MODULE 5:

Uploading GPX files

in RCM Advisory Service
 CONTENTS

Must Know Terminologies

Uploading of Basic Use of

GPX files Garmin BaseCamp
Must Know
 Module 5 discusses the procedure for submitting
GPS tracks into the RCM Advisory Service database.

Objectives:
At the end of this lesson, the participants are
MUST KNOW

expected to be able to:

 familiarize with the terminologies

 upload GPX files
 use Garmin BaseCamp for minor editing of
GPX files
Terminologies
 Terminologies

GPS track – “A track is a recording of your path. The

track log contains information about points along the
recorded path, including time, location, and elevation
for each point.”
(elevation not available in some GPS device)

GPX file – “GPS Exchange Format, is an XML schema

designed as a common GPS data format for software
applications. It can be used to describe waypoints,
tracks, and routes. The format is open and can be used
without the need to pay license fees.”
 Terminologies
Operational definition (1)
Filename – used to identify the GPX file and has an extension
of “.gpx”. Usually saved as:
“Track_(GPX ID).gpx” (e.g. Track_4604-00006-01.gpx) after area
calculation; but can also be renamed to:
“(GPX ID).gpx” (e.g. 4604-00006-01.gpx)

Track name – used to identify the GPS track generated after

area calculation. Valid track names are those that are named
using the corresponding GPX ID

“GPX ID” should be identical between the filename and track

name of each uploaded GPX file
 Terminologies

File name File type or File size

“Track_(GPX ID) extension (.gpx) (KB) Kilo bytes
 Terminologies
Operational definition (2)
Empty GPX file – GPX file does not show any track when
opened in GIS software (e.g. Garmin BaseCamp). Usual
indication is file size not more than 2KB

Corrupted GPX file – GPX file cannot be opened in GIS

software (e.g. Garmin BaseCamp)

Area calculated – area calculated for a GPS track is

considered valid between the range of 500 square
meters to 10 hectares based on agreed definition of a
farm lot (one management unit)
 Terminologies
Operational definition (3)
Trackpoints – “…don’t have names or symbols. They may
have a date/time stamp that allows the speed to be
calculated for the track leg”
(track leg = line connecting two trackpoints)
1. Track leg between start and end points more than 10 meters
is invalid
2. Leg time more than 5 seconds is invalid
3. Trackpoints without date/time stamp invalid

Overlapping tracks – considering the level of accuracy in

GPS measurement, overlapping tracks are allowed up to
20% area overlap.
 Terminologies

Trackpoints

GPS track

Track leg
 Terminologies
Operational definition (3)
Track leg between start and end points more than 10 meters not considered valid
 Terminologies
Operational definition (3)
Leg time more than 5 seconds is not considered valid
 Terminologies
Operational definition (3)
Trackpoints without date/time stamp is not considered valid
 Terminologies
Operational definition (3)
Overlapping tracks – considering the level of accuracy in GPS measurement,
overlapping tracks are allowed up to 20% area overlap.

≤ 20% of size of
both farm lot
Uploading of
GPX files
Transfer GPX files to laptop or PC

1. Create a new folder in My

Documents in your
laptop/PC and name it
GEO-REFERENCED FIELDS
Transfer GPX files to laptop or PC
2. Connect the handheld GPS device to the
laptop/PC using the cord provided with
the GPS device
Transfer GPX files to laptop or PC

3. Open the file location:

Computer > Garmin eTrex20x > Garmin > GPX
Transfer GPX files to laptop or PC
4. Copy the content of the folder and Paste to
the folder GEO-REFERENCED FIELDS in your
laptop/PC
 Uploading GPX
1 Upload GPX:
-automated checking of tracks

-saves valid tracks in database

-informs user the errors of

Register farmer and invalid tracks
field to generate
ID number

2 3

Determine field area

using GPS
 Uploading GPX
Upload GPX function allows user to
quickly verify the tracks
• User access requires log-in credentials

• 10 GPX files can be submitted at a time

• Automatically inserts the area (ha) and

location (long-lat) of verified tracks into the
FFR database
Uploading GPX

1. Go to: http
://webapps.irri.org/ph/rcmffr/

2. Select Upload GPX

3. Enter valid log-in

credentials

4. Select Choose Files

 Uploading GPX

5. Go to file folder where the GPX files are saved and

select maximum of 10 files per upload
6. Click Open
Uploading GPX

7. Check the number of

files before uploading
8. Click Submit GPX
Uploading GPX

Validation status will be

displayed after the
system is done
processing the
submitted files

Usually takes 1-2

minutes per upload
 System processing of uploaded GPX files

Step 1: file query Step 2: db query Step 3: file query Step 4: check for
Conclusion
(file process only) Check presence (track process) overlap

1. File is empty or
corrupted
2. 1 file: multiple
tracks
3. 1 file: 1 track 4. GPS track already
verified in db
5. Not yet in db 6. File name and track
name do not match
7. No ID assigned in db
(GPX ID not found)
8. Leg time > 5 sec.
Note:
9. No date/time stamp
means stop processing
10.Track leg between
start and end points
If GPS track is already
> 10 meters
verified in db, notify user
11.Area < 1000 sqm.
with details on: 12.Area > 10 ha.
1. Date uploaded 13. Track is ok 14.Track overlaps
2. Track name with other track
3. Verified area 15.No overlap File is successfully
validated!
 Uploading of GPX files is Unsuccessful
Checking of GPX file and FFR database
Causes of unsuccessful upload
File is empty (file size is 2KB or
smaller) or corrupted
GPX file might have been damaged
or corrupted while being copied
from handheld device to laptop/PC
One GPX file contains multiple GPS
tracks
This usually happens when files are
edited incorrectly using GIS
software
Same farm lot has verified GPS
track in database already
Information to user What to do
GPX file is empty or Check the handheld device for the
corrupted backup of GPX file
If still available, copy the file to
laptop/PC then submit again,
otherwise re-do measurement
GPX filename and track This can be prevented by proper
name do not match saving/exporting of files
Check the handheld device for the
backup of GPX file and re-do
editing, if necessary
Already verified! Check information on previously
plus information on area verified track
of GPS track in database If area is similar, no need to do
anything, otherwise go to “Contact
Us” for needed replacement in
database.
 Uploading of GPX files is Unsuccessful
Checking of GPS track within the GPX file (1)
Causes of unsuccessful upload Information to user What to do
GPX filename is different from GPS GPX filename and track This can be prevented by proper
track name name do not match saving/exporting of files
This usually happens when files are Check the handheld device for the
edited incorrectly using GIS backup of GPX file and re-do
software editing, if necessary

GPX filename does not match any
GPX ID in database
Possibly, the farm lot is not yet
registered in FFR or the track was
incorrectly saved in the handheld
device after measuring the farm lot
Not found in the If measured farm lot is not yet
database or no field registered, use FFR to update
assigned registration of farmer and add new
field
If track was incorrectly saved,
rename track or re-do
measurement, if necessary

Leg time is more than 5 seconds Some or all waypoints This can be prevented through
interval is greater than proper setup of handheld device
five (5) seconds Re-do measurement, if necessary
 Uploading of GPX files is Unsuccessful
Checking of GPS track within the GPX file (2)
Causes of unsuccessful upload Information to user What to do
GPS track has no date/time stamp Some or all waypoints Measure the farm lot using the
Possibly, the GPS track was screen has no date and time proper setup of handheld device
digitized instead of actual
measurement of the farm lot

Track leg between start and end Start and end point is Edit GPS track using GIS software, if
points is more than 10 meters apart by 10 meters or possible
more Re-do measurement, if necessary

The farm lot measured is too small Area is greater than 10 Currently, we only consider, as one
(with allowance of minus 50sqm or hectares or less than management unit, farm lot that has
5% of 0.1 hectare = 950sqm 1,000 square meters area between the range of 0.1 to
minimum allowed) 10 hectares for planting rice

The farm lot measured is too large Area is greater than 10 Currently, we only consider, as one
for one management unit hectares or less than management unit, farm lot that has
(more than 10 ha) 1,000 square meters area between the range of 0.1 to
10 hectares for planting rice
 Uploading of GPX files is Unsuccessful
Checking for overlap
Causes of unsuccessful upload Information to user What to do
GPS track for a farm lot overlaps Overlap with other field Check which farm lot was correctly
with adjacent measured farm for measured and re-do measurement
more than 20% of the area of of the other
either farm

Incorrectly
Incorrectly
measured
measured Correctly
Correctly
measured
measured
Need
Need to
to re-do
re-do
measurement
measurement
GPX files is successfully validated!
 Basic Use of
Garmin BaseCamp
 Geographic Information System (GIS)

“Garmin Basecamp is software from Garmin for

viewing maps, waypoints, routes and tracks, and
transferring them to or from a Garmin GPS device. It is
available to download free of charge for Windows or
Mac OS X.”
 System Requirements
 Windows Vista SP2, Windows 7 SP1 or later is required. Machines with
earlier operating systems can use BaseCamp 4.2.5.
 .NET framework 4.6 is required. A current version of .NET will be
installed if needed.
 1 GB of system memory is required, 2 GB of system memory is
recommended when using BirdsEye Imagery or Garmin Custom Maps.
 A video card that supports OpenGL version 1.3 or later is needed to
enable the 3D view.
 If you experience problems when interacting with the map views,
please make sure that you have installed current video card drivers.
 BaseCamp will recognize all MapSource products except BlueChart.
 BaseCamp does not work with serial GPS devices.
 Using Garmin BaseCamp
1. Install Garmin BaseCamp software in your computer
or laptop. Download from:
https://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=4435

2. Download GPX files from the handheld GPS device

(Garmin Etrex20X)

3. Check the GPX files with errors using the software

4. “Edit” GPS tracks or rename the GPX files, if possible

5. Upload “edited” GPX files through FFR website

Using Garmin BaseCamp
1. Use the software Garmin BaseCamp
to check the GPX files with errors
Using Garmin BaseCamp

2. Initially select “My Collection”

Using Garmin BaseCamp

3. Create new folder by

selecting:
File > New > List Folder
Using Garmin BaseCamp

4. Name the new folder using the

location and date
(ex. SantaMaria 20may2016)
Using Garmin BaseCamp

5. After creating the new folder

(SantaMaria 20may2016), click
“File” and import into the named
folder the gpx files
Using Garmin BaseCamp
6. Import the files from the folder
“GEO-REFERENCED FIELDS”

7. Select all files and click “Open”

Using Garmin BaseCamp

Import of data may take

several seconds or minutes
depending on the number of
files selected
Using Garmin BaseCamp

Information shown at the upper

window are the filenames of GPX files

Information shown at the lower window are the

track names of the GPS tracks

This is the exact same name inputted right after

measuring the field while saving the track
Using Garmin BaseCamp

8. Right-click on the folder name

and select “Show on Map” to
directly go to the embedded
tracks on the map
Using Garmin BaseCamp

The tracks can be seen as clustered when

the folder is selected at the upper window
of BaseCamp

9. Select entry at the lower window to

highlight and check the specific GPS track
 Using Google Earth

The tracks can also be viewed in Google Earth and rendered on

satellite image of the location
 Example of errors in GPS measurement

End point

Starting point

Wrong track name

End point did not reach and pass (used farmer name instead of GPX ID)
through the starting point
 Example of errors in GPS measurement

Improperly closed track

Unfinished track (not closed) (not saved at the right end point)
 Example of errors in GPS measurement

Overlapping tracks
Tracks that do not contain sufficient
(incorrect boundaries)
trackpoints (possibly due to use of
other devices instead of the
recommended handheld GPS device)
Questions?
For questions/comments about RCM AS


https://www.facebook.com/rice.crop.manager

Rice Crop
Manager