BASIC GPS TRAINING
Presented By:
RYAN JAMES
GIS Analyst
Navajo Land Department
DIVISION OF NATURAL RESOURCES
What is GPS?
• GPS stands for Global Positioning System
(GPS)
• It consists of 3 Segments:
Space – The 24 satellites
Control Stations – Earth stations monitor and
maintain satellites
User – You and anyone who uses GPS
equipment
• Together, it creates the GPS networking
infrastructure utilizing 4 of 24 satellites to
triangulate your position on earth
How does it work?
• The GPS receiver, receives information from
various orbiting satellites which tells the
receiver where it is being triangulated.
• 4 satellites tell the receiver it has been
identified in an area and the receiver takes
this information from all 4 satellites to
determine where it is
• The GPS receiver never transmits any
information and only receives data
• The data is then configured and calculated
internally to show user information
(Lat/Long)
Who uses GPS equipment?
• Just about everyone these days use GPS
equipment of some type
Automobiles, Airplanes, Boats, Engineers,
Construction, and more recently
Telecommunications
• Originally, this equipment was established
for Military use and application but it
crossed over into civilian use
• It is now used by many people in many
professions as well as recreation
Which GPS is right for me?
• That all depends on how you plan on using it
• Practically all handhelds work about the
same
• For data collecting any GPS handheld will
suffice so long as you have the ability to
visibly see the Data or Datum you are
collecting
• For survey or industrial use with higher
precision, you will need a higher grade GPS
unit, but for mapping grade data, just about
any GPS handheld will do
Why is GPS data
important?
• Location, Location, Location
• Currently, this data is useful when collected
correctly and plotted in a spatial environment
ESRI’s ArcMap Software
Igage’s AllTopo 7 Software
Google Earth
• Provides a visual interpretation or representation
• It can provide statistical information with the
addition of a database
• It is helpful when lost, traveling, and/or enjoying
a recreational sport like hunting, hiking, fishing,
etc..
Bad Data
Bad Data
Good Data
IGAGE AllTopo Software
GPS Point Data
Export Data to Google Earth
Point Data and Information on
Google Earth Map
Smart Phone Software
• There are many Smart Phone Apps available on
the Smart Phone Market which can emulate the
handheld GPS Data collector as well as
databases to store additional information.
• GPS Essentials and the Memento Database App
are but two of the many various apps available
through your Smart Phone App Store.
• The Following are Free and can be upgraded to
fully functional apps with additional user
functions and add free screens.
“GPS Essentials” for Smart Phones
“Memento” for Smart Phones
Other Training
• We currently are training various chapters
with GPS and other software training,
primarily the CLUPC members because of the
Navajo Nation Rural Addressing (NNRA)
• If your chapter or CLUPC group requires or
needs training you can contact us at:
Navajo Land Department
GIS Section
Window Rock, Arizona 86515
928.871.6401
E-mail: nld_gis@frontiernet.net
Questions?
Thank You
Navajo Land Department
GIS Section
PO Box 2249
Window Rock, Arizona 86515
928.871.6401