What is GPS?

The Global Positioning System

• The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a system of satellites maintained by the US Department of Defense for navigational and security purposes.

• These satellites, which orbit the earth at approximately 11,000 miles, follow known orbital paths and broadcast radio signals communicating their location at a given point in time.

It’s All About Time

• In brief, the receiver is able to determine how long each signal took to travel from the satellite to the receiver (measured as a delay in the signal’s arrival time), and translate this time interval to a distance measurement.

Trialateration

• By comparing the distances to multiple satellites the receiver is able to approximate location (both horizontal and vertical) using mathematical trialateration.

Shortcomings

• Tree canopy, nearby cliff walls, buildings, etc. all can limit the ability of a receiver to accurately determine position.

• In addition, the configuration of the satellites themselves is sometimes better or worse for a given location.

• For example, if all of the satellites are directly overhead, it is very difficult to get accurate triangulation measurements.

Accuracy • Current consumer-grade receivers

are able to determine horizontal location to within 3-20 meters, and vertical accuracy to within 50 meters.

Precision• The Garmin Etrex is capable of

recording positions with precision of .00001 decimal degrees. As shown below, this means that it is not possible to record positions at sub-meter accuracy with this equipment.

.1 degree = 11112 m.01 degree = 1111.2 m.001 degree = 111.12 m.0001 degree = 11.112 m.00001 degree = 1.1112 m.000001 degree = .11112 m.0000001 degree = .011112 m

GPS Data

• By default, GPS receivers record data in latitude-longitude using the WGS84 (World Geodetic System 1984) datum

• Many GPS receivers allow the user to view their location in local coordinates as well (e.g., UTM, State Plane, etc.), performing a translation from WGS84 to the desired coordinate system (and datum).

• Similarly, some GPS software packages allow you to convert the coordinate system when you export your data.

Getting it into ArcGIS

• The process of getting your data out of a GPS receiver will vary depending upon the type of receiver and/or the GPS software being used.

• For the purposes of this tutorial, it is assumed that the GPS data was collected using one of our Garmin handhelds, which are compatible with the DNR Garmin Utility.

DNR Garmin Extension for ArcView

• This extension was built to provide users the ability to directly transfer data between Garmin GPS handheld receivers and various GIS software packages.

• Using this extension a user can use point features (graphics or shapefile) and upload them to the GPS as WayPoints.

• Line and Polygon Graphics or shapes can be uploaded to the GPS as TrackLogs or Routes.

• Conversely, WayPoints, Tracklogs, and Routes collected using the GPS can be transferred directly to ArcView/ArcMap/Landview and saved as Graphics or Shapefiles.

Functionality Highlights

Download Waypoints/Tracks/Routes

Download waypoints, tracks, and routes from Garmin GPS and save as ArcView Shapefiles or Graphics

Upload Waypoints/Tracks/Routes

Upload waypoints, tracks, and routes to Garmin GPS

Real-Time Tracking

Collect real-time locational information and store as graphics or shapefile

Waypoint to PointConverts Waypoints downloaded from the GPS unit into a point shapefile or graphics

Track to Point/Line/Polygon

Converts a Garmin Track log to an ArcView graphic or shapefile

Point to Waypoint Convert Point shapes or graphics to a GPS Waypoint

Line/Polygon to Track

Converts a line or polygon to a Garmin Track

Point to Line/Polygon

Converts Point themes to Lines or Polygons

Functionality Highlights

Add Documentation to Features

Adds basic documentation to ArcView themes including Name, GPS Model, Date, Agency, etc. - Arcview 3.x only

Calculate Shape Attributes

Calculates Area, Perimeter, Length attributes for features. Arcview 3.x/8.x/9.x

Calculate CEPDetermine Circular Error Probability rings for Error estimation. Arcview 3.x/8.x/9.x

Image Hotlinking Create hotlinks between images and GPS data.

Garmin ETREX Menus

• The first screen you will see is the Satellite Page

• In this case, the unit is trying to lock onto the satellites

Garmin ETREX Menus

• It is possible to use various datums

• It is generally best to use WGS84

Garmin ETREX Menus

• These units are Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) compatible, allowing some degree of differential correction of the GPS signal as it is used.

Garmin ETREX Menus

• “Waypoints” can be recorded

• “Waypoints” can also be uploaded to the GPS Unit.

• Using the GoTo feature, “Waypoints” can be navigated to.

Garmin ETREX Menus

• Various parameters of the movement of the unit can be displayed in realtime.

Trimble Planning Software