Logistics data collection with GPS and assessment forms

Transcription

1 Logistics data collection with GPS and assessment forms During emergencies, data collection in the field is the most valuable way to get up-to-date information about logistics and transport infrastructures. This guide aims to help logistics officers in the field gather data about infrastructure using GPS units and assessment forms. About GPS units Logistics Cluster IM officers and logisticians are welcome to borrow GPS field units from the GIS team in order to collect geo-referenced information while on mission. GPS units are used in emergencies to record coordinates of points of interest (logistics infrastructures and obstacles mainly) and to record tracks, i.e. roads. Data can be uploaded to a computer on a regular basis, using the free software DNRGarmin and the cable provided, and sent to LogCluster GIS officers (to deployed ones if any, or to HQ otherwise: maps@logcluster.org) for map production. Each GPS Garmin E-Trex Legend contains a micro SD card and a set of 2 rechargeable batteries. IMPORTANT: Check that the batteries are charged! Before going on mission, check also for a supporting equipment letter. It is prepared at HQ (ask Christine D.) and it can help you to go through the customs in some countries. The serial number of the GPS is written inside the battery compartment (you need to remove the batteries to read it). Calibration of GPS units This section describes the steps to verify the settings on your GPS unit, so that the data collected will be in the format useful for the GIS team. If you are familiar with your GPS unit and know that it has been calibrated, then please continue to Collecting waypoints and tracks on page Turn on the unit by pressing the power key on the right side. 2. To reach the main menu, press twice (2x) the key on the left side. E-Trex s main menu 3. Get the satellites: Highlight Satellite icon with the rocker and press down. NOTE: This is automatic but may take a while. Please modify the other parameters (see the following steps) while this happens. NOTE: Once you have at least 4 steady signals, the GPS will show the coordinates of the place where you are. The more satellites you get, the more accurate your position will be. Stay away from buildings and big trees as much as possible. The first time you acquire the satellites in a new place, it can take several minutes. If after 5 minutes you still do not get at least 4 simultaneous signals, you should reconsider the place where you are trying to get the position. the Satellite page Updated 4 August 2010 PUBLIC USE 1 of 6

2 4. Mute the tones: Menu/Setup/Tones check Mute option 5. Select the right time zone: Menu/Setup/Time choose the right time zone for the place you are NOTE: Once the GPS has enough satellite signals, the time will set up accordingly. 6. Choose the right units: Menu/Setup/Units Position Format: hdddd.ddddd (decimal degrees) Map Datum: WGS 84 Distance/Speed: metric Elevation (Vert. Speed): m/s Depth: metres 7. Check that tracking is on: Menu/Tracks check on option Once all those parameters have been checked or modified, you can go back to the satellites reception page (Menu/Satellite). If your position is established, you can start to collect data! If you still have any issues or questions, ask the closest GIS officer or write to Collecting waypoints and tracks As mentioned earlier, there are two types of data that can be collected on a GPS unit: 1. waypoints (coordinates of points of interest, e.g. bridges, airports, warehouses, etc.) and 2. tracks (e.g. roads, railways, etc.) More about the types of points and tracks to gather are described in the subsequent sections. It is essential to keep a log of the waypoints and tracks you collect! A sample log page is attached to the end of this document. When gathering data, you must note down at minimum the GPS Waypoint No. and the name and description of what exists there. A look at the sample log page attached to the end of this guide Updated 4 August 2010 PUBLIC USE 2 of 6

3 To collect waypoints A complete set of coordinates for a waypoint should include latitude, longitude and elevation, though the latitude and longitude coordinates are the most important. These data are automatically recorded each time you mark a waypoint. 1. Turn on your GPS unit and check that the satellite reception is ok. You can do so by going to the Satellite page (Menu/Satellite) and making sure that you see coordinates displayed there. 2. When you are ready to record a waypoint, click on Menu/Mark. 3. The Mark Waypoint screen will appear showing the coordinates that are being recorded. NOTE: You should see the coordinates displayed in decimal degrees and the elevation in metres (as pictured at right). If not, then you should refer to the previous section on calibrating the GPS unit. NOTE: For your information, within the coordinates displayed in Location, the N or S designation is the latitude coordinate and the E or W designation is the longitude coordinate. All waypoints require both. 4. Be sure to write down the 3-digit waypoint number (next to the blue flag) and the name and description of what exists there in your log. This information is essential! 5. Click on OK to accept the waypoint. Each time you arrive at a location that you wish to capture, repeat the process from steps 2 to 5. Types of Points to Collect For the GIS team, points of interest relating to transport infrastructure, e.g. airports, ports, bridges, obstacles, etc., are particularly needed. Other points of interest for WFP, e.g. warehouses, food procurement points, food distribution points, etc., are also gladly accepted. Type of Waypoint Port Aerodrome Obstacle (Road Blockage) Bridge Settlement Warehouse Fuel Station Information to record in the log (always record the GPS point # too!) Name, type (seaport, river port, lake port, etc.), status (open/closed) Name, type (airport, airfield, airstrip, helicopter landing zone), status Type of blockage (avalanche, snow and ice, landslide) Name, construction, practicability Settlement name (please be careful with spellings, transliterations, etc) Name of agency, name of warehouse (usu. name of closest settlement) Name of station (BP, etc.) For transport-related infrastructure, the GIS team has developed a set of assessment forms to facilitate data collection. For example, when you are evaluating a bridge, the data collection process should be: 1. record the GPS waypoint for the bridge and its short name and description in your log; 2. then fill out the bridge assessment form, which will provide the GIS team and the entire humanitarian community with attributes data for that bridge, such as its practicability, its type, and its construction. Assessment forms for data collection are publicly available in various languages at Updated 4 August 2010 PUBLIC USE 3 of 6

4 To collect tracks Your GPS unit should be calibrated to automatically record tracks. However, to make this information useable on maps, you MUST collect a waypoint at the beginning and end of each section of road and fill in your log for each waypoint. Please follow the steps below. 1. Turn on your GPS unit and check that the satellite reception is ok. You can do so by going to the Satellite page (Menu/Satellite) and making sure that you see coordinates displayed there. 2. The track log starts recording as soon as your GPS unit gets a location fix. If you have NOT collected any road tracks yet, go to Menu/Tracks and select clear to clear the track log. NOTE: Once the track log reaches 99% full, it will begin overwriting the oldest track data. You must download your data before this happens and clear the track log! NOTE: The GPS will continue recording tracks even when you are not moving. If you are not collecting data, you should turn the unit off to save battery and memory. 3. When beginning to track a road (for example, when you drive onto a road you want to collect), record a waypoint by clicking on Menu/Mark. Note in your log that it is a beginning point for a road segment. See the example in the next section. NOTE: If you are recording a track from a vehicle, keep the GPS unit in a place where the signal strength is good, such as the dashboard. Some units have an external antenna that mounts on the car; this is ideal. The GPS will give you a message if it loses contact with the satellites. 4. When ending a road track, collect another waypoint and note in your log that it is an end point for a road segment started at waypoint XXX. Remember to also note the road class and road practicability according to the tables below. See the example in the next section. Each time you have a road segment that you wish to capture, repeat steps 3 and 4. Road Functional Class Description What it means 1 Highway high-volume traffic; maybe designated by gov t as hwy 2 Primary major routes between major cities in different regions 3 Secondary routes connecting smaller cities/towns in different regions 4 Tertiary routes connecting important cities/towns within one region 5 Local/Urban city roads, residential roads 6 Trail minor routes, usually poorly maintained, within one region 7 Private privately owned road by individuals or corporations Road Practicability Description What it means 1 Non-motorized Not passable by motorized vehicles 2 Motorbike Passable by only motorbikes 3 4WD < 3.5MT Passable by all vehicles up to 4WD size 4 Light truck < 10MT Passable by all, up to size of light truck 5 Heavy truck < 20MT Passable by all, up to size of heavy truck 6 Truck+Trailer > 20MT Passable by all vehicles, including trucks + trailers The GIS Unit is always in need of good road data! Please use the SDIT roads and obstacles assessment form publicly available in various languages at and submit to maps@logcluster.org. Updated 4 August 2010 PUBLIC USE 4 of 6

5 Example This example illustrates the data collection for a road that travels over a bridge. First, the beginning point of the road segment is noted as waypoint 037. Then, the bridge is noted as waypoint 038. The requisite attributes are also recorded. Lastly, the ending point of the road segment is noted as waypoint 039. In the name and description field, we refer back to waypoint 037 as the starting point. We also recorded the road grade and road practicability data. NOTE: These waypoints can be recorded in any order. As long as the road ending entries refer to the waypoint number of a road beginning of the same grade and quality, GIS officers should be able to use your data. If you forget to record an end point or begin point, you can record it later when you pass by the same spot. Deleting waypoints If you find that you have marked waypoints in the wrong location, it is possible to delete them. However, note that, when you delete a waypoint, you cannot recover it from the GPS unit. To delete a single waypoint 1. Go to Menu/Find/Waypoints 2. Select the waypoint you want to delete 3. Click Delete To delete all waypoints (for example, after you have downloaded all your data) 1. Go to Menu/Find/Waypoints 2. Once you see the list of waypoints, press the key on the unit s left hand side. 3. Scroll to Delete. 4. Choose All Symbols, then Ok to delete all waypoints. Updated 4 August 2010 PUBLIC USE 5 of 6

6 Download data from the GPS unit to a computer for transfer to GIS officers Once you have collected the GPS data that you wanted, you can download them from the GPS unit and share them with GIS officers. The following directions pertain to DNRGarmin, an open source program designed by the GIS Section of the U.S. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. It provides the ability to transfer data between Garmin GPS units and various GIS software packages. DNRGarmin (version 5.4.1) is available from the GIS Unit at HQ or can be downloaded from Installing and connecting your GPS unit 1. Install DNRGarmin by saving and the dnrgarminsetup53.exe file. 2. Once it is installed, launch DNRGarmin. Ignore and OK any Port does not exist errors. 3. Go to GPS/Set Port. Select USB port. 4. Connect your GPS to the computer and turn it on. 5. Go to GPS/Open Port. The status bar in the bottom right should say Connected. 6. Choose Waypoint/Properties & uncheck every box below comment. 7. Choose Track/Properties and uncheck every box below new_seg. Downloading waypoints 1. Choose Waypoint/Download. All waypoints in the unit will be downloaded. Do not click any of the radio buttons at the bottom of the screen (Track, Route, etc.). 2. The waypoint numbers are in one of the fields, called ident. In the comment field, you can enter the information you collected about the point in your log. However, note that any entry over 50characters will be truncated later in the process. NOTE: Alternatively, you can enter the information on your log into a spreadsheet or you can scan your log. JUST be sure to submit your log along with the GPS data! 3. Choose File/Save to/file. Enter a name for the file and select ArcView Shapefile (Projected) as the type. The file can be named as follows: GPS_[ISO3]_[your last name]_point_yymmdd. 4. Zip the files and send. Delete the waypoints from the GPS unit to avoid duplication later. Downloading tracks 1. Go to Track/Download. Any data in the table will be replaced with track points and all tracks in the unit will be downloaded as a series of point locations. Do not click any of the radio buttons at the bottom of the screen (Track, Route, etc.). 2. Choose File/Save to/file. Enter a name for the file and select ArcView Shapefile (Projected) as the type. The file can be named as follows: GPS_[ISO3]_[your last name]_track_yymmdd. 3. Zip the files and send. Delete the waypoints from the GPS unit to avoid duplication later. NOTE: These instructions have been adapted from those produced by UNJLC, HIC Pakistan and USAID in December Updated 4 August 2010 PUBLIC USE 6 of 6