Field Activity #12: GPS Navigation

Introduction:

This is the final blog post for this field methods course and what is a better way to end a great class than to navigate the woods with a GPS while shooting each other with paintball guns? This exercise combined the skills and tools that we have used in previous labs for one final blowout. The weather in Eau Claire, WI has been somewhat difficult to track lately since there is so much variation with this spring season. This activity was put off for two weeks before we could finally accomplish it. Much like we did in the previous post, we went out to the Priory once more to navigate, however this time our goal was make it through all three courses which contains 15 points. We were issued a Trimble Juno GPS device which is a very powerful tool for navigating since it can sync your .mxd files with actual GPS coordinates and make a new shapefile on the spot. For instance, we created a tracklog for this project which showed our general movement across the Priory. Each team was then given paintball guns which were used to make the stakes a little higher while testing our ability to navigate under pressure.

Methods:

In order to make ourselves prepared for this event there was some modeling that had to be done in ArcMap. Each group was given permission from Professor Hupy to upload the points shapefile to our original maps, which was then added to show the precise location of each flag in the priory. Professor Hupy also had each of us add a shapefile that contained polygon features where paintball guns were strictly forbidden since the children's center was also on the property. Finally, we were asked to create a desired path or plan of attack to reach every flag on the map. Each group was assigned a different point as a starting point. Our group decided to take a path less traveled and decided to double back on our route in order to avoid other teams.

Other preparations also had to be made before the activity could actually begin. A few students met with Professor Hupy before class to fill the NO2 and CO2 tanks for the paintball guns. These same students then went out to the Priory earlier in order to test all of the equipment in order to ensure that it was all in working condition.

Image 1: The image above shows Professor Hupy (orange), Jeremy Huhnstock (camo) and Jacob Burandt (maroon) all workings to set up the paintball equipment.

The actual event was finally ready to be done after all of tasks from above were completed. The class met out at the Priory again so as to not waste time that could be used for navigation. Many of us wore longer clothes this time around and some people even wore camouflage for the paintball portion of the event. Each group assigned one person to handle the GPS until while walking through the woods. Our group chose April Leistikow to handle the GPS because she was the least excited about shooting people with the paintball guns, however she also did her fair share of damage to other teams.

Results:

It seemed like finding each flag went much faster this time around, but at times the GPS would freak out and realize that we weren't where it thought that we were. For instance, at one point we were out by the pine grove and had been walking for a while toward one of the flags, but then the GPS changed and showed us having walked past the flag a while ago. Technical errors in the field should be anticipated so the best practice is to be patient with the devices and always carry the basics with you (map and compass).

Image 2: The map above was created to show our desired path compared to the actual track that we took. The yellow line represents the path that our group intended on taking while the green/blue dots represent our actual GPS tracklog from the activity. Each yellow point is one of the flags. We began at the northernmost point.

Discussion:

Some issues that were encountered while out in the field involved the paintball equipment along with the GPS unit. When running through the woods and trying not to get shot the protective masks often fog up which makes it very hard to see. This problem was easily overcome by removing the mask and wiping it clean. Another paintball issue revolved around the guns chopping balls when they were shooting quickly. Essentially the paintballs were expanding slightly and exploding within the barrel. This was fixed by shooting slower.

On a more technical note, the GPS unit ran very smoothly for our group minus a few hitches. As I described above, every once and a while the GPS would have to recalculate where we were compared to the point which would set us back slightly. Other than that there really weren't any issues with the GPS device.

Conclusion:

Working with the same group that I have worked with all semester on this final project was a blast. I really couldn't have asked for better people to have as a team. We learned how to use the Trimble Juno device all throughout the semester and any of us really could have held the device and managed it as we trekked through the woods. This lab was a fun and unique way of tying all of the other skills that we developed from the semester together into a final product. Not only did this lab make us use a geodatabase that we had created earlier in the semester, but also add onto it to make it more robust. We also used our navigation skills that we were taught early on as well. Through teamwork and perseverance, our group was able to conquer the Priory and this semester.