Technical Support:  GPS

Assistance

For assistance with all your GPS needs, contact one of the following:

Reese Hirth, Midwest GPS Coordinator

608-263-7715

Reese_Hirth@partner.nps.gov.

Doug Wilder, Midwest GIS Support Center Coordinator

608-265-3515

Doug_Wilder@nps.gov

Kathie Hansen, Midwest Fire GIS (Garmin Assistance)

920-866-1767

kathie_hansen@nps.gov

Tim Smith, NPS GPS Coordinator
303-969-2086
Tim_ Smith@nps.gov

Guides and Documents

Midwest GPS - Recommended Configurations (2007)

Washington Support Office InsideNPS GIS (NPS only)

Alaska Region GPS (NPS only) - Frequently updated information on practical use of GPS.

Trimble Gear Registration: Frequently Asked Questions  (74kb pdf)

Garmin GPS Tools & Tips

Transferring GPS Data with MN DNRGarmin

Geotagging Photos with GPS Photolink

2008 GPS for Fire Management & ICS course materials

ArcPad and the Datum

From Tim Smith, NPS GPS Coordinator -- August 14, 2008

I have had a few questions from folks come up in the passed few days
concerning ArcPAD and datums.
Here's is a quick overview with some supporting documents -

ArcPad7 Projection Datum Transformation (170kb doc)

Understanding the Evolution of WGS 1984 and NAD 1983 (142kb pdf)

ArcPAD project is in NAD83:
Scenario 1) You are using autonomous GPS (no differential corrections).
Incoming GPS datum setting - WGS84
Project datum - NAD83(CORS96)
Note: ArcPAD will automatically apply appropriate datum shift to NAD83 of
incoming GPS data.

Scenario 2) You are using GPS with realtime SBAS corrections (WAAS).
Incoming GPS datum setting - WGS84
Project datum - NAD83(CORS96)
Note: ArcPAD will automatically apply appropriate datum shift to NAD83 of
incoming GPS data.

Scenario 3) You are using GPS with realtime NDGPS (National Differential
Global Positioning Service or Coast Guard beacon).
Incoming GPS datum setting - NAD83(CORS96)
Project datum - NAD83(CORS96)
Note: ArcPAD will apply NO datum shift to incoming GPS data.

ArcPAD project is in WGS84:
Scenario 4) You are using autonomous GPS (no differential corrections).
Incoming GPS datum setting - WGS84
Project datum - WGS84
Note: ArcPAD will apply NO datum shift to incoming GPS data.

Scenario 5) You are using GPS with realtime SBAS corrections (WAAS).
Incoming GPS datum setting - WGS84
Project datum - WGS84
Note: ArcPAD will apply NO datum shift to incoming GPS data.

Scenario 6) You are using GPS with realtime NDGPS (National Differential
Global Positioning Service or Coast Guard beacon).
Incoming GPS datum setting - NAD83(CORS96)
Project datum - WGS84
Note: ArcPAD will automatically apply appropriate datum shift to WGS84 of
incoming GPS data.

Question: How do I check my incoming GPS and Project datums?
Project datum:
Go to the Layers (Table of Contents) menu and pick the globe with hand icon
(second one down from the top right icons) and scroll across to the
Projections tab. This will tell you what datum your project is in.
GPS Incoming Datum:
Go into the GPS Preferences menu and scroll across to the Datums tab. You
can see what has been pick for your incoming data. If you want to check to
see if you are right about the setting you have picked.... pick the blue
"i" (information) icon in the top left of the window. This will show you
what dX and dY shifts under the Parameters section that ArcPAD is applying
to you incoming data. ALWAYS CHECK THIS BEFORE COLLECTING DATA TO BE SURE
IT IS ON THE RIGHT SETTING AND THE PROPER SHIFT IS BEING APPLIED TO
INCOMING DATA!

THIS WILL BE EASY TO FIGURE OUT....
Same incoming and project datums: NO SHIFT (dX = 0 and dY = 0, etc.). If
you have different datums then ArcPAD will show the shift under the
"Parameters" section.
dX, dY, etc. will show the amount of shift (in meters) being applied to
your incoming data.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE, ASK! Not having the proper datum
settings can ruin your day. : (

Best to All and Happy Data Collecting,
Tim

Highlights of the NPS 2008 Trimble Software Consolidated Buy

Highlights of 2008 Trimble BPA pricing (Applies only to NPS):

• 35% discount off retail for all software products (~23% off of GSA)
• $100, one-time upgrade of software bought in 2004 or later (~ $550 GSA depending on version). Older software can be upgraded for the 35% off retail pricing.

2008 Purchase Totals:

• Software Maintenance: $90,092.00
• New Software: $21,574.00
• Total Cost: $111,668.00

Highlights of Savings:

• ~$70k – NPS upgraded 156 older qualifying software licenses at $100 each.
• ~$26k - ~23% discount off GSA pricing of purchased software and annual maintenance.
• ~$94k – retired almost 400 pieces of unused or older software (assuming annual maintenance would have been paid on this software)
• Estimated Total Savings: $190k (does not include savings from TELS implementation)

Trimble Enterprise License Server (TELS):

The NPS is implementing an enterprise license server for Trimble desktop software (Pathfinder Office and GPS Analyst). This will allow parks and programs to install the software at multiple locations even though they may be only paying for one or two licenses. The key is concurrent use. Additionally, the TELS allows the NPS to share the system-wide pool of licenses. If a park or program needs more licenses than they own for short term projects, “swat team” data collection efforts or training they will have them available. Provisions have been made for disconnected use of licensing such as with a laptop. It is projected that this will save tens of thousands of dollars annually on desktop software maintenance costs and eliminates the need for parks to purchase multiple numbers of software licenses that go unused most of the time.