GIS 1 Lab 3: GPS Mapping

GIS 1 Lab 3: GPS Mapping

Geography 335 

Greg Burgess

Goals and Background

The goal of this project was to learn the basics of using a Trimble Juno GPS unit, as well as to get valuable field experience. This was done by gathering line, polygon, and point data by utilizing global positioning systems and ArcPad. Developing field mapping skills with GPS units such as these is important to any geographer, geologist or biologist who wants to get ahead in his or her field. A secondary goal was to practice creating cartographically pleasing maps. Being able to display data in a manner that is easy to read and understand is an important skill to have for any aspiring map maker.

Methods

To accomplish these goals, a geodatabase was created to house the feature sets, as well as the data we were going to collect. This was done by uploading an aerial photo of the UWEC campus, courtesy of the National Aerial Photography Program. Feature classes and associated infrastructure were set up for points, lines, and polygons. The database was then prepared for deployment and uploaded into a device for data collection. Checking out the data makes it readable by the ArcPad program installed on the Trimble units. This device was then taken into the field. 

 

For this project, points, lines and polygons were used to map trees, light posts, grass polygons and the footbridge connecting the Haas Fine Arts Center to the rest of campus. The trees and light posts were collected by standing in close proximity to the object of interest and creating a point on the GPS unit. The footbridge was mapped by creating a continuous line and walking the length of the footbridge. Grass polygons were collected by using two different methods: point streaming and point averaging. Point streaming continuously creates points on the map as the Trimble unit is moved in a polygonal shape. Point averaging requires the user of the Trimble unit to manually create points as he or she moves around the polygonal area of interest.  After data collection, the data was checked back into ArcMap GIS. Checking in the data makes it readable by the ArcMap system once again. Once this is done, the data was compiled into a map. A scale, a legend, and other basic features were then added to create a cartographically pleasing map of the University of Eau Claire campus.

Results

The result of the data collection and compilation is a map of the UWEC campus, seen below in image 1. Data has been divided into different shapes and colors depending on their feature classification. Note that the original aerial photo that this map is outdated, and the old Davies Center is still located in the center of campus. This causes the data to be inaccurate, as many of the lights, trees, and grass polygons, are now present where the old building was. The new Davies center, although it was not yet built in this image, has been outlined.

 

Image 1- A map of the University of Eau Claire campus, with buildings, grass patches, light posts, trees, and the footbridge identified. Map can be seen in a larger format by right clicking it and opening it in a new tab.

Sources

The aerial photo was provided by the National Air Photography Program (NAIP 201X).

GPS data collected by Greg Burgess on 10/16/2013.