes needed by hightlighting each field
and using on‐screen keypad
FIND key to find a waypoint
3. Press QUIT to close and save the changes
Forests Monitor ‐ Using GPS

To delete a waypoint
1. Use the FIND key to
display the desired
waypoint information
page
2. Highlight «Delete»
button and press ENTER.
Answer «yes» to popup
prompt and press
ENTER to delete
Forests Monitor ‐ Using GPS

To move a waypoint on the map
1. Use the FIND key to display the
desired waypoint information
page
2. Highlight the «Map» button and
press ENTER to display the
waypoint on the map
3. Press ENTER again to place a
«Move» marker next to the
waypoint
4. Use the ROCKER key to drag the
waypoint to the desired location
on the map and release to place it
there. Then press ENTER.
page
Forests Monitor ‐ Using GPS

Creating and viewing Tracks
• Tracks are like footprints –they show
you exactly where you have moved.
Tracks appear as a small dotted line
on the Map Page.
• Your GPS 60 automatically creates
tracks as you move and displays a
dotted line, called a track log.
To View Tracks:
•Press the Page key until you see the Map
Page.
•Walk away from your location for at least
3 minutes.
•Press IN to zoom in on the Map Page until
you can see your track log.

To create a track log
1. Press and release the QUIT key
until the Main Menu displays.
2. Then use the ROCKER key to
hightlight the Tracks icon. The page
has On and Off buttons to activate
or cancel the Track Log and a Track
Log meter which displays the
percentage of track log space used
3. Under the Track Log field are four
on‐screen buttons to ‘Setup’ a track
log, ‘Clear’ the track log, ‘Save’ a
track log and activate the ‘Tracback’
feature for the current log
To turn Track Log On or Off
Forests Monitor ‐ Using GPS

To create a track log
4. To setup a track log, hightlight the
‘Setup’ button and press ENTER to
display the Setup page. Check ‘Wrap
when full’ to continue recording
when full by overwriting the oldest
data with the new
5. Hightlight the ‘Record Method’ field
and press ENTER to display the
Distance, Time, and Auto options. For
most cases, choose ‘Auto’
Selecting Track Log
options
Forests Monitor ‐ Using GPS

To create a track log
6. Next, set the interval for setting track
points. You can choose from distance,
time or frequency.
7. When completed, press the QUIT key
to return to the Track Log Page
Forests Monitor ‐ Using GPS

To save a Track Log
1. With the tracks Page displayed, highlight the ‘Save’ button and press
ENTER. You will be asked ‘Do you want to save the entire track?’ If you
select ‘Yes’ a ‘Saving Track’ message appears followed by the Saved Track
Page. The new saved track will be a representation of the entire Track Log
from beggining to end.
2. If you select ‘No’, a map showing the entire track appears and prompts
‘Select the beggining point for the saved track’. Use the ROCKER key to move
the arrow to the point on the track line that you want to become the beggining
of the Saved Track, press ENTER.
Forests Monitor ‐ Using GPS

To save a Track Log
3. The next prompt asks you ‘Select the
ending point for the saved track’. Use
the arrow to identify a point on the
track that you want as the End Point
and press ENTER. A ‘saving track’
message appears followed by the
Saved Track page
4. The Saved Track page allows you to
rename the track, view the track
distance, and specify a color for the
track when displayed on the map page
(Show On Map). On‐screen buttons at
the bottom of the page allow you to
Save the track (Ok), delete, view it on
the Map
Forests Monitor ‐ Using GPS

To view a Track on the Map
1. With the Saved Tracks Page for the
track or the Track Log displayed,
hightlight the Map button and press
ENTER to display the Map Page
2. A map showing the entire track
appears bith Begin and End markers.
Any User Waypoints added to the Track
will be displayed as well
Forests Monitor ‐ Using GPS

Finding places
Finding Places:
• Using the Find Page, you can search
for waypoints, geocache points, or
cities.
To find a waypoint:
•Press the Find key. The Find Page appears.
Highlight Waypoints and press Enter.
•Use the Rocker key to scroll down the list and
highlight the waypoints you want to find. Press
Enter to select the waypoint. The Waypoint
Information Page appears.
•Use the Rocker key to highlight “Map” and press
Enter. If you want to view the waypoint on the
map. Select “Go To” to begin navigation. (See
“Creating Routes”.

Creating routes
• With routes you can create a
sequence of intermediate waypoints
that lead you to your final
destination.
•The GPS map 60 stores 60 routes with
up to 250 waypoints each.
•A route can be created and
modified from the Routes page, and
waypoints can be added to a Route
from the Find Menu Find menu.

To create and save a route
1. Access the ‘Routes’ page from the
Main Menu. The page has a ‘New’
button, an ‘Active’ button and a list of
saved routes.
2. Use the ROCKER key to highlight the
‘New’ button and press ENTER to
display the route Setup page.
3. With an empty row (dashed) in the
route list hightlighted, press ENTER to
display the Find Menu.
Forests Monitor ‐ Using GPS

To create and save a route
4. Use the Find Menu to select a route
waypoint from one of the Find Menu
groups and display the Information
Page for the selected waypoint, city,
etc. Highlight the on‐screen ‘Use’
button and press ENTER to place it on
the Route Waypoint List.
5. To add more waypoints to the route,
repeat the process in Steps 3 and 4.
You can rename the route if you
want.
6. Press PAGE to save it to the Saved
Routes list, or hightlight the
‘Navigate’ button and press ENTER to
navigate.
Forests Monitor ‐ Using GPS

Navigation
• Use the Map, Compass, and Trip Computer Pages to navigate a route. The
Route appears as a black line on the Map Page. To stop navigation, press
Menu on the Map Page and select “Stop Navigation”.
Map Page Compass Page Trip Computer Page
Forests Monitor ‐ Using GPS

GPS checklist –before a field trip
Before a field trip
• Familiarize yourself and practice with your GPS receiver
• Charged batteries + spares
• Check what maps are available, e.g. of logging concessions, community lands
or protected areas. Get copies of these if possible to plan your trip. Check
some of the key locations on these maps against coordinates you collect on
the ground.
• Make sure you have video and photography equipment if these will be needed
to prove any claims you make using GPS.
• Input any key navigational landmarks into the GPs from available maps (enter
them as waypoints), to assist with navigation in the field.
• Check your GPS settings, and that your GPS is not on simulator mode!
Forests Monitor ‐ Using GPS

GPS checklist – during a field trip
• If you cannot get a signal, make sure there is nothing preventing this, such as tree
canopy, buildings, etc. If you need to move away form your chosen location to get
a signal, measure and write down how far away you have moved, and in which
direction (using the digital compass in the GPS). This information can then be used
to correct the coordinates you received
• Get photographic evidence of important waypoints you make to prove what you
have seen is actually where you say it is, and ALSO write down in a notebook
comments about waypoints and routes (nature, place) to avoid confusion later on
• Leave GPS receiver on vehicle dash‐board, or near a window if traveling by car
while recording your Route.
• Record waypoint at important locations, and write down relevant information
relating to them.
• If you get into trouble or have an accident, try and send your GPS position to
colleagues so they can find you more easily.
Forests Monitor ‐ Using GPS

Back from the field
• Remember to permanently record information from notebooks into
the GPS receiver, or onto a computer. If the receiver memory is
limited, make sure you record all the data in this way before
deleting it.
• Download GPS data onto suitable program on PC
• Link evidence images (film or photography) to GPS data (Data
management)
• Download GPS data onto suitable program on PC
• Try and cross reference GPS data from field with official or
community maps, and look for discrepancies.
• Try downloading GPS data onto a map or satellite image to better
communicate your field trip and findings.
Forests Monitor ‐ Using GPS

Precision
• Normal non‐military GPS receivers are not 100% accurate
• Most models, including your model are accurate up to 10‐15
meters.
•This means that any coordinates you mark is within 10‐15 meters of
the reality on the ground. Usually this is not important, but can be if
you are working very close to boundaries. If you see a stump of a tree
you think has been illegally cut very close to such a boundary, you
need to be careful. You will need to take the 10‐15 meter precision
window into account.
Forests Monitor ‐ Using GPS

GPS coordinate settings
Coordinate system
• Your current location can be viewed on the
GPS in the form of coordinates, since
different maps and charts used different
location formats, Garmin GPS units allow you
to choose the correct coordinate system for
the type of map you are using
•The most common format is latitude and
longitude, which is used by all Garmin units
•On most models you may choose to change the
position format to use With other coordinate
systems such as UTM/UPS (this is the system that
must be entered in COCIS forms)
Changing coordinates
displayed
Forests Monitor ‐ Using GPS

Exercise
This exercise is designed to practice the fundamentals of operating a GPS
receiver. You will need a GPS, paper and a pen.
• 1. Initialise the GPS
• 2. Mark and name your starting point, i.e. YWCA main door
• 3. Map the YWCA: take waypoints of at least the four corners of he
YWCA, as well as the metal tower behind the building. Make sure each
person in your group has a chance to measure at least one waypoint.
• 4. Give each waypoint a name and a symbol of your choice to practice
entering data.
• 5. Note down in your notebook the name of each waypoint you
created, together with information on the things you observed at that
waypoint, the date, the time, and any other comments you think are
important.
• 6. Return to your starting point.