Working with GPS

Stephen M. Kiama (MSc)

[Geo-information Specialist]
Outline
• Overview of Typical GPS.
• Getting started with Garmin GPSmap 76
• Collecting GPS data in the field
– Collecting GPS data as Waypoints
• Improving accuracy
• Deleting Waypoints
– Collecting GPS data as Tracks
• Area calculation
• Clearing Track Log
• Using GPS data
– DNR Garmin
– Connecting the GPS to computer
– Downloading GPS data
– Saving downloaded data
• Navigating with Garmin GPSmap 76
Overview of Typical GPS: Garmin
GPSmap 76
Button Display
 The five pages of GPSmap 76

• Use Page or Quit to switch between these pages

Screens
Screens…
Screens
Getting Started with Garmin GPSmap 76
Setup
 Setup…
• Setup page has a number of tabs (General, Time, Units,
Locations, Alarms, and Interface)
• For each tab, use the following procedure change setup
values to those desired.
– Use Rocker Key to move left or right to the desired tab.
– Use ROCKER Key to move to desired field. Press ENTER.
– Use ROKER Key to select the correct setting. Press ENTER.
 Setup…
Location tab
• ‘Location format’
simply determines the
coordinate display…
e.g. Arc1960 or UTM
• Set Map Datum…e.g.
WGS 84
• Set North
Reference…True
 Setup…
Interface tab
While using without DGPS Beacon Receiver
•The Garmin GPSmap 76 can be used without
attaching the GPS to the DGPS beacon receiver in
instances where maximum accuracy is not a
requirement; e.g conducting resource inventories,
conservation planning, navigation, etc
•Serial Data Format to GARMIN; this setting is also
used when downloading data to a computer.
 Collecting GPS Data in the field
Waypoints vs tracks: two distinct methods of data
collection
• Waypoints: individual locations stored in the GPS buffer;
consciously marked and stored by the user
– Points are independent until related as nodes along a
line or polygon, with GIS software.
• Tracks: Continuous series of points collected automatically
at regular time or distance interval.
– Only user intervention is to start and finish a track log.
– Track points treated by GPS as points along a line or
polygon.
– Thus GPS can estimate area bounded by tracks
without downloading the points to GIS software.
 Collecting GPS Data as Waypoints
(For well defined points- e.g. wells, pipelines, fences, field
boundaries, etc)
• Make sure the GPS is set correctly.
• Place GPS antenna directly over the
point.
• Wait until accuracy is below required
value.
• Press and hold the ENTER key until
the Mark Waypoint screen appears
with the coordinates of your current
location displayed.
• A default 3 digit number of the new
waypoint will display.
• The user can either change this
number or accept the default.
 You may improve accuracy by averaging
•Press the MENU key
•Select ‘Average Location’ and press the
ENTER key
•The Average Location screen should then
appear. NOTE: Do not move GPS antenna
while in this mode.
The Measurement Count field should
start counting number of measurement
used in the average. The Estimated
Accuracy value should start decreasing.
Once enough measurements is recorded
for good average of the position, press
ENTER key to save the average.
Saving Waypoint: While on the Mark Waypoint
Screen, highlight [OK] and press ENTER key to
store the point
 Deleting Waypoints
• Press the MENU key
twice.
• Select ‘Points’. Press the
ENTER key.
• Select ‘Waypoints’. Press
the ENTER key.
To delete single point
• Using ROCKER key,
highlight the desired
Waypoint.
• Press the MENU key.
• Select ‘Delete Waypoint’. To delete all point

• Highlight ‘YES’ and Press •Press the MENU key

the ENTER key to confirm •Select ‘Delete All’.

deletion. •Highlight [YES] and press the
ENTER key to confirm the deletion
Collecting GPS data as Tracks
• Use this method to collect data
especially for
– boundaries, treatment areas
etc; i.e., areas not well defined
or non-linear or curved.
– To determine the size estimate
of an area while in the field.
Procedure
• Press the MENU key twice to bring
up the Main Menu.
• Select ‘Tracks’. Press the ENTER
key, to bring up the Tacks page.
Note: Before beginning a new track,
you might consider clearing the
stored track log.
• On the Track page, press the
MENU key.
• Select ‘Setup Tracklog’. Press
ENTER key.
• On the Tracklog Setup Page, set Recording
method to:
– ‘Off’ to turn OFF tracking, or set tracking Recording to either
– ‘Stop When Full’ or ‘Wrap When Full’ to turn ON.

• The Record Method and Interval fields should

be set appropriately to the need of the specific
job. If ‘Auto’ method is used, the interval ‘Most
Often’ should be used to give best results.

• Highlight [OK] and press the ENTER key.

NOTE: The antenna needs to be kept as close as

possible to the boundary being marked. If you
need to divert from the boundary, you should
turn off tracking. Upon returning to the
boundary, turn on tracking to begin collecting
data again. Two separate track segments will
be created, which can be joined in the DNR
Garmin later.
Area calculation
• Garmin GPS has the ability to
estimate area from a single track
or multiple tracks making up same
feature.. But not from individual
points!!!
Steps
• From the Tracks page, highlight
[SAVE] and press ENTER.
• You will be given the choice to
save the entire track log, or if you Delete/remove
have multiple segments, you can this saved track
choose how far back to save. the record:
Make your choice and press the •Highlight
ENTER key. [Delete] and
• In the process of saving the track, press the ENTER
the GPS filters the track data; thus key
the calculated area may vary
somewhat from the area •The original
calculation you get in ArcGIS from track remain
the unfiltered (original) track data. stored in the
GPS internal
memory.
 Clearing Track log
• From the Tracks
page, highlight [Clear]
and press the ENTER
key.
• Highlight [YES] and
press the ENTER
key.
 Using GPS Data

Required
• DNR Garmin software (© 2001 Minesota Department
of Natural Resources) installed in your computer.

• GPS (Garmin GPSmap 76) with collected

data
 Making use of DNR Garmin: Setup

• To set Projection, select

– File -> Set Projection

NOTE: Better in the same projection as that

‘position format’ used by the GPS while
collecting the data.

Connect the GPS to computer where DNR

Garmin has been installed
Saving the downloaded data: Waypoints

NOTE: If you are finished downloading, you can shut off the GPS unit to conserve
battery life…by holding down the Power key.
Saving the downloaded data: Tracks
Appending to an existing shapefile
 Navigating with Garmin GPSmap 76
Garmin GPSmap 76 can be used to navigate (i.e.
locate) any of stored points.
1. To navigate to a point, press the NAV key.
2. Highlight ‘Go to Point’ and press the ENTER key.
3. Highlight ‘Waypoints’ and press the ENTER key;
4. One of 2 screens will appear: Waypoints by Name
or Nearest Waypoints. Use the MENU to switch
between the two. NOTE: Bottom of each screen
shows direction and distance to highlighted point.
• Waypoints by Name: Points are sorted by name.
Select desired point. Press the ENTER key.
• Nearest Waypoints: Points are sorted by distance
from your current position, (nearest being listed
first). Highlight desired point using up down of
ROCKER key. Press the ENTER key.