EASTERN SHORE GROUND

SEARCH AND RESCUE

PRESENTS
ADVANCED

GPS COURSE #1

NOTE ON GPS USE
GPS enhances, not replaces
traditional map and compass
navigation.
NOTE ON CLASS EXAMPLES
Classroom examples are based on the Garmin
GPSMAP60 and GPSMAP76.

Team units will be provided for use during class.
COURSE PREREQUISITE
To benefit from this course, you should be very
comfortable with the material covered by our
BASIC GPS COURSE.

All are welcome to attend, however, this course
will not teach basic GPS use.

If you require basic GPS instruction, please
attend one of our basic courses.



TOPICS

1. Measuring distances

2. Projecting waypoints

3. Techniques for following bearings

MEASURING DISTANCE
The GPS map page can be used for more than
viewing your course of travel.
The GPS map page can be used to measure:
Distance between the user and a point on the map
Distance between two points on the map



DISTANCE FROM USER
To start measuring distance, select the Map
page and:
1. Press the MENU button.
2. Select Measure distance.
3. Move the pointer to the position to measure to.
4. Distance from user is shown at top right of screen.
5. Press QUIT to stop measuring.


DISTANCE BETWEEN POINTS
To start measuring distance, select the Map
page and:
1. Press the MENU button.
2. Select Measure distance.
3. Move the pointer to the starting point and press
ENTER. A pin is placed at this point.
4. Move pointer to the end point. Distance between
points is shown at top right.


DISTANCE BETWEEN POINTS
MEASURING EXERCISE

A) Using only the GPS map page, measure the distance from the
Hall to the start of Tower Road (across the highway and just
East of the Hall).


B) Using only the GPS map page, measure the length of Tower
Road.








MEASURING EXERCISE
ANSWERS


A) Hall to Bottom of Tower Rd: ~ 180 meters
B) Length of Tower Road: ~ 350 meters
PROJECTING A WAYPOINT
A projected waypoint is a waypoint that is
created based on the distance and bearing from
an existing waypoint.

Projected waypoint = bearing + distance from
an existing waypoint.

PROJECTING A WAYPOINT
Team 1
497345 5927123
Team 2:
Injured searcher
Instruct GPS to create
(project) a waypoint for
the position of the injured
searcher:
2. Enter bearing to injured
searcher.
1. Use Team1s position as
starting point.
3. Enter distance to
injured searcher.
4. Projected waypoint is
created.
497500 5927801
PROJECTING A WAYPOINT
Uses for projecting waypoints:
Travel to locations given only distance and bearing.
Useful during a grid search to stay on bearing.
Useful to re-gain bearing after going around large
objects.
Another tool a Team Leader can employ while on a
tasking.



Example of projecting a waypoint
1. 2.
4.
3.
5.
Select or
mark
way-
point.
Press
Menu,
choose
Project
Way-
point.
Enter
distance.
Enter
mag-
netic
bearing.
Name
pro-
jected
way-
point.
Click OK
to save
original
waypoint
if Mark
pressed
in #1.
PROJECTING A WAYPOINT EXERCISE

A) The flagpole of the elementary school in Porters Lake is located
2.12 km on a bearing of 300 degrees magnetic from the ESGSAR
Hall. What are the coordinates for the flagpole?


B) The Sobeys in Jeddore is 13.6 km from the ESGSAR Hall on a
bearing of 91 degree magnetic. What are the coordinates for
Sobeys?





PROJECTING A WAYPOINT EXERCISE
ANSWERS


A) FLAGPOLE: 477733 E 4954619 N
B) SOBEYS: 492731 E 4958430 N
FOLLOWING BEARINGS
The Basic GPS course teaches you how to
navigate to a waypoint by taking the most
efficient route.
In most cases, the most efficient route is NOT a
straight line.
Taking the most efficient route usually involves
avoiding swamps, creeks, ponds, bogs, etc.



FOLLOWING BEARINGS
When one is required to follow a bearing (to
travel in a straight line), following the most
efficient route is often not possible.
The required method for following a bearing is
to use a magnetic compass.



FOLLOWING BEARINGS
Given typical woods in our search area,
following a bearing with a high degree of
accuracy can be very challenging.
A GPS can be used in conjunction with a
compass to minimize drifting off a bearing.



FOLLOWING BEARINGS
These GPS functions can assist with following a
bearing:
Compass Pointer: Can indicate if the user has drifted
left or right of a bearing.
Compass Off Course field: Displays the distance
in meters one has drifted from a bearing.
Map Go To line: Can be configured to show the
users location in relation to a bearing.




BEARING POINTER
A red arrow points in the direction of the waypoint. This is
the default setting for our GPS units.
BEARING POINTER EXAMPLE
0
180
90
270
Walking directly towards the waypoint. No
information is displayed about your original
bearing.
COURSE POINTER
A red arrow points in the direction of the waypoint. The
middle section of the arrow separates to indicate your
original bearing line.
COURSE POINTER EXAMPLE
20
Off course
0
180
90
270
Walking directly towards the waypoint. Need
to walk 20 meters to the right to return to the
original bearing.
COURSE POINTER EXAMPLE
90
45
Off course
0
180
270
Need to rotate to the right to face the waypoint and then
walk 45 meters to the left to return to the original
bearing.

COMPASS POINTER SETUP
To switch between compass bearing and course
pointers, start on the Compass page and:
1) Press the MENU button.
2) Select Bearing Pointer or Course Pointer.
3) Press the ENTER button.




MAP GO TO LINES
By default, when navigating to a waypoint, the
purple Go To line extends from your position
to the waypoint.
To aid in following a bearing, the Go To line
can remain attached to your starting position.
With the Go To line attached to the starting
point, it is very easy to see if you are drifting
away from your bearing.



BEARING GO TO LINE
WAYPOINT
Go To line remains
attached to you. This is
the default setting.
COURSE GO TO LINE
WAYPOINT
Go To line remains
attached to the starting
point. Easy to see drift.
GOTO LINE SETUP
To switch between map bearing and course
Go To lines, start on the Map page and:
1) Press the MENU button and select Setup Map.
Press the ENTER button.
2) Scroll left or right until Map Setup Tracks is
selected.
3) Scroll down to the Go To Line field and select
Course or Bearing.
4) Press the ENTER button.




GOTO LINE SETUP
USING GPS WITH BEARINGS
Turn on Map pages Course goto line.
Turn on Compass pages Course pointer.
Before starting off on a bearing, enter end point
as a waypoint and set GPS to GOTO it.
Use map and compass pages to determine drift
and advise the compass person how to adjust
the line of travel.



USING GPS WITH BEARINGS
If there is no defined end waypoint as in a grid
search:
Project a waypoint beyond the distance of the grid
boundary and set the GPS to GOTO it.
For example, if the grid is 300 meters long, project a
waypoint for 300 or more meters.
Project a new waypoint each time you line up to
start a new line through the search grid.



FOLLOWING A BEARING EXERCISE

1. Enter a waypoint for the Superstore at Porters Lake:
477703 E 4954479 N

2. Set your GPS map and compass screens to the COURSE
pointers. Set the map page zoom level to 50 or less.

3. Stand at the flagged stake at the back of the hall parking lot
and follow the instructions on the Following a Bearing
Exercise handout.



QUESTIONS
AND COMMENTS


END OF COURSE

THANK-YOU FOR ATTENDING