GIS automation through integration with PDA and GPS field units

Transcription

1 GIS automation through integration with PDA and GPS field units This presentation shares project tools for automating field data collection using GIS, PDAs and related technologies. Michael Welch Systems Specialist, Tt, Inc. Charles M. Appleby BRAC Environmental Coordinator, Army

2 Overview of Tools & Technologies PDA Field Tools and GIS/GPS Data PDA Field Sampling & Chain of Custody and Access Tools Remediation/Excavation Field PDA/GIS Tools (Stockpiles, Volumes, Off-Site Shipments, Manifest, & Bill-of-Laden) Pipeline, Wells, Tanks, and Spill PDA/GIS and Access Tools AutoCAD/GIS Automation (Automated Chemical Results Boxes) Using PDAs and Barcodes for Inventories (HAZMART Inventory - techniques also apply to sampling/reporting) Wrap-up and Q & A Outline

3 Hardware Summary: Personal Digital Assistants with: Built-in WiFi & Bluetooth, PDA Mass Storage Cards, Hand-held WAAS-enable GPS units, Digital Cameras, USB flash-memory and hubs, Desktop, Laptop PC Systems, and Network storage.

4 PDAs many forms and many options Windows & Palm OS Units Mobile Phones/VOIP Phones Bluetooth & WiFI Built-in GPS Memory Cards & Mass Storage Network Adapters, Car Kits, Headsets Keyboard Add-ons, Cables, etc. Digital Cameras windowsmobile/pocketpc/default.mspx

5 Software Summary: Software was integrated to meet various project needs: Windows Pocket PC, ESRI ArcGIS & ArcPAD, ESRI ArcPAD Application Builder, Custom GIS, GPS, and PDA Applications for Data Automation Microsoft Active Sync to move data onto desktop and LAN systems. Database Systems (e.g. Access, SQL Server, Oracle, etc.)

6 ArcPAD Uses: Note: ArcPAD 7 has been released. Many new features Courtesy of ESRI

7 GPS Equipment many forms and many options

8 Global Positioning Systems (GPS) Global Positioning is quickly becoming a leading way to obtain geographical information for use in a GIS environment. To make an informed GPS purchase it is important to understand the limits of the different GPS category types and factors which effect accuracy. Global Positioning System consists of three components: Space Segment - transmits radio signals from satellites. Control Segment - tracks and controls the satellite. User Segment/Receiver - captures the satellite signals and processes them along with earth-based signals to accurately produce location GPS Positioning Error: Effected by factors such as the atmosphere and local geographic environment. GPS positioning error can be corrected or improved by a couple of techniques. GPS Receiver Accuracy: GPS Units are categorized by their functional use and the implied accuracy needs of those functions.

9 GPS Error Sources No Signal : (Tree Canopy, Building Obstructions, Equipment/User Error) accounts for Poor quality or No Data Ephemeris errors: (Satellite location) accounts for about a 2 meter error. Satellite clock error: accounts for about a 2 meter error. Atmospheric error: Ionospheric errors, where free electrons in the ionosphere slow down the signal, accounts for an error of 2 5 meters. Tropospheric error, caused by variations in humidity, temperature and air pressure, accounts for an error of less than 1 meter. Receiver error: caused by receiver & satellite clock discrepancies. Multipath errors: are the bouncing of the signal off of solid objects, increasing the time to reach the receiver. This accounts for about 1.5 meters of error. Positional Dilution of Position (PDOP) Errors: are caused when satellites are positioned too closely together. The effect of PDOP is so great that it multiplies the sum of all of the other errors. Therefore, if the cumulative total of the other errors is 5 meters, and the PDOP factor is 3, the total error is 15 meters.

10 GPS Error Correction Techniques Point Averaging The receiver collects data at specified intervals at a desired location and averages that data in a waypoint file. This waypoint file contains the averaged value for a location. Differential GPS (DGPS) Modifies the calculated location of the field (rover) unit based on the error calculated by another receiver at a known location, called a base station. Post-processing: the rover unit creates a rover file whose locations are then compared to the data collected by the base station. It then generates a delta value that can be used to correct rover file positions. Real-time DGPS: uses the same principle of using correction data from a known source, but does it at the time of data collection rather than later. It requires a receiver capable of receiving data transmitted by services that contain the correction factor Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS): are similar, although free, satellite transmission signals as part of the FAA s GPS-navigation system designed to assist aircraft during take off and landing.

11 Types of GPS Receivers. many options Recreational Receivers: Lowest Cost - $100-$300 Lowest Accuracy meters, 1-5 meter with WAAS correction. Uses include Hiking, Boating and Driver Navigation and basic mapping Manufacturers include Garmin, Magellen, others. Mapping Grade Receivers: Cost - $500-$15000 Middle Accuracy 1-5 meters, 1M to 10cm accuracy with post processing or real-time DGPS correction. Uses include GIS Map making, Environmental Sampling. Manufacturers include Trimble, Leica, Thalles, others. Survey Grade Receivers: Cost - $30000 Highest Accuracy Sub-meter and 1cm accuracy with post processing or real-time DGPS correction. Uses include Surveying, Construction. Manufacturers include Trimble, Leica, others.

12 Workflow Summary: PROJECT TOOLS integrated a variety of technologies: CENTRAL PROJECT GIS POINTS (samples, wells, photos, etc.) LINES (boundaries, flowlines, piping, natural features) Field GIS On-Screen GIS Editing Tools Digital Camera Integration Hand-held GIS TABLES POLYGONS (data records, abandonment & field (samles, well pads, reserve notes, evidence of contamination, photo pits, spills, project records, general project data) boundaries, natural features) MICROSOFT ACTIVESYNC Real-Time GIS Data Updates Well Pads Reserve Pits Automated Menus and Pick-lists (e.g. Wells, Well Pads, Reserve Pits, etc.) Mobile Handheld GPS

13 PDA Field Tools and GIS/GPS Data: Forms A Pocket PC equipped with ArcPad can collect spatial information from a GPS unit. Spatial data such as points, lines and polygons are saved in real world coordinates as shapefiles for import into GIS and CAD applications. Custom forms have been designed to collect attribute data or complex relation data. For example, a soil boring location represented by a point can have a sub-table of samples collected at various depths.

14 Remediation and Excavation PDA/GIS Tools Manage sampling Delineate excavation zones and approximate weights and volumes Delineate areas of clean fill and approximate their weights and volumes Manage Soils Stockpiles and Coordinate the overall soil excavation process.

15 Excavation PDA Tools Excavation polygons can be defined by GPS or sketch. Excavation Zones are defined and area dimensions and approximate density are input. The volumes and weights are calculated and used in defining stockpiles and fill areas.

16 Excavation & Sampling PDA Tools Post-excavation sampling points are defined automatically by GPS or by hand sketch. Sampling information such as sample ID, sample data, location, excavation zone, etc., are collected. Multiple samples per location can be collected. For example, you can add samples collected at different depths. Program test methodologies can be loaded and assigned to each sample which can be used in electronic chain of custody forms.

17 On-Site Fill PDA Estimation Tools On-site Fill polygons can be defined by GPS or sketch in similar fashion to excavations. Also the area and approximate densities are used to determine the volume and weight of the fill soil. On-site fill soil is subtracted from the mass of the stockpile it was taken from. If more than one stockpile is needed to fill a given area, the fill areas need to e broken into multiple polygons, each representing a single stockpile.

18 Stockpiles PDA Tools (Slide 1) Stockpiles are represented by points on the map. As excavation soil is added to a stockpile, the total weight and volume is recalculated based on a weighted average density. If soil is removed from the stockpile to be used as on-site fill or to be transported off-site, the stockpile weight and volume is subtracted from. A mass balance of the excavation site is maintained through stockpiles.

19 Stockpiles PDA Tools (Slide 2) Off-site soil shipments from stockpiles are managed under a tab in the stockpile edit form. Manifest or Bill of Lading information is entered along with the volume and weight of transport.

20 Waste Classification Sampling PDA Tools Stockpiles are sampled for waste classification to determine usability as on-site fill or off-site transportation and storage. Samples are added in a similar fashion to post-excavation sampling. Sample ID, dates, method, etc., are collected along with the test methods the samples will be analyzed for. Chain of custody forms can be created automatically from this data.

21 Pipeline, Wells, Tanks, and Spill Tools The PDA/GPS Application Managed Complex GIS Data The Project Team used PDA/GPS Field Tools. A PDA/GPS application standardized data for oil wells, well pads, tanks, spills, reserve pits, pipelines, photos, notes, and other data. ESRI ArcPad was used to build a customized PDA tool and is adaptable for future uses. Import/export routines keep the data compatible with a central GIS.

22 GIS/PDA Overview, Data Types, and Benefits PDAs Tablet PCs Laptops Desktops The ArcPAD GIS system ran across hardware tools. DATA TYPES Numerous data types were incorporated into the PDA field and office tools on this project: Wells and Well Pads Reserve Pits and Tanks Pipelines and Flare-pits Surveys and Inspections Remediation/Abandonment Data Aerial Imagery & GIS Base Maps Ground-based Digital Photos Evidence of Contamination/Spills Hydrography/Topography BENEFITS The use of these technologies and tools yielded many benefits to this project: Real Time Data Collection Collected Digital GIS/GPS Data Standardized Data Values Automation created efficiency Cost-effective approach Open, non-proprietary, cross-platform design The system worked across hardware tools Worked with the Client s IT Group

23 Pipeline, Wells, Tanks, Spills Tools - Example * This is a poster available at full-size, its web graphic may take a few seconds to load..

24 Custody Manager Menu A Portable Access Analytical database is the repository for field PDA sampling data. Laboratory analytical results and chain of custodies are created from this data. Automatic Importing of PDA data Import/Restore COC data allows the merge COC data from multiple databases into a master database or archiving. Export/Backup Data. Build and Print COCs function is used to create chain of custodies. COCs are archived so they can be reviewed or reprinted using the View or Reprint COCs option. Automated Importing of laboratory electronic deliverables.

25 Select Samples and Test Requirements The COC Wizard is used to create new chain of custodies. Samples are selected from the list of samples imported from PDA data. Additional information, such as the laboratory instructions are added and the COC is generated.

26 Create Chain of Custody (COC) The COC print preview this is also adaptable to various Projects & lab EDDs

27 AutoCAD Analytical Data Toolbar Sample Points A Custom Toolbar has been Created for use in AutoCAD. This toolbar launches a Data Wizard to bring Analytical Data into a current CAD Drawing.

28 Results Call-Out Boxes The AutoCAD data table routine creates call-out boxes of analytical data with a direct connection to the analytical database. The data to be displayed in AutoCAD is first prepared in the database in the form of a query or table. The sample ids in the drawing must match the sample ids in the database for the box to be drawn. There are 2 styles of boxes, a single sampling event with multiple analyte results, and a single analyte tested over a series of sampling events.

29 Data Wizard: Select Results Data (Slide 1) Clicking the Data Tables toolbar button opens the Table Builder dialog. The dialog has 3 tabs, Select Data to Import, Drawing Information, and Make Tables. You can not proceed to the next tab until you properly complete the current tab.

30 Data Wizard: Select Results Data (Slide 2) Select the MS Access database where the data resides. Select the table of query containing the data. The bottom window will display the data that will be used for the tables. Once fill in, you can proceed to the next tab, Drawing Information.

31 Data Wizard: Match Data to CAD Drawing The Drawing Information tab will display any Sample IDs found on the drawing along with their insertion points. The rotation in radians is also displayed. Enter the title for the new layer that will contain the call-out boxes.

32 Data Wizard: Make CAD Tables Select the Table Type: 1. The first type of table is for a single sampling event with a table listing 1 or more analytes. 2. The second Table Type is for a single analyte displaying the results over several sampling events. Once selected, click Make Tables to create the Call-Out boxes.

33 Analytical Results Box Layers The data tables and matching leader-lines are drawn and can be further positioned as desired. Since the data tables are drawn in a distinct layer, you can run it several times for different suits of analytes and turn on the desired data tables as needed. The layers can be used in both CAD and GIS after they are created.

34 Using PDAs and Barcodes for Inventories (Hazmart Inventory Example) The application was created to quickly collect HAZMART facility inventories into a database and generate a report of changes as compared to the master database. These tools can work for both inventories as well as sampling procedures. Equipment consisted of a standard Pocket PC device with a compact flash barcode scanner attachment. Barcode Reader snaps into the PDA

35 Barcode Inventory Details Data is stored in Microsoft Access compact database format for ease of synchronization with a desktop database. A barcode scanner inputs data directly to the form with a push of a button. Data is validated to ensure completeness and prevent duplications of input. The application is written in Microsoft Embedded Visual Basic so it could be installed on multiple PDAs with no added licensing cost issues.

36 Lessons Learned Know the client s project objectives as best as possible before design stages Obtain as much data as possible early in the process Build a data model of tables, layers, and relationships (Visio in concert with a database works well) Determine the accuracy appropriate for the work (e.g. Environmental Sampling vs. Engineering Surveying) Provide current Hardware/Software options and purchase equipment appropriate to the data accuracy and objectives Obtain feedback from field crews as quickly as possible Start your initial process ahead of the field season Make sure that the field teams know how to use the equipment Expect that batteries fail. Buy extra batteries, keep them charged, and instruct field crews how to routinely save data to non-volatile memory (e.g. memory cards) or mass storage backup drives.

37 Project Benefits The use of these technologies and tools yielded many benefits on these projects: The tools helped client s meet data Management Objectives Real Time Data Collection Collected Digital GIS/GPS Data Standardized Data Values Automation created efficiency Cost-effective approach Open, non-proprietary, cross-platform design The system worked across hardware tools

38 Michael Welch Systems Specialist, Tt, Inc. (716) Charles M. Appleby BRAC Environmental Coordinator, Army Wrap-Up and Q & A