About | gpsworkshops

The importance of proficient GPSing

Upskill your team. Improve the efficiency of your project.

Second only to its people, the trapping and bait station infrastructure of a biodiversity protection group may be its most valuable asset: it is the tangible realization of time and effort invested by the group's members and volunteers, costing real dollars to create, and continuing to demand resources for operation.

Having a precise and up-to-date understanding of your network infrastructure is crucial for recognizing and managing changes that occur, for reporting to stakeholders, and for writing new funding requests. This same information underlies the ability to represent a project in modern, online databases and allows a project to understand operational trends. A well-documented infrastructure is attractive to experimental research organizations and may in time lead to advancement in recognized best practices.

The ubiquitous GPS receiver is a valuable tool for capturing infrastructure state. Trap and bait station locations can be mapped with precision in position and in elevation. Trap lines and bait lines can be tracked, their elevation profiles plotted, and maps produced to improve trapper safety and efficiency. This information can be easily shared among a fleet of GPS receivers and can become the foundation upon which online data is set.

A working knowledge of GPS operation and its relationship to published topographic maps is crucial in the event of a search or rescue operation. Whether aiding in an emergency situation or needing to be found, individuals who can use a GPS with confidence will be stronger, more resilient, and ultimately safer.

Using a GPS receiver confidently to produce consistent, high quality data requires a uniform approach to receiver operation and data collection. The Level 1 GPS Workshop has been designed to take users through a logical sequence of first becoming confident in handling a GPS and then introducing the concepts needed for creating and sustaining an infrastructure data set. Experiences from field use are woven throughout the presentation making the content more relevant and useful.

What's in it?

The Level 1 GPS Workshop takes about 6 hours to present and discuss. Add some time for lunch, questions, and extra hands-on time and you're up to 7 hours start to finish. There are over 100 slides in the presentation with numerous links to external websites and local software programmes. Two handouts accompany the workshop: a list of online resources and a topographic map section used for practice. A pdf of the presentation slideset is available for download or printing prior to the workshop.

Workshop topics lead logically from introductory to hands-on to advanced applications through the day.

Custom workshops can be tailored to the needs of your conservation group or groups.

The workshop outline

Introduction to GPS - Where did it come from and how does it work?
GPS receivers - A look at popular models and their features. How do smartphone apps stack up?
GPS content - What's on a GPS? What are waypoints, tracks, and routes all about?
GPS operation - A brief tour of the GPS operation and some important settings.
Accuracy - How accurate is my GPS really?
Hands-on - Light the fires and kick the tyres. We push buttons together.
Lunch break - A lot to digest so far...
Safety applications - Finding your way with compass, latitude/longitude, east/north and topo maps.
Building your GPS infrastructure - Collecting the data for your conservation group.
Using GPS data files - Some examples of software you can use to manipulate your GPS data.
Geographic Information System (GIS) software - a brief introduction of capabilities and resources

Supported by

An initiative of the Waikato Biodiversity Forum and developed under funding and with support from Waikato Regional Council and the Department of Conservation, GPS training workshops have been well received by conservation, search and rescue, adventure race, and other groups in the Waikato, Tasman, and Bay of Plenty regions. References available on request.

What's the cost?

The standard Level 1 Workshop is $300 plus travel expenses.

Travel around the North Island will generally involve car mileage and possibly lodging. Travel to the South Island would involve air travel, lodging, and some arrangements for local transportation. All up, the total cost would typically range from about $400 for a local event to $1100 for a remote South Island event.

Please contact me with the specific interests and needs of your situation to discuss pricing.