Lab IIX: Preface; Ground Truth Data for the LIDAR Lab

 

Updated 3/2/2010

 

Outline of Document (Click on links to jump to a section below):

Introduction

The Study Area

Garmin GPSmap60-C Intro

Garmin GPSmap60-C Basic Operation

    Garmin GPSmap60-C Create Waypoint (Ground Truth Site)

    Garmin GPSmap60-C Data Download

    Reproject Data from WGS84

    Move or Offset Points

    Add Coordinates to Attribute Table

    Delete Waypoints from Garmin

What if can't get my data to download from the Garmin?

What to turn in when?

 

 

 

Introduction; Ground Truth Data: Prior to taking on our LIDAR Exercise, we will need to collect some additional ground truth data.  As discussed in class, we will begin by heading out to Sehome Hill to collect some field data using the Point-centered Quarter method.  More information that you’d ever want to know about this method is available here: PCQM.pdf

 

You should print out a copy of the data sheet to take out into the field with you (tree_data_entry_table.xls.).

 

The basic idea behind PCQ sampling is quite simple.  You randomly select a point in the forest.  Using a compass, you divide the area around this point into four quadrants (northeast, southeast, southwest, northwest).  Within each quadrant, you then locate the tree that is nearest to the point center.  For this tree, you then record three pieces of information:

 

1.      Distance to the tree in meters

2.      Diameter of the tree at breast height (DBH) in centimenters.  Note that “breast height” is defined as 1.37m above the ground on the uphill side of the tree. Note that, in order to be counted, a tree must be at least 10 cm DBH at 1.37m above the ground.

3.      Species of the tree.

 

  At each point, this means that you will be recording data for only FOUR trees.  The arrangement might look something like this;

 

pcq1.jpg

 

 

In our case we want to collect data for clusters of four points.  You will randomly select a “Plot center” and collect PCQ data for four points that are locate 5 meters north, south, east and west of this plot center.  Like this:

 

 

It is critical that you use a compass and tape measure to accurately lay out the position of each point relative to the plot center.  As indicated in this figure, you will use a GPS unit to log a waypoint for the plot center.  See the below for instructions on how to do this using the Garmin GPSmap60 units.  Note that you will need to set the unit to AVERAGE MULTIPLE POSTIONS to increase your accuracy.  THIS IS CRITICAL!  The coordinates for our ground truth points will need to be accurate to within a meter or two!  Unlike our previous labs, we will be using the NAD83 datum, not the NAD27 datum.  You should record the coordinates of your plot center in the field.  Recall that this is an instantaneous position.  You will be using the download instructions below to download the far more accurate averaged position.  You can use the position that you recorded in the field for a reality check and as a backup in case you run into problems with the download.

 

At each Plot, you will record data for SIXTEEN trees.  Like this:

 

 

 

Try to collect data for as many plots as you can.  The more data we have the better.  When you get back to the lab, enter your data into this datasheet: tree_data_entry_table.xls.  See the instructions below on downloading your GPS position.  These are essentially the same as in the previous lab except you will be working with the NAD83 datum rather than NAD27 as in the previous lab.

 

 

The Study Area: The study area for this lab is the Sehome Hill Arboretum.  Confine your sampling to the forested areas and try to get at least one plot in a conifer-dominated site and at least one in a site dominated by deciduous trees.  I would encourage you to work with at least one partner.

 

 

 

 

Garmin GPSmap60:   Although you can make the Garmins display coordinates in UTM NAD83 (or NAD27), these coordinates are actually stored and download using the WGS84 datum.  This means that, back in the lab, we will need to convert your coordinates from WGS84 to UTM NAD83 (more on this below).

 

Basic Operations For the Garmin GPSmap60-C GPS Receiver

(These instructions are modified from a document prepared by Stefan Freelan: J:\saldata\tut_GPS\Garmin_GPSmap60\3_GPSmap60_howto.doc)

 

Turn Unit On       - Press & hold Power button (top of unit next to antenna)

                             - Unit comes on and searches for satellites (wait…)

                             - Opens to Satellite screen with the Location and

                                      Accuracy Estimate at the of the screen

 

Turn Unit Off       - Press and hold the Power button (top of unit)

 

Switch Screens   - Press Page button (on right side) to switch between the

                             5 Main GPSmap60 Screens:

                                      Satellite – skyplot of satellites & satellite strength

                                      Trip Computer – Info on speed, bearing, ETA, etc.

                                      Map – w/waypoints & cities, can pan/zoom

                                      Compass – w/info on speed, ETA, etc.

                                      Main Menu – settings, manage tracks, etc.

                             * Note: the GPSmap60-CS also has an Altimeter screen

 

Navigating within the GPSmap60 Screens and Selecting Items

                             - Use the Rocker Button (large, center button w/arrows)

                                      to “navigate” Up-Down-Left-Right to highlight items

                             - Press ENTR (Enter) button to select a highlighted item

 

Zoom In/Out       (on the Map screen)

                             - Use the OUT button (upper right) to Zoom Out

                             - Use the IN button (upper left) to Zoom In

 

Backlight On/Off          - With unit on, press Power button (top) once briefly

- Use Rocker button to adjust up/down as desired

- Backlight goes off in 15 seconds (or press ENTR)

 

Change Units (Note that this step is critical!!!)       

- Main Menu screen

                             - Select Setup, select Units

                             - Adjust Position Format to:      UTM UPS

                             - Adjust Map Datum to: NAD83 CONUS

                             - Adjust Distance to: Meters

 

Time of Day         - Bottom of Main Menu screen

 

Check Battery     - Top of any screen

 

Set Battery Type - Main Menu screen – Select Setup – Select System

                             - Under Battery Type, choose either:

Alkaline (disposable) or

NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride – Rechargeable)

 

Change Battery   - Lift metal loop on back of unit

                             - Turn loop counterclockwise 1/4 turn

                             - Remove back cover, replace batteries (2 AA)

                             - Replace cover, turn loop clockwise 1/4 turn and fold flat

 

* * * Turn Unit OFF when not in use to save battery * * *


 

 

 

How to CREATE a Waypoint

 

Press Mark button, then from the Mark Waypoint screen:

 

          Enter a Name for the new waypoint (this is your site ID#; you might consider using your initials and a #, ex. DW1)

                             - Use Rocker & ENTR buttons to highlight the name at the

                                      top of screen (by default a number 001, 002, etc)

                             - Use Rocker & ENTR buttons to select letters (to ‘type’)

                             - When done entering letters, highlight OK on the

                                      keyboard & press ENTR to close keyboard screen

 

          Choose an Icon to represent the new waypoint on the map (Optional)

                             - Use Rocker & ENTR buttons to select the marker

symbol (by default a flag, next to name)

                             - Use Rocker & ENTR buttons to select an icon

 

Average multiple positions for better accuracy (Critical for our application!!!)

                   - Use Rocker & ENTR buttons to select AVG

                   - Wait… (counter = # of positions to be averaged) (suggest you go for at least 20 positions)

                   - Use Rocker & ENTR buttons to select SAVE

                   - Make sure you hit OK (see below) to Record Waypoint

 

Record Waypoint - (this is not Optional and must be done in addition to any of the Optional steps above)

- Use Rocker & ENTR buttons to select OK at the bottom of the Mark Waypoint screen

 

 

 

 

Data Downloading Back in the Lab: As with the previous data collection effort, it will be critical for you to overlay each of your points on our image to insure proper alignment and to move any points if needed.  The following instructions (edited from those created by Stefan Freelan: J:\saldata\tut_GPS\Garmin_GPSmap60\4_GPSmap60_to_ArcMap_transfer.doc) will walk you through this process.

 

Transferring GPS Data from the Garmin GPSmap60 to ArcMap

 

NOTE: These instructions assume a certain degree of basic Windows operating system fluency (coping files, creating folders, opening multiple applications, etc). If you do not understand the instructions, please ask for help.

 

These instructions are specific to the Spatial Analysis Lab (AH-16) computers and are customized for local (Bellingham, WA) data and coordinate systems (UTM NAD27). Adaptations will need to be made for other computers and/or other areas.

 

You will need a Garmin GPSmap60-PC connection cable (hooks into the back of the GPS unit and the PC), found on most SAL PC’s.

 

OPTIONAL: See also J:\saldata\tut_GPS\Garmin_GPSmap60\Using_DNRGarmin.doc for an alternative method of downloading data…

 

1. Connect the Cable

Connect the cable (from the back of the computer) to the GPSmap60 (open the large rubber cover at top, right hand side of the back of the unit and plug in the 4-prong connector). Note: the cable only fits one way into the GPSmap60.

DO NOT FORCE IT – line up the small notch of the plug with the guide.

 

2. Turn GPSmap60 ON (if it’s not already On)

 

3. Open a Pre-made ArcMap project file

 

4. In ArcMap Add the GPSi Toolbar

 

5. Download Waypoints (or Tracks) from the GPSmap60

 

6. View your data in ArcMap

Your GPS data should be added automatically to the existing ArcMap project. NOTE: If your new shapefile does not show up in your Table of Contents (the list of data layers on the left side of the screen), click on the Source tab at the bottom of the Table of Contents, then click on the Display tab to refresh the list.  At this point, you points will not line up well at all with your image.  Each point will probably be off by about 100m.  Don’t panic!  This is because your points come in from the Garmin unit using the WGS84 datum but our image is in UTM NAD27.  We need to reproject the coordinates.  This is a multistep process.

 

6a. Reproject from WGS84 to NAD83: In ArcToolbox, go to Data Management Tools-Projections and Transformations-Feature-Project

          Input Dataset or Feature Class: shapefile with your points

          Input Coordinate System: WGS84 (this is the default)

          Output Dataset or Feature Class: shapefile_NAD83

          Output Coordinate System: click on the button to bring up the Spatial Reference Properties Dialog box- click Select.

Navigate to Projecied Coordinate Systems-UTM-NAD83-NAD 83 UTM Zone 10N.prj  Click Add

Click Apply-OK

          Geographic Transformation (optional): (not really optional!!!): Select NAD83 to WGS84

          Click OK.  A Project Dialog box will open and inform you that the transformation is complete but you will get a Datum conflict between map and output warning message.  Ignore this.

 

6b. Reproject from NAD83 to NAD27: Again, In ArcToolbox, go to Data Management Tools-Projections and Transformations-Feature-Project

          Input Dataset or Feature Class: shapefile_NAD83 with your points

          Input Coordinate System: NAD1983_UTM_Zone_10N (this is the default)

          Output Dataset or Feature Class: shapefile_NAD27

Output Coordinate System: click on the button to bring up the Spatial Reference Properties Dialog box- click Select.

Navigate to Projecied Coordinate Systems-UTM-NAD27-NAD 27 UTM Zone 10N.prj Click Add

Click Apply-OK

          Geographic Transformation (optional): (not really optional!!!): Select NAD_1927_To_NAD1983_NADCON

          Click OK.  A Project Dialog box will open and inform you that the transformation is complete

 

Your points should now line up much better!

 

6c. Moving/Offsetting points: If one of your points does not line up perfectly or if you want to offset one of your points (e.g. you logged a position adjacent to a building but you want your point to be centered on the roof of the building), you can change this.  Go to the Editor dropdown and select Start Editing start_edit.  Then left click once on a point to select it, then Left click, hold and drag the point to the correct location.  When you are finished editing all points, go to Editor-Save Edits, then Editor-Stop Editing.

 

6d. Adding coordinates to the Attribute table: If you open the attribute table for your points, you will note that it does not include the coordinates for your points.  To add this information to the attribute table, go to the ArcToolbox and select WWU Tools-Add XY Coordinates.  Then simply specify your points file as the Input Feature and click OK.  Reopen your attribute table and the coordinates should be there.  At this point, all you need to do is export the attribute table and save it as a .dbf file.  You can open this in Excel to double check it and then e-mail it to me.

 

                                               

Other stuff you can do in Arc:

 

Improve the Symbology for your GPS data

 

Explore your data using ArcMap

 

OPTIONAL: Print your map

 

OPTIONAL: Create and save a .jpeg graphic of your map

 

7. OPTIONAL: Save your Map (to your U:\ drive)

 

8. REQUESTED: Please Remove Files from the GPSmap60

 

Delete Waypoints:     - Press the FIND button and select Waypoints

                             - Press the MENU button

                             - Use Rocker & ENTR to select Delete

                             - Choose All Symbols & press ENTR

                             - Use Rocker to highlight Yes & press ENTR

 

Delete Active Track:  - On the Tracks screen, use the Rocker to highlight Clear

- Press ENTR

                             - Use Rocker to highlight Yes & press ENTR

 

Delete Saved Tracks:          - On the Tracks screen, press the MENU button

                             - Use Rocker & ENTR to select Delete All Saved

                             - Use Rocker to highlight Yes & press ENTR

 

***End of Stefan’s instructions***

 

 

What if I can’t get my points downloaded from the Garmin?  If you can’t get the download to work, there is another option, assuming that you have good field notes.  In this case, simply use the coordinates that you wrote down in the field.  Note that is will work ONLY if you set the unit to record and display coordinates in NAD83.  Also, this is an instantaneous position so it will not be as accurate.  You will need to check these coordinates in Arc.  To do so, Go to Excel and enter your data in a format that looks like this:

 

SiteID

Ycoord

Xcoord

DW1

5397690

537909

DW2

5397730

537857

 

NOTE THAT THERE ARE NO SPACES IN THE COLUMN HEADER NAMES AND NO SYMBOLS!!!  Now go to File-Save As-Other Formats and save it as a “CVS (comma delimited)” file.  This is a comma-delimited text file.

 

Then Open a Pre-made ArcMap project file

 

In the Arc main toolbar, go to Tools-Add XY Data.  In the Choose a table…. box, navigate to your .cvs file and then select the appropriate columns for the X and Y data values.  Select OK and your points should plot on the image.  Since you recorded these values directly from the Garmin in UTM NAD83, they should plot properly with no need to reproject.  You may still need to Move or offset these points.  If so, the easiest way to do this is simply to move your cursor to the correct location on the screen and note the UTM coordinates for this location at the very bottom of the Arc window.  Then go back into Excel and enter these values into the correct column/row. 

 

 

 

What To Turn In When:  After you have checked all of your points, turn them in to me no later than Wednesday, 3/3 at 9:00AM.  I need time to check all of your data prior to lab on Wednesday.  You should email your data in an excel file that is a copy of:  tree_data_entry_table.xls.  Note that as soon as you enter the position of the plot center, I have set up formula that will calculate the position of each point.

 

If you have any problems or questions, don’t hesitate to ask for help.

 



Return to ESCI 442 Lab Page

Return to ESCI 442 Syllabus

Return to David Wallin's Home Page