GPS for Dummies.pdf - Engineering Surveyor

Introduction5digital maps that are available, especially the free ones you can get from theInternet and about some of the software you can use for digital mapping.Part II: All About GPSThis is the part of the book devoted to demystifying GPS and GPS receivers.You’ll find out about the technology behind GPS (including its capabilitiesand limitations), basic GPS concepts such as waypoints, routes, tracks, andcoordinate systems, how to select and use a GPS receiver, how to use GPSwith PDAs (like Pocket PCs and Palms), and all about the popular GPS sportof geocaching.Part III: Digital Mappingon Your ComputerIn this part we’ll take some of the theoretical information on digital mapsfrom Part I, and get practical. This section discusses computer requirementsneeded for basic digital mapping and reviews a number of different softwarepackages you can use to work with aerial photos and topographic and roadmaps. Many of these programs support uploading and downloading data toand from GPS receivers, so we’ll also spend some time talking about how tointerface a GPS receiver to a personal computer.Part IV: Using Web-HostedMapping ServicesEven if you don’t have a GPS receiver or mapping software installed on yourcomputer, with an Internet connection and a Web browser you can still do aremarkable amount of digital mapping with free and subscription Web services.This section discusses how to access and use online street maps, topographicmaps, aerial photos, and some slick U.S. government-produced maps.You’ll also discover how to save and edit these Web-based maps.Part V: The Part of TensAll Dummies books have a part called The Part of Tens, and this one is noexception. In this section you’ll find lists of what I consider the best GPS anddigital map Web sites on the Internet, where to find free digital maps, tips and