Which GPS Should I Buy Joel Cusick Alaska Support Office Garmin Trimble PLGR Tips to Buying a GPS for Mapping Pro XR GeoExplorer 3

What a GPS Mapping Receiver should do Overview of Main GPS Receiver Types PROS/CONS of Receiver Types The Best Tool for the Job Outline

You supervise people or work in one/many parks in Alaska You want to record your field locations or map existing infrastructure, trails –Use to navigate to/from –Archive the locations in a later in a GIS You have access to the wonderful AKSO Intranet and the X:drive Assumptions

Hardware Software Support What a GPS Mapping Receiver should do

Hardware –Accuracy (How close to Truth) Meet National Mapping Accuracy Standards: –1:63,360 (32meters) –1:24,000 (12 meters) –1:5,000 (4 meters) –Precise (How reliable) –Rugged –Able to Average a Point –External Antenna options –Good on Batteries What a GPS Mapping Receiver should do

Software –Export in GIS Friendly Formats (shapes, coverages) –Capable of Controlling Attributes in the Field Data Dictionary (Name, Trail Width, Comments) –Capable of Datum Transform –Mission Planning Sky Plots Planning the day –Run on standard PC / equipment What a GPS Mapping Receiver should do

Support (AKSO) –Manufactured by Trimble, Garmin or Rockwell –GIS Products that utilize ESRI - NPS Standard ArcView ArcInfo –Ensure your data has long shelf life What a GPS Mapping Receiver should do

Recreational Grade GPS - Garmin Mapping Grade GPS - Trimble Y-Code Receivers - Rockwell PLGR+96 Overview of Main Types

Features Include: –Wide Use -Alaska National Parks/AKSO = 60 –Accuracy: Autonomous < 15meters 95% typical DGPS ready 3-5 meters 95% typical –User Friendly –Many models Garmin GPSIII+, GPSMap76, eTrex –Moving Base Maps (1:100,000 scale) Recreational Grade GPS - Garmin Garmin

Features Include: –Wide Use -Nationally –AKSO (dozen) –Accuracy: Autonomous < 15meters 95% typical Post-Process DGPS – 3-5 meters 95% typical (Geo3) –1 meter 95% typical (ProXR) –Pathfinder Office Software Data Dictionary, Mission Planning Mapping Grade GPS - Trimble Trimble

Features Include: –Rugged –Good under Canopy –999 Waypoint Storage –EHE displayed –Datum Switch seen in ASCII Out Y-Code Receivers - PLGR+96 PLGR

Garmin III+ –Pros Cheap and consistent 15 meters positions - good under canopy Good “Point tool” Fun and easy to use Integration into ArcView - relatively straightforward Battery usage is great –Cons Cheap Position accuracy not so trustworthy Not designed for GIS Mapping - relies on 3rd party software No Data Dictionary capability Decent storage of tracks/waypoints (6-10 hours) GPS for GIS - Pros and Cons

Trimble GeoExplorer 3 –Pros 1-5 meter mapping tool Point/Line/Poly Rugged Collect for 16 hours Software is excellent –Cons $4000 Firmware will be changing? Under Canopy issues - must use antenna No Data Dictionary Very small storage of tracks/waypoints(999) Need to post-process after the field (internet connection) GPS for GIS - Pros and Cons

Trimble Pro XR –Pros Top-of-the-line GIS Mapping Tool Real-time DGPS Point/Line/Poly Good under Canopy Rugged Software is excellent –Cons $10,000 Big/Bulky Firmware will be changing Training involved GPS for GIS - Pros and Cons

PLGR –Pros Consistent 15 meters positions Familiarity (bugs worked out) Good “Point tool” Rugged. Records error Integration into ArcView - relatively straightforward –Cons Older technology Heavy Terrible on batteries Club Fed only No Data Dictionary capability Very small storage of tracks/waypoints(999) GPS for GIS - Pros and Cons

Sorry… It’s a Multi - Tool Environment –Garmin –Trimble –PLGR Need to learn enough about each system to know when to use the tool –Mapping a trash can lid? - ProXR –Mapping a ATV trail - Garmin, Geo3 or ProXR –Mapping sheep from the air? - Garmin\PLGR –Mapping complex attributes? - Geo3 or ProXR –In Dense Canopy - PLGR / ProXR Right Tool for the Right Job

Garmin for navigation, point collection –Use DGPS system only if working along Gulf of Alaska, Southeast, out on the water PLGR for dense people / dense canopy For Serious GIS –Trimble Geo3 for open country mapping –Trimble Pro XR for everything Ideal GPS Toolkits

Ask Yourself 1) What are your accuracy needs? –A) resolution of the other data types –B) anticipated data for the future 2) Project Needs –A) What are your GIS skills –B) Is it just you dealing with the data 3) What part of Alaska are you working in? 4) How much money do you have? What is Best?

Where to go for more information The AKSO INTRNET (Alaska NPS Intranet) AKSO Support

GPS Toolkits Winzip Executibles –Designed for distribution –Embedded help sheets

Yearly training Events –Orienteering –Awareness Briefings –Training WRST (May 14-17) Accupoint (This summer) GPS Training