I have not been keeping up with the latest in handheld GPS units (recreational grade).
We currently are surveying our projects with RTK and then exporting the data into GPX format and loading it into Garmin GPS units so people can navigate to our survey marks. It works, but could be better.
What I would really like to do would be to create a raster image background from an aerial map possibly with some vector overlays like fences, etc saved into the raster image and be able to load it on to a handheld so that the people using them not only see our survey marks but aerial imagery and boundaries, etc to help them get around. I know the trimble GIS grade units have this capability but they are pricey and the knuckleheads using them lose them on a regular basis. I was hoping for a sub $500 Garmin or equivalent that would do the trick. I just need something to get people close (10-20') to our survey marks so they can find them.
A quick google search shows garmin offers a birdseye aerial map download service but I would much prefer being able to load my own imagery (Geotiff or similar) to it. Is there any such animal that will handle this?
Explore this site. I've never used DeLorme products, but they seem to be interested in finding uses beyond travel and recreation for inexpensive GPS receivers.
Smartphone - Everybody has one.
You can publish Geo-PDF's using ArcMap and store them on the phone so they would be available when there is no cell service.
AvenzaPDF is a free app than will show their position in relation to any map you publish as a geo-PDF.
I would be very careful to include a very detailed GIS disclaimer on the published map in regards to boundaries (since I'm assuming that you have not determined it).
I don't know what used Promark3s are selling for. They would be my first choice because they will get down to 1meter when looking for stored points and will collect data if needed in Survey and Moble Mapping modes. They also have a larger screen.
Garmin products have many after market sources to get maps for free. I use one on most every job with the Garmin Topo loaded. The screen is half the size of a PM3. There is no way to download locations into the units that were located by other sources that I know of.
Drilldo, post: 338757, member: 8604 wrote: I have not been keeping up with the latest in handheld GPS units (recreational grade).
We currently are surveying our projects with RTK and then exporting the data into GPX format and loading it into Garmin GPS units so people can navigate to our survey marks. It works, but could be better.
What I would really like to do would be to create a raster image background from an aerial map possibly with some vector overlays like fences, etc saved into the raster image and be able to load it on to a handheld so that the people using them not only see our survey marks but aerial imagery and boundaries, etc to help them get around. I know the trimble GIS grade units have this capability but they are pricey and the knuckleheads using them lose them on a regular basis. I was hoping for a sub $500 Garmin or equivalent that would do the trick. I just need something to get people close (10-20') to our survey marks so they can find them.
A quick google search shows garmin offers a birdseye aerial map download service but I would much prefer being able to load my own imagery (Geotiff or similar) to it. Is there any such animal that will handle this?
The Garmin 64S is a great unit with glonass enabled and you can easily create any background image or topographic map as a kmz file and load it up as a background. They are hardy units with plenty of storage and run around $350.
imaudigger, post: 338871, member: 7286 wrote: Smartphone - Everybody has one.
You can publish Geo-PDF's using ArcMap and store them on the phone so they would be available when there is no cell service.
AvenzaPDF is a free app than will show their position in relation to any map you publish as a geo-PDF.
I would be very careful to include a very detailed GIS disclaimer on the published map in regards to boundaries (since I'm assuming that you have not determined it).
Thanks. I never thought about the phones but that is an interesting idea. The people using these are out in the field 10-12 hrs a day carrying their garmin navigating to points. They get dropped, beat up, etc. Not sure how agreeable the employees would be to using their phone for this purpose or if battery life might be an issue.
Regarding the boundaries I am just talking about showing things like fences, gates, etc on the aerial so if the user is trying to get from point A to B he can see the fence on the map and know he can't just go in a straight line to get there. I am not going to be including any legal boundaries or anything like that just physical things on the ground that affect our ability to get around.
Drilldo, post: 339001, member: 8604 wrote: Thanks. I never thought about the phones but that is an interesting idea. The people using these are out in the field 10-12 hrs a day carrying their garmin navigating to points. They get dropped, beat up, etc. Not sure how agreeable the employees would be to using their phone for this purpose or if battery life might be an issue.
Regarding the boundaries I am just talking about showing things like fences, gates, etc on the aerial so if the user is trying to get from point A to B he can see the fence on the map and know he can't just go in a straight line to get there. I am not going to be including any legal boundaries or anything like that just physical things on the ground that affect our ability to get around.
If they are your employees, they may have a basis for a claim for a new phone if it is dropped while using it for work purposes. You could provide a stipend and make it the employees responsibility to provide their own GPS. Probably would cut down on the abuse.
If you are providing this for clients and consultants...that's their concern.
My son worked for a forester this summer. Their GIS specialist would generate geo-referenced timber harvest plan mapping that the guys in the field would use on their smart phones to navigate to specific areas that they needed to mark trees. It helped immensely to know where in the project you were standing.
With the geo-PDF you are able to create maps that are very easy to view (line weights, fonts, shading, notes, ect.). Kind of difficult to do that with a KMZ file.
The hang up appears to be finding inexpensive software that will generate a geo-PDF.
I think QGis (free GIS software) will export a GeoTiff that Avenza will read. The drawback is the file size and regeneration speed.
I spent some time reviewing QGIS and found it to be very powerful for free software. It definitely had a different interface and you must toss the Microsoft/ESRI thought process out the window.
For that matter, AutoCAD Map 3D will probably generate the GeoTiff as well.
imaudigger, post: 339004, member: 7286 wrote: If they are your employees, they may have a basis for a claim for a new phone if it is dropped while using it for work purposes. You could provide a stipend and make it the employees responsibility to provide their own GPS. Probably would cut down on the abuse.
If you are providing this for clients and consultants...that's their concern.My son worked for a forester this summer. Their GIS specialist would generate geo-referenced timber harvest plan mapping that the guys in the field would use on their smart phones to navigate to specific areas that they needed to mark trees. It helped immensely to know where in the project you were standing.
With the geo-PDF you are able to create maps that are very easy to view (line weights, fonts, shading, notes, ect.). Kind of difficult to do that with a KMZ file.
The hang up appears to be finding inexpensive software that will generate a geo-PDF.
I have Global Mapper (Blue Marble) that makes geo-PDFs. I think it was $500 or so but I use it daily for lots of things. I downloaded the app to my phone and made a PDF of the area around my house and tested it out. Seems to work pretty slick. I was so impressed actually that I am going to buy an iPad to mount in my truck with the geo-PDFs of my jobs loaded on it. Doing some research Bad Elf makes a GPS with Glonass / WASS that plugs into the iPad for $100 or so. Would be really nice to have and with an iPad mini at $269 the total cost is pretty comparable to a garmin. I don't think this combo would be too rugged especially with the GPS dongle hanging off the iPad but it sure would be slick in a truck.
